Overview & Reviews
Introduced in the early 1990s, the Hyundai Elantra didn't exactly get off to a good start, earning a well-deserved reputation for overall shoddiness and unreliability. But more than two decades later, the Elantra has become one of America's most popular small sedans. Take one for a spin and you'll likely be impressed with its smooth ride, roomy interior, high fuel economy and solid build quality. The Elantra also offers plenty of features for the money and long warranty coverage. While those long-ago Elantras are best forgotten, any new or used Elantra (that you'll realistically come across) is an excellent choice for a small car shopper.
Current Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra sedan is offered three trims: SE, Limited and Sport. A coupe and Elantra GT four-door hatchback are also available and reviewed separately.
Standard SE feature highlights include alloy wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and USB/iPod interface. An option package provides 16-inch (versus 15-inch) wheels, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, voice controls, a rearview camera and heated front seats. The Limited comes with all that as well as 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a power driver seat, heated rear seats and Blue Link telematics. The Sport includes the Limited's features minus the heated rear seats and Blue Link and adds a more powerful engine, a sunroof, a sport-tuned suspension and keyless ignition and entry. The Limited can be had with a larger 7-inch touchscreen display, dual-zone automatic climate control and a navigation system.
The SE and Limited trims are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 145 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the SE, while a six-speed automatic is optional. The Limited comes only with the automatic. The Elantra Sport has a 2.0-liter four that makes 173 hp. With the Sport, the manual transmission is standard, while the automatic is optional.
Slide inside the Elantra and you'll find a cabin that matches or betters most others in it class. A stylized center stack and controls lend some flair to the cabin, and the materials, while not best-in-class, offer a rich look. Ample headroom and a smaller-diameter steering wheel contribute to the interior's spaciousness.
On the road, the 1.8-liter engine has decent punch and the automatic transmission provides smooth, well-timed shifts. This volume-selling powertrain should be fine for the majority of drivers. The added punch provided by the Sport's bigger engine should be appreciated by those willing to sacrifice a few mpg in favor of some added oomph. A compliant ride and a quiet cabin make the Elantra a comfortable choice for daily driver and road trip duty alike. The only significant downside to this Elantra is a lack of rear headroom compared to what's available from some other top small sedans.
Used Hyundai Elantra Models
The current Hyundai Elantra represents the fifth generation, which was introduced for the 2011 model year. Apart from lacking some slight styling tweaks, upgraded touchscreen displays, added sound insulation and the Sport trim level, these Elantras are otherwise identical to the current version.
 The fourth-generation Elantra ran from 2007-'10. Having established the Elantra as a legitimate contender in the compact segment with its previous-generation car, Hyundai updated the Elantra's styling, improved its handling and ride quality, and revamped the interior to near-premium levels.
Two main trim levels were available: GLS and SE. The GLS came reasonably well equipped, though it lacked stability and traction control. Those came standard on the SE after 2007. The SE also had more features and a sport-tuned suspension. In your used-car search, you might also encounter the top-line Elantra Limited ('07 only) and the Elantra Blue, which was an entry-level model offered for 2010 only.
Fourth-generation Elantras came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 138 hp and 136 lb-ft of torque. The transmission was either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Cars sold in California-emissions states could have cleaner tailpipe emissions (PZEV) but were rated for 132 hp.
Changes were minimal for this car. For 2009, the Elantra received enhanced suspension and steering tuning, along with new interior instrument and radio displays. A USB/iPod audio jack also became available. But in general, we were very impressed by this car and praised its roomy and comfortable interior, agreeable ride quality and value for the dollar.
The third-generation Elantra was produced from model years 2001-'06 and represented a considerable step up from the earlier cars. The sedan was bigger inside and out, and revised sheet metal gave it a more upscale look. Reliability and overall quality were also much improved. The standard features list was generous for the car's price, and included amenities like air-conditioning, full power accessories, side airbags, 15-inch wheels and an AM/FM cassette player. The 2.0-liter engine generated 135 hp (138 after 2003) and was mated to either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic.
An Elantra hatchback, the Elantra GT, was also offered starting in 2002 and came with additional standard features, including leather seats and a CD player. Initially, the sedan was available only in base GLS trim, but by 2003, Elantra sedans could be purchased in two trims -- GLS and the top-of-the-line GT. Although it still lacked the refinement of segment leaders like the Honda Civic, the third-generation Hyundai Elantra shone as a solid choice for buyers seeking maximum value for their money.
One would probably do best by avoiding the second-generation Elantra – built from model years 1996-2000 -- though it did at least take a turn for the better from the forgettable original. The car got a welcome boost in power with the addition of a new engine, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder capable of 130 hp and 122 lb-ft of torque. Airbags were added to the safety features list, and a wagon body style was also offered. The Elantra's engine was upgraded yet again in model year 1999, to a larger 2.0-liter. Overall, the second-gen Elantra represented a decent buy in the economy car segment. It wasn't as polished as the offerings from Honda, Nissan or Toyota, but it was well-equipped and fun to drive.
The first-generation Elantra was produced from model years 1992-'95; during this period, Hyundai's hauler was available as a sedan only. Sadly, the car's build quality and reliability reflected its bargain-basement price. Elantras from this era were notorious for being sloppy in most of the areas that matter. They were none too quick either, as all models were motivated by a 1.6-liter inline-4 good for 113 hp and 102 lb-ft of torque.
User Reviews:
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best car in its class - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By jennifert94 - February 8 - 2:00 amthis is our second Hyundai, my husband has a 2000 Elantra as well. you cant beat the warranty...you cant beat the preice...all in all, Hyundai is the car to buy if you are just looking for a family sedan or a car to commute in.
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2003 elantra gts - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By mary2500 - February 8 - 2:00 amI bought this car in Feb.03 and am very happy with it. I have had no problems whatsoever with it...it is comfortable ,reliable and you get a lot for your money including leather seats in the GTS model. It is very comfortable and its size is perfect for compact parking (always a plus). For someone looking for a car in this price range you cant ask for more than what you get with the Elantra GTS.
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Great value - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By Nkiflemar - February 8 - 2:00 amI just traded in my 1999 Elantra for a new 2003 and so far am impressed with the improvements. The car performs without fail, has a smooth ride, great pick-up and has great standard options. The only drawbacks I can see is seat size is narrow and car is slightly less roomy than the earlier model perhaps due to side airbags added. Hyundai could do better on gas mileage also and antilock breaks would be a better standard option than some of the others. I got a great trade-in for my used version and the warranty rocks! An overall great value for the price.
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Bad Clutch - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
By disapointed - February 7 - 7:33 pmFor the money it is a decent car. Currently has 43K Miles and like so many others have reported the clutch went out and is not covered under warranty ($1,200 repair) it also has problems with the head lights going going bad. The dealer also said the radiator clamps were leaking at 43K and the belts need to be replaced. I bought this for my daughter and I drive a 1998 Ford F150 with 125K and have never had to do antything other than change the oil, brakes, battery & tires. It surprises me that I am facing so many costly repairs in just 3 years with the Hyundai