Hyundai has just revealed an updated 2019 Elantra, which should make the Chevy Cruze look over its shoulder in slight concern – since the Korean compact may just be the best-looking car in its class.
Subjectively speaking, this honorary status has traditionally been held by the likes of the Volkswagen Golf or Mazda 3, and has recently been transferred to the Honda Civic. But after recruiting some of the best designers in the biz, Hyundai seems to be on a mission to make a name for itself in the styling department.
The front fascia of the new Elantra has a design that commands attention without being overly aggressive. The triangular LED headlights, which are specific to Limited and Sport trims, tie in quite nicely with the other, sharper “points” of the car – namely the trapezoidal grille and triangular fog lights recessed in equally pointy lower fascia work. Meanwhile, the Cruze does not even offer LED headlights – even as an option.
The rear end of the 2019 Hyundai Elantra is also quite attractive. In fact, the LED signatures of the rear taillamps and swooping lines remind us of the new Buick Regal Sportback, which is not at all a bad thing. Also note the wheels, which are especially flavorful for a vehicle in this segment.
The 2019 Elantra ultimately manages to have a presence and personality of its own, making the just-refreshed 2019 Chevy Cruze seem rather bland in comparison. The circumstance presents a rather serious problem for Chevrolet in that Chevy was seemingly focused on delivering the blandest vehicle design possible with the second-generation Cruze, while rivals like Honda (with the new Civic) and Hyundai (and even Toyota) went the other way, delivering striking designs that spoke to the soul.
Another weakness for the Cruze against the 2019 Hyundai Elantra is that the Chevy continues without a performance-oriented model. Meanwhile, the Elantra Sport offers a sprightly 195 horsepower and 201 pound-feet of torque from its turbocharged 1.6L I-4 engine.
Putting the icing on the cake is the fact that the Hyundai has a great cabin with a very appealing and ergonomic design, along with very nice materials that make those of the Cruze look rather plebeian.
2018 Chevrolet Cruze cabin
2019 Hyundai Elantra cabin
So, not only does the 2019 Hyundai Elantra have a very eye-catching and attractive exterior design, but it also has a very good interior. And it also offers a very fun and exciting sporty variant in the Elantra GT. Those are three reasons for consumers to buy the Hyundai over the Chevy… something that already appears to be taking place.
During the second quarter of 2018, the Elantra outsold the Cruze by roughly 15,000 units. That’s right – a Hyundai outsold a Chevrolet in a key vehicle segment. Even worse is that the Elantra was the only model in its segment to post a sales increase (up 14 percent) while Cruze sales fell a insignificant 26 percent.
Sales Numbers - Compact Mainstream Cars - Q2 2018 - USA
| MODEL | Q2 18 / Q2 17 | Q2 18 | Q2 17 | YTD 18 / YTD 17 | YTD 18 | YTD 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIVIC | -0.02% | 94,093 | 94,109 | +0.27% | 176,242 | 175,763 |
| COROLLA | -12.04% | 83,642 | 95,092 | -8.53% | 161,462 | 176,527 |
| SENTRA | -8.97% | 55,674 | 61,160 | +2.76% | 115,676 | 112,574 |
| ELANTRA | +14.36% | 52,664 | 46,050 | -0.52% | 99,728 | 100,252 |
| FOCUS | -12.95% | 40,055 | 46,016 | -9.21% | 75,101 | 82,721 |
| CRUZE | -26.20% | 37,836 | 51,265 | -26.14% | 77,691 | 105,188 |
| FORTE | -8.95% | 30,669 | 33,684 | -7.40% | 54,400 | 58,746 |
| IMPREZA | -12.61% | 21,360 | 24,442 | -12.11% | 37,814 | 43,026 |
| JETTA SEDAN | -40.67% | 18,351 | 30,932 | -40.61% | 32,961 | 55,495 |
| MAZDA3 | -16.05% | 16,141 | 19,228 | -10.14% | 35,796 | 39,834 |
| GOLF | -44.54% | 2,123 | 3,828 | -43.71% | 4,036 | 7,170 |
| GOLF GTI | -20.77% | 4,063 | 5,128 | -14.39% | 9,189 | 10,733 |
| GOLF R | +118.61% | 1,891 | 865 | -3.70% | 2,240 | 2,326 |
| GOLF SPORTWAGEN | -58.74% | 3,932 | 9,529 | -50.31% | 8,016 | 16,131 |
