Keen pricing for Hyundai’s Elantra SR Turbo

HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia (HMCA) has revealed its flagship 150kW/265Nm Elantra SR Turbo will arrive in local showrooms next week with a $28,990 before on-roads sticker price for the manual and $31,290 for the automatic.

The price puts Elantra SR Turbo just $2000 and $4300 above the current range-topping automatic-only Elite for the respective three-pedal and self-shifting versions.

Powered by the same 1.6-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine as its Veloster Turbo stablemate and discontinued Kia Pro_cee’d GT cousin, the 150kW/265Nm Elantra SR Turbo develops maximum power at 6000rpm and peak torque from 1500 to 4500rpm.

Rivals in the sporty turbocharged small-car sedan segment include the $26,990 Nissan’s Pulsar SSS, which is powered by a 140kW/240Nm 1.6-litre four, the $27,140 Holden Cruze SRi-Z, powered by a 132kW/230Nm 1.6-litre four-banger, and the recently introduced auto-only $31,790 Honda Civic RS, which develops 127kW/220Nm from a 1.5-litre VTEC four-cylinder.

Hyundai has also added larger front brakes, increased by 25mm in diameter and 2mm in thickness, tucked behind 17-inch twin-spoke alloy wheels to help stop the sportiest Elantra yet.

According to Hyundai, the “suspension has been further optimised for Australian conditions by HMCA’s respected in-house chassis and suspension tuning team” and the Elantra SR Turbo will mark the debut of the independent rear suspension (IRS) system underpinning the recently revealed next-gen i30.

An all-round sports bodykit also denotes the new Elantra’s sporting intentions, with new front and rear bumpers, side skirts and radiator grille alongside tweaked tail-lights.

Standard features on the flagship Elantra include Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, blind-spot detection, lane change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, four front parking sensors, twin exhaust tips, carbon-finished dashboard and door inserts, red-stitched interior, bucket seats, flat-bottomed steering wheel, sunroof and heated front seats.

Automatic versions also gain steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Options for the Elantra SR Turbo include metallic paint for $495 and red leather upholstery for $295.

2016 Hyundai Elantra SR pricing*

SR Turbo	$28,990
SR Turbo (a)	$31,290

*Excludes on-road costs