Overview & Reviews

Last year's top-of-the-line Limited trim level has been dropped, but much of its equipment can still be had via an optional package for the midgrade Elantra SE trim. Stability control and brake assist have also been added as standard equipment to the SE.

• Smooth and secure ride, attractive cabin design, roomy interior with adult-friendly backseat, solid construction, responsive handling, low price, long warranty.

• Unrefined engine is noisy at mid-to-high rpm, likable interior is otherwise let down by a few low-grade interior plastics.

User Reviews:

Showing 61 through 70 of 195.00

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  I smile often with my car!... - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rich - February 17 - 4:01 pm

  I put 25k mile on my new Elantra since I purchased it 6 months ago. The best mpg was 35 and I usually get about 33 to 34 for combine city/high and Im totally satisfied my cars mpg. The cabin is quite as 4cyl engine, the front dash design is cool and nice look, the sound system is awesome enough to listen clear and powerful sound from my favorite CDs. I never thought this is a small sedan because it provides a good room for even five adults. I went to Lake Tahoe twice with my friends and we all liked and impressed about the handling, acceleration, and the way breaking. It is worth for the money and some worry about resale value.

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  Great Value for the Money - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Best Deal Going - February 14 - 5:27 pm

  I have always bought new vehicles and driven them between 250-300,000 miles. After exhaustive research which included talking to other Elantra owners I purchased one. I got a tremendous deal out the door including financing for about 15k(on an SE not GLS). On the last trip at 75 mph with the air on, a full load of passengers and full trunk I got 34 mpg. This wasnt based on the trip computer, it was the old fashioned way of calculating.Mixed driving 29 mpg. After 20,000 miles I am thoroughly convinced that this is the best deal out there. I test drove all the other cars in the class and sure some are peppier or handle better but if you are looking for best bang for you buck, here it is.

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  Bang for the buck! - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By jnelson - February 10 - 10:19 pm

  I have almost 18,000 miles on the car now and not one problem. Have done oil changes every 3000 miles. Rides nice, is quiet, gets 32mpg. My Smart car gets 39-44. The Elantra rides better too! Great warranty. All things considered a truly great car.

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  Best Car Purchase Yet - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Andy @ Dallas - February 3 - 5:16 pm

  We purchased our little "Hunni" in December and absolutely love this car. Its quiet on the highway (very little "4-cylinder engine noise" - if youve owned a 4-cylinder you know what I mean), hugs the road, great turning radius, etc. It is the nicest "small car" weve owned or even driven to date (were well into our 40s so have been around a few blocks!). We test drove this gem and both fell in love with it.

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  You Can Expect Top Shelf -Hyundai - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By JayAdler - January 29 - 3:10 pm

  June 12, 2008Admittedly, when I went to another county to visit Atlantic Hyundai with gas priced the way it is, I was looking for an economy car to help me beat whatever is ailing us today. A lower payment and better terms were my objective, however crass and vehicle ignorance this may appear to suggest. What I found was a most welcomed and  impressive sales organization and in the case of the vehicle I brought home; the 2008 Hyundai Elantra GLS with the power package intact, the most outstanding vehicle I have personally owned and I was born when Harry Truman was a feisty "show me" President. The Elantra feels the road, has astounding pickup and get go and more. I also saved.-Jay Adler

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  front crash - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By mike - January 26 - 8:30 pm

  I recently just crashed my car into a tree head on. This cars air bags did not deploy. The insurance adjuster could not believe it. I was lucky that I was not hurt. This car has a huge crumple zone which is good I guess. I loved my car and I serviced this car every 3000 miles. Good car but I dont think the security of having 6 airs bags should make you feel safe. If I could include pics I would you would not believe the damage this car suffered in a 30 mph crash.

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  10K Update - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By hutch7 - January 12 - 5:19 pm

  After 10K miles I am really trying to like this car but my first years ownership experience has been mediocre. One recall (fuel pump), two check engine lights (loose hoses), RR window track fell off and had to be repaired, Upholstery seems to be wearing poorly and its light color shows dirt, dealership botched the first oil change (admittedly not Hyundais fault) forgetting to replace the crush washer resulting in 3 qts of oil on my garage floor, interior door panels are cheap hard plastic and tend to scratch easily as well as rattle quite a bit. Otherwise car handles well is very ergonomic. My biggest disappointment are the latest iihs side impact test results...POOR/MARGINAL! Bummer...

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  Pleasantly Satisfying Period of Ownership - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By FB - January 10 - 6:19 pm

  I bought this car in April 2008, as my everyday car for school and life. I compared it to the 2008 Honda Civic LX that my cousin had as well as a 2008 Toyota Corolla S that another friend had and for the value and amenities offered on this car, it was excellent. I remember Hyundai changing their whole line of cars in 2007 to rebuild their brand and reputation, so I knew I was diving into uncharted territory going with the Hyundai over the Honda and Toyota, but for 15K out the door (for the automatic) compared to around 18K for the Civic and around 17K for the Corolla during that time and what they had to offer, I could not resist the deal. Another friend of mine went all in with the Elantra in 2007 as well, and he had done a lot of research and ended up purchasing a manual one before me, so after seeing him with his car for a year, that also lead to my reasoning that the car would be a good buy. I finally ended up selling the car to another cousin a few weeks ago and upgraded to something else, but I still miss it, although it may just be fresh in my mind given that Im still getting used to my new car. The little things mattered to me with this car, such as having 4 wheel ABS compared to the 2 rear drum sets offered in the Honda and Toyota. Fog lights were nice to have since I had always wanted a car with fog lights. Having the overhead glasses compartment, top middle compartment, under radio compartment, 2 tier center compartment, and also the two storage spaces behind the front seats was also very nice. The only thing about the car that I didnt like was that it looked a little boring, or "rental" car-ish, but I was able to fix that after I finally upgraded to the 2011-2012 Elantra 16" alloy rims, giving it the look that the SE had. The interior is very roomy, with good visibility, and Im a big 61 guy. The front seats were very comfortable, compared to when I sat in the Civic and Corolla which were tight for me. Headroom is very good, although I do wish the drivers side had the handle to hold onto which is nice when you want to switch it up driving long distances. My passengers never complained, since the shortest person usually sat behind my seat which I had to push all the way back, but it seemed like everyone was fine most of the time. Another great feature that a lot of base model or step up from base model Japanese cars dont have is heated mirrors, which are very useful in the winter (even here in So Cal), and I took them for granted when I was looking for my new car, which I had to get a higher up model to get. Whenever I drove a lot of freeway, I would end up getting around 31-34 MPG depending on how fast I would accelerate, how much force I applied when braking, and how fast I would be going on the freeway. Combined, especially in the later years, the worse I ever got was 27 MPG, but when I drove gently I would get around 28-29 MPG. In the early years I was running on the stock 15" steel wheels and afterwards I was running on the 16" alloys, so those might have affected the fuel economy a little bit. I broke in the car very well when it was new, not pushing it during the recommended period, and had always changed oil myself with full synthetic 5W-20, usually Mobil 1, and in the end, I left the car off at 111K miles, with no issues whatsoever. I just performed the recommended maintenance at my favorite mechanic every time I hit the mileage listed in the Maintenance Book, and overall, the car had been very very reliable. Surprisingly, the trunk is also very large, compared to the same Civic and Corolla as well. I had been able to help friends move with the car, filling everything to the brim. My GLS model came with the auxiliary port, but I ended up using the MP3 CD a lot more due to consistency and quality issues. The 6 speaker system is phenomenal for a cheap car, better than the 2013 Accord LXs system that my family has. Im no audiophile but I do enjoy my music and all the ranges my songs have to offer, and that is probably what I miss most from that system. Bass was deep and did not sound cheap, but vocals and everything were very clear as well! My friend put a sub-woofer in his, but honestly it was overkill since the stock system is already phenomenal. I have not been in another base model car that has an audio system that is as good as this one. Also, the car is hard to steal (unless theres some kind of new tech that thieves have access to). My friend locked my keys in my trunk once and you cannot put the seats down from the inside of the car. AAA came, unlocked the car, but the standard immobilizer didnt allow us to start the car and the alarm kept going off, so the only way was to get the other spare key/remote I had (Hyundai only gives 2 keys). Overall, the only con is the cheap plastic door panels, but I felt all other pieces in the car were pretty good quality.

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  Great car for those on a budget - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Anthony - January 7 - 2:18 pm

  I was looking for a car to drive back and forth to school going to college and all. I was really satisfied with the interior design of the Elantra, except for some of the cheap plastics. The car is a nice smooth ride, and is reliable, but it gets boring driving it after a while and it could use a little more power.

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  One quality vehicle - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By BigRed - January 3 - 3:23 pm

  I wanted an SE but Hyundai did not seem to have any. Went with the GLS and have not been disappointed. Have driven in the desperate rush hour traffic here in North Texas and was well pleased with the cars handling. On the road car did quite well, passing ok, wind noise ok, gas mileage both city and country very good. Quality of assembly, superb! Like the XM Radio.