| LANCER | -52.35% | 1,237 | 2,596 | -57.80% | 3,299 | 7,817 |
| 500L | +10.17% | 509 | 462 | +21.18% | 904 | 746 |
| DART | -97.64% | 82 | 3,475 | -95.89% | 334 | 8,133 |
| TOTAL | -12.04% | 464,322 | 527,861 | -10.79% | 894,889 | 1,003,182 |
The GM Authority Take
The point of these words is by no means to bash Chevy or the Cruze. Instead, our intention is to deliver a very important message: some of Chevy’s products (such as the Cruze, even in facelifted form) have gone from being class-leading, highly-competitive, desirable products to becoming also-rans with no particular differentiating factors, little to no unique selling propositions and limited desirability. The competition, meanwhile, has not stood still – and has begun to do the product “thing” better.
Think about it this way: the second-gen Cruze and the sixth-generation (current) Elantra came out at the same time for the 2016 model year. Both were around for three years before getting an enhancement (facelift) for the 2019 model year. But Hyundai has done a better job than Chevy by focusing on making a class-leading product that’s highly attractive, elegant, and desirable, while Chevy seems to be lazily going through the motions. Gutting the Cruze of various features in order to make the product more profitable also doesn’t help. The results speak for themselves, both in terms of the product itself and its associated sales success.
So here’s our plea to Chevrolet: it’s time to hit the reset button and go from making mediocre also-ran products to segment-leading vehicles that are desirable. If not , it will be difficult for the bow tie brand to find new roads.
2018 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback and Sedan Redline editions
About Chevrolet Cruze
The Chevrolet Cruze is a range of compact passenger cars that currently consists of a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback. It slots above the Chevrolet Spark city car and subcompact Chevrolet Sonic and below the midsize Chevrolet Malibu and full-size Chevrolet Impala. The current model was introduced for the 2016 model year and represents the second generation of the Cruze nameplate. It rides on the GM D2 platform shared with the second-generation Chevrolet Volt and Buick Verano (in China).
2019 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan and Hatch (2019 refresh)
Compared to its first-generation predecessor, the second-gen model is an all-new vehicle that is slightly larger, sleeker and more modern. The first-generation Cruze family was produced in sedan, hatchback, and wagon body styles, but only the sedan was available in North America. By comparison, the second-generation model is available only as a sedan and hatchback. Though a wagon variant of the second-gen model was never produced, the hatchback model became available in North America. The second-generation Cruze received a midcycle enhancement, otherwise known as a facelift, refresh or update, for the 2019 model year that consists of updated exterior styling, a new Chevrolet infotainment system, and new interior colors.
The Cruze is produced across the following GM plants globally:
- GM Lordstown plant in Lordstown, Ohio, USA assembling the Cruze sedan supplying North America
- GM Ramos plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico assembling the Cruze hatchs upplying North America
- GM Rosario plant in Argentina assembling the Cruze sedan and Cruze hatch (called Cruze6) supplying Latin America
- GM Norsom II plant in China assembling the Cruze sedan and Cruze hatchback satisfying China
- GM Gunsan plant in South Korea supplying Eurasia as Holden Astra Sedan (this facility was closed in 2018, and Cruze production no longer takes place here)
In November 2018, General Motors announced that it will discontinue the Chevrolet Cruze, along with five other passengers cars. The move will see the vehicle discontinued globally, while resulting in the idling of the Lordstown plant in Warren, Ohio. The model is set to be discontinued in the first quarter of 2019.
Related News & Info
- GM news
- GM forums
- Chevrolet Cruze information
- Running GM sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
- Running Chevrolet Cruze sales results
- Running Chevrolet sales results
Comments
Meh I think it’s highly subjective. I think the Cruze looks better both exterior and interior. But the Mazda3 wins it for me. Whereas I find the Civic ugly as sin. And the Corolla should’ve stayed boring and not tried to be unique, it failed.
1. Mazda 3
2. Cruze
3. Elantra
It goes well beyond the appearance, which – true – is subjective.
Look at the execution and detail on the Elantra, which is not found found on the Cruze. This Hyundai model will turn heads… I don’t think that the second-gen Cruze has ever turned anybody’s head.
Look at the Elantra’s cabin. It’s really good. That of the Cruze passes for mediocre, but is really a rung below.
The Elantra has a sport variant. Cruze doesn’t.
Elantra has the very distinctive LEDs, which is a hot-ticket item among consumers these days. Cruze doesn’t even offer them.
Elantra has a longer warranty while GM is cutting backseat map pockets and overhead lights from the Cruze.
So it all comes down to this: Hyundai, which is a challenger in pretty much every segment it plays in, is making it very clear why people should buy its compact car offering. Chevy is also a challenger in this space… but what is it doing to entice people to buy its compact car offering? In other words, what reason is there to buy the Cruze, especially over an Elantra? 4G LTE with Wi-Fi, perhaps?
Sorry Alex, but I disagree with you about the Interior of the Elantra. I’ve spent a lot of time in most of the current generation cars in this class and I was really disappointed with the interior of the Elantra. It looks nice in pictures but in person I found that it was near the bottom of the class in terms of interior quality, with the only cars that were worse being the Kia Forte and Mitsubishi Lancer. The interior in the Cruze isn’t great either but it’s quite a bit better than the Elantra.
Agree with TJ and dissagree with Alex. The elantras strait sidelines and wierd angles make it less stylish than the crude and albeit all cars in this segment have platic interiors, the cruze has more high contrast and high gloss plastic. As far as styling the older cruze is still the better car by a good margin. As for sales, people who but in this segment aren’t always car people. There are many people who will buy a Toyota without looking at any other brand because it’s a Toyota. Chevy is a truck and SUV brand, so they loose the customers who want a car and don’t know where to look and walk into the first hundai/Honda/Toyota lot they see.
To get a Cruze with pizzazz, you have to spend some serious coin to upgrade some of the exterior features.
There’s too many build combinations with too many parts. Instead of decontenting, repackaging and making some items standard makes more sense to reduce manufacturing complexity and costs.
The need for an upgraded powerplant / performance version will never go away. How many Cavalier Z24s did GM used to sell?
Don’t forget leatherette(vinyl) vs leather in the cheapening scenario!
Although the Elantra may be stiff competition to the Cruze, how long can Hyundai continue to be competitive? Their US losses are building (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-31/hyundai-s-hopes-for-u-s-sales-rebound-ride-on-revamped-santa-fe) and they can’t keep losing money forever – something has to give.
On the subject of warranty, it seems as though Hyundai’s warranties are more smoke and mirrors than anything else – for example, when they had engine seizure issues in 2011-2014 Elantras and Sonatas, Hyundai stood firm on not replacing engines without thorough proof of maintenance. They wanted detailed records before warrantying the engines, which lead to a large lawsuit in the US (https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/hyundai-kia-engine-lawsuit-theta-ii.shtml). That is completely unacceptable – having to sue the manufacturer to have them stand behind their warranty.
As for not offering LED headlights on the Cruze, an article was recently posted here titled “2019 Blazer: Why Not Offering LED Headlamps Is Not A Big Deal” – wouldn’t the same reasoning (LED headlights tend to perform worse than HID headlights in safety tests) apply here?
Perhaps it’s a little biased to be saying this on a GM news website, but I’d be much more comfortable purchasing a new Cruze than an Elantra. Although Hyundai may be taking an offensive approach on the looks of their vehicles, it seems as though the mechanical parts of the Elantra have proven to be unreliable in the past, and decisions made by the company (ex: not honoring warranties without detailed maintenance records) are turning a lot of people off from the brand. I know quite a few people who purchased a Hyundai/Kia between 2010-2013, and wouldn’t consider a Hyundai/Kia as their next vehicle – they just aren’t happy with their vehicles.
Based on the photos neither move the needle of excitement much.
Hyundai’s advantage has been and price. People buy them because they normally get them cheaper.
I have 6 co workers who when Hyundai due to price. Two have gone back to used Chevys due to expense of repair.
Oh comon. The Elantra is significantly more exciting to look at than the Cruze. The first gen Cruze has more personality than the current second-gen model, which for some inexplicable reason took a step backwards in terms of design.
The issue of price was true a decade ago. Nowadays the transaction prices of the two models in question are within a thousand of each other in most markets where the cross sale report is available… so the price argument doesn’t work anymore.
And if the Hyundai models are more expensive to repair, that would be very surprising. Parts availability is abundant and service is typically billed at the same rate as at a GM non-highline store.l, sometimes even less.
So I’m not sure any of those arguments against the Hyundai apply today, especially given their rather long warranty. That said, you do have to bring your car to be serviced on a regularly scheduled basis for that warranty to continue being in effect, but that shouldn’t be an issue.
As a follow-up, the interior of the Elantra is leaps and bounds better than that of any Chevrolet sedan offered today. The layout is great – atractivo and functional without looking incomplete (Cruze), and the materials are really good. Some of the materials are hard, but are done in a really tasteful way.
I spent a week with an Elantra recently and went into it thinking it will be a pile of garbage… but it’s anything but that.
Neither are exciting. They are reliable transportation.
The Chevy looks like an older Hyundai and the Hyundai looks like a old Honda before they got lumpy looking.
These styles just do not move the emotion level. They are for people to afford, get good mpg and feel safe in.
You are not going to see anyone posting posters up of any of them.
The warranty does not cover everything.
Well as for expense just check when the timing belt needs changed on a Hyundai knowing the Water pump should be changed before the zero tolerance engine destroys itself. Then at the same time and how long the Eco can go with no major work.
The number of old used GM cars in High School parking lots are a tribute to the durability of the drivetrains and low cost of upkeep.
As for the interior. To be fair I would need to see it in person but in photos it ain’t that great.
Yes it is just your opinion vs mine. I admit it is not a bad car but it is just another small fwd car nothing more or less. It will out sel, the. Heavy but will get smoked buy most new CUV model as the segment takes over.
I am glad you like it but even if it was a Chevy I would say the same thing.
That Elantra front end is rather ugly, I also like Cruze interior better too.
Totally agree
Credibility of the writer of this article went out the window when the Cartoon-On-Wheels Honda Civic was referenced as honorary in best looking.
To behold the Interior alone, style-wise, the Cruze runs rings around the Elantra’s interior. But then this is all subjective.
Your credibility went out the window when you said you didn’t like the best-selling vehicle in its class (the civic). Obviously THOUSANDS of people who buy them every month disagree with you… myself included.
But I’m glad you brought up actual valid points when disparaging someone who did a really good job making a case against the Cruze. Did it hurt your feelings?
Feelings hurt!!?? How did you find out? I’m a wreck over here.
What THOUSANDS of ‘other’ people choose to buy doesn’t phase or impact the feedback I give. Lemmings’ like behavior isn’t something I subscribe to. However unto itself, the comment I posted obviously resonated with more who agree than disagree; 4 ?? TO 1 ??last time I checked.
Criteria for why people buy the Civic surely is based more so on other factors besides its looks. I.e., The Toyota Camry which was notoriously panned for many years is still the runaway sales winner in its segment even though there are better handling and looking rides (Read; Mazda 6) in the segment.
I for one am not crazy about the new civic but the young people seem to love it. Chance are they are the primary customers. I even know people who think the Nissan Juke is good looking. Young people of course.
I appreciate the feedback, but that bit about the Civic was an editorial addition. The 2018 Civic is a bit too gaudy for my liking.
Giving any credence to a Hyundai Motors vehicle is new for me. I struggled to accept the fact that I found the Genesis G70 appealing, and had a similar struggle with this new Elantra. Here’s the thing: many on this site had a fit when the Blazer didn’t offer LED lighting, the Cruze doesn’t either, but the Elantra does. It’s true that the Elantra may not age as gracefully, but it’s sharp lines and ‘ultra-modern’ lighting make it seem like a car of tomorrow, while the Cruze appears to be a car of today. In a time where everyone wants the latest and greatest, the nod goes to the Elantra. In my opinion, the Civic goes a bit too far into the future, and ends up looking like a spaceship.
As said, ‘looks are subjective’.
But Chevy interior material quality kinda pisses everybody off.
They should step up their game, if they want to be among the top ,given that material quality is among the upmost priorities today.
The Cruze interior’s mixing of colors doesn’t excite me, but aside from that I think its overall interior design is much more attractive than the Hyundai’s.
However, there’s not much about the Cruze’s styling, inside or out, that really strikes a chord for me.
Well looks are subjective and I happen to think the refreshed Elantra looks pretty awful. The Cruze isn’t exciting to look at but it’s well proportioned with tasteful styling in my opinion.
And as far as interiors go… I used to work for Enterprise and have had back to back experience with the current generation of the Cruze, Elantra, Civic and Mazda 3. The 3 and Civic are in a different league than the Cruze in terms of interior quality. Surprisingly though, the interior quality of the Cruze is substantially better than the Elantra. Even in the top trim (besides the Sport), the interior of the elantra is all hard and really cheap feeling plastic. The Cruze has lots of hard plastic inside too (but not as much as the Elantra), but it feels pretty solid. And to boot, 1.4t in the Cruze is quite a bit better than the 2.0 in the Elantra.
I’m sure the LED headlights will attract lots of buyers but unless Hyundai substantially upgraded the interior for 2019, the Elantra will remain a pretty mediocre entry in the class.
I’m sorry, the Cruze interior/exterior is very competitive vs. the Hyundai. The only advantage the Elantra have is the engines (in which why GM choses not to easily solve that problem), otherwise it’s nothing to write about, plus how much is Hyundai making off it’s car vs. the Chevy?.
I…really don’t think the Hyundai looks better. Unless you *really* like triangles.
A lot.
So many triangles.
The only thing Hyundai leads in is sub prime auto loans. I’d stay away from anything with an H in the grill. Why does the 2nd gen Cruze not sell as well as the 1st? It looks like all the other Asian cars.
Hyundai is a great example of how a car company can go from laughing stock to legitimate contender, GM should follow suit.
The Cruze is a lot better looking than the Hyundai Elantra. The Cruze (and all Chevy models) blow away all manufacturers with the most attractive front ends. Hands down. Hyundai is following Toyota for the most hideous front ends in the history of autos. Google 2019 Yaris to see the worst. The Cruze might not have all the bells and whistles than other models in its class does, but it’s made in America, and I’ll take it any day without thinking too long or hard. It’s a great car.
One thing to remember, Chevrolet is the bottom of the GM line, this proves it
7 years down the line, the hyundai design would not age well compared to the cruze.
Is there such a thing as a 7 year old Hyundai?
One ideal for a Cruze engine option over the 1.6t is put that beefy 2.5 N/A under the hood as an RS option at around 205-210 hp. Yes, everyone wants the 2.0/2.7 turbos but the 2.5 would be an economic way for young and performance buyers quick, affordable package, a return to a manual option would be nice also.
This whole article is utter rubbish imo. Firstly, to say the Elantra is a better looking car is completely subjective. It’s a nice looking car but personally can’t touch the 2nd Gen Cruze. You talk of difference in power but people don’t buy a compact sedan for power they are commuters who buy for efficiency. The Cruze’s turbocharged engine destroys that of the Elantra. I get 5.0 l/100 km in my 2018 Cruze and I absolutely love the interior of it. For me the Cruze is a 10/10 would recommend.