Overview & Reviews

The Hyundai Elantra Touring was based on the European version of the fourth-generation Elantra sedan. Compared to the sedan of the same time period, the Elantra Touring hatchback wagon had a slightly longer wheelbase, sportier suspension tuning and different styling inside and out.

Where the Elantra Touring really stood out, however, was with its hauling abilities. The interior was roomy enough to seat four adults in comfort, and cargo volume was impressive. Unfortunately, the Touring never sold in big numbers, and Hyundai eventually replaced it with the newer Elantra GT. But if you need a used practical hauler with some driving spirit, the Elantra Touring merits a close look.

Used Hyundai Elantra Touring
Produced from 2009 through 2012, the Hyundai Elantra Touring was initially offered in a single well-equipped trim level. For 2010, Hyundai broke out the Touring into two trim levels, GLS and SE. Standard equipment on the GLS included air-conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, full power accessories, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a six-speaker sound system with a USB/iPod interface.

There was an optional package available for the GLS that we recommend looking for that included extra features including roof rails, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, upgraded upholstery and additional driver seat adjustments. Those features were standard on the SE, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Bluetooth was optional on both models.

The Elantra Touring was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a four-speed automatic was optional.

Inside, there was plenty of room for all occupants and their gear. The Touring was more like a midsize wagon than a compact hatchback, as it offered 24 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a massive 65 cubes with them folded down. The latter is more than many competing hatchbacks or wagons. The Touring's cabin design came from Hyundai's European studios, but the result -- primarily in terms of the interior materials – was inferior to the U.S.-market Elantra sedan of the same time.

On the road, we found the Hyundai Elantra Touring performed reasonably well, hitting 60 mph in a little under 9 seconds. The Touring's ride was also smooth and stable, and the relatively quiet cabin made it a good highway cruiser.

If versatility and utility are at the top of your list, a used Hyundai Elantra Touring stands as a great choice among small hatchbacks or wagons, especially considering its feature content, large cargo capacity and overall drivability.

User Reviews:

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  try it, youll like it - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Nance - September 15 - 3:50 pm

  smooth, comfortable, quiet, great price to add to the competition. Test drove Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit (owned), NO comparison. Display layout easy use and read, radio great. Very stable feeling on the road. When doors get shut, they sound solid. Not a cheap feel. Easy to get in and out of. Completely sold on first test drive. Very enjoyable, looking forward to driving every day. Been getting very good gas mileage--avg. 33-34 breaking in miles, driving hills and town.

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  like this car so far - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By R Fritz - August 8 - 12:40 pm

  Shifts smoothly and plenty of pep. Rides and looks like a Volvo. Precise handling,but bumpy ride. Hard seats, but comfortable with 8 way adjustable. Well equipped with even a refrigerated glove box. Quite roomy and a good value. No gas mileage figures yet. Good warrantee, but plenty of exceptions

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  worth every penny - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By frank wagner - July 11 - 4:33 am

  The 2010 elantra touring se/manual is a well built car and easy to drive. Plenty of leg room and comfort for front and back passengers. I traded in my Hyundai elantra 2000 gls manual that I had driven for 10 years. It held up remarkably well and Im sure the touring will do the same. The touring handles the road extremely well and the cloth interior is exceptionally attractive. This car delivers a very smooth ride and is a pleasure to drive on long trips.

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  Big Car for Small Price - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By PittsburghGirl - May 17 - 9:50 am

  My husband & I were having doubts about trading in our RAV4 because we didnt want to give up the cargo space. The ET is a great alternative. We havent had any problems so far. The day after we bought it, the great storm of Feb 2010 arrived. The car did great, even on the hills that make up Pittsburgh. I love the large windshield, and there arent any blindspots. So far, we love this car.

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  Great car, great price! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By maple - March 9 - 10:00 am

  After doing a lot of research, I decided that the Touring was the car for me. I wanted a hatchback, and I wasnt happy with what was on the market (except possibly the Mazda 3). This car fit the bill - its roomy, comfortable, reliable, gets great gas mileage and versatile! Not to mention the very reasonable price tag! I got a manual transmission, so its pretty fun to drive, too.

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  I loveit! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By I love it - February 23 - 10:40 pm

  I bought my Elantra Touring 2months ago and I really love it! Particularly I like its European exterior design. Good Gas saver also! Before I bought it I had drove 2001 Saab 9-5 which drove 20m/g(Avg). Now, I drive 28m/g (avg) with my Hyundai and I save 20$ per week. Moreover, handling is fantastic!

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  Love This Car! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By psimm215 - January 12 - 11:26 am

  I bought this car (my second Hyundai) a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I picked the car up on my way out of town for a weekend road trip (500 miles round trip). My destination was in the Tenn mountains, on the way back I got a surprising 38.9 mpg. The ride was very comfortable and pretty quiet. We put the back seats down and filled the cargo space with donations for a local food bank, it held over 600 items with room to spare so we only had to make one trip. I live in Atlanta so my city mpg has only been around 25, I expect that to improve as the engine breaks in. Rick Case bumped up the warranty to 20 yrs, 200,000 miles so I think I will keep this car for many years.

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  Happy Hatchback - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Brian - January 10 - 4:13 pm

  Having driven my Touring for 6 weeks, I am impressed with the fit and finish of the vehicle. I am averaging 30mi on HWY and 27 in town. There a lot of user friendly pockets, theres plenty of head and leg room and I am a 62" tall. It may not have the most zip of a car but I am all about getting there safe and its safety really suprized me. Breaking is good and traction control has worked on snowy roads.

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  Update on my 9/21/2009 review - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Happy Camper - December 29 - 9:06 am

  Still lovin this car after having put over 27K on it. Performed satisfactorily through the New England winter and its still fun to drive. I do find that I rarely seem to get it into reverse with first try; have to give it another extra little push when I hear the gears grumbling. One somewhat annoying little bugaboo that started happening last fall is the driverside door locking by itself when I get out. Seems that I might be slamming the door too hard (from all those years of driving larger cars with bigger and heavier doors, I guess) which sets the latch to lock.

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  Buy this car! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By tellosahn - October 19 - 5:06 am

  After reviewing and test driving a lot of 4 door hatchbacks, I decided to test drive the Touring model. It took me about 30 seconds for me to make up my mind and buy the car. The cargo space, dash controls, satellite radio, gas mileage, and most of all the safety features won me over.