Facelift (What's New)

• · Now offered solely with a 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain paired to a six-speed DCT
• · Multi-link rear suspension
• · Revised front fascia with a wider grille and a sharper overall look

Over seven generations, the Hyundai Avante (or Elantra. Different name, same car) has established itself as a popular choice among families. Practical, sensible and affordable, it delivered all the necessary capabilities that any family needed.

In particular, the seventh generation CN7 model was especially impressive. Stylishly designed and packed full of features, it was certainly one of the most bang-for-buck family sedans. That said, if there was one aspect of the car that did not quite stand out as much, it would be the drivetrain. While adequate, it wasn't the most efficient nor entertaining.

Now, we have the facelifted model, and with it comes a major and significant upgrade - a hybrid powertrain.

Considering direct rivals like the Toyota Corolla Altis and Honda Civic have already previously offered hybrid drivetrains in Singapore (though no longer), Hyundai might appear to be a little late to the party. However, it's worth pointing out that the seventh generation Avante was offered as a hybrid - just not in Singapore when it was launched.

Regardless, this facelifted model is now offered solely with this 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain. Better late than never, I suppose.

Hybrid power

This is the same hybrid drivetrain found in the Kona Hybrid, which combines a 1.6-litre engine and a 34kW electric motor to produce a combined 129bhp and 265Nm of torque. Compared to the previous naturally aspirated 1.6-litre powertrain, this is a significant improvement, especially on the torque front.

The Avante was never a slow car, but this hybrid powertrain grants it an even more sprightly character. Don't expect exceptional acceleration when you mash the throttle, but where it most impresses is between 30-50% throttle - there's a swell of available torque that urges the car forward effortlessly.

It's also a pretty smooth drivetrain - changeover between electric and petrol power is well-managed, with the exception of the sound. It's not necessarily noisy, but you definitely do hear it at lower speeds. This hybrid powertrain also features a six-speed DCT, which allows for quick, smooth and seamless gear changes. Altogether, the hybrid drivetrain scores high on refinement.

Efficiency is also greatly improved. Hyundai claims 21.3km/L, and I managed 20.4km/L over three days of driving. It's not the most efficient hybrid system in the market (you can get some crazy figures with a Prius), but it's still a marked improvement over the previous drivetrain.

There is also a Sport mode, but where this car is most in its element is in being driven lightly (and in either Eco or Smart mode). Engine noises are kept relatively at bay, NVH dampening is quite good, and there is an overall smoothness to the experience that the hybrid drivetrain affords that really improves the driving experience.

One more important thing to note: While it produces more power and a lot more torque than before, this Avante still manages to slot under the Cat A COE cap. That's key: This is presently the only Cat A hybrid sedan in the market, which certainly helps with its affordability, as well as its appeal.

Test drive the Avante Hybrid here: https://hyundai.com.sg/test-drive/

The rest of the mechanical package remains impressive. A multi-link rear suspension means that overall ride quality is excellent and actually fairly sophisticated, which augments an already stellar chassis setup. The car handles itself well through twisty roads, and steering feels solid. Overall, it’s really quite a nice car to drive.

A little bit sharper

With this facelift, the exterior has also been updated. Most notable is the widened grille, which accentuates the car’s width and slanted nose. It really turns the car's bold and extroverted design up to 11. Throw in the trim piece that connects to LED head lights, and you get a car that looks distinctly modern. I still don't find it particularly attractive, but it's distinct, no doubt about it. The rear is mostly familiar, though the bumper has been lightly reworked.

The interior is basically the same as before. There are tiny differences if you really squint and look (the charging pad is slightly redesigned, and this being a hybrid you get an additional 12V battery reset button), but it's otherwise still a highly functional and practical space. It's not the last word in luxury, sure, but it's certainly well equipped, especially in this 'Elite' variant - wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera that has a useful top-down view, rear USB C ports for passengers, ventilated and heated front seats, and electric memory seats for the driver, and a sunroof (the last three not available on the lower 'S' trim).

One thing that is different is the upholstery. This car now comes with an eco-friendly artificial leather trim, compared to fabric previously. While I do like me some fabric seats, I believe that for most people, the faux-leather actually increases the perception of quality.

The car is also highly practical. You have a quite sizeable 474-litre boot (though why the spare tyre has been put back in, I'm not quite sure), and rear legroom remains generous.

It's not a 10/10, though. I personally wished there was a dedicated home button for the infotainment. Once you are connected to CarPlay (like I usually am), it takes unnecessarily many keystrokes (at least 2, maybe 3) to get back to the original infotainment interface.

Also, while overall build quality and materials are generally good, there are places where the car's efforts towards affordability shows. This is most apparent when you look upwards - halogen cabin lights, and a fabric roof liner that's probably unchanged from the sixth generation model.

Of course, the car also comes with the full suite of Hyundai's driver assistance systems. They work well, and are quite easy to operate - steering assist and adaptive cruise control can be easily toggled on and off just from buttons on the steering wheel. These can be very useful in heavy/slow highway traffic.

A whole lot better

The seventh generation Hyundai Avante was a mighty impressive car. On its own, this facelift isn't particularly significant - it's mostly just cosmetic differences.

However, with the hybrid powertrain now finally introduced to Singapore, it makes a major and significant difference and improvement. It raises the overall efficiency and performance of the car, while also adding to its overall quality and refinement. It addresses the most obvious shortcoming of the seventh generation model when initially launched, and really helps to round out the Avante into the car it is supposed to be.

Pair that to an already impressive package (both mechanically and in terms of equipment), and the fact that it's still priced quite competitively, and this becomes a no-brainer choice in this segment. The car isn't perfect, but it is overwhelmingly good that I'm not sure any of its current competition comes close.

So yes, maybe Hyundai might be a little late to the game by finally offering a hybridised Avante in Singapore. But with this facelifted model, it definitely has a winner.

Read the full article here: https://www.sgcarmart.com/articles/car-reviews/hyundai-avante-hybrid-elite-facelift-review-34606

Test drive the Avante Hybrid here: https://hyundai.com.sg/test-drive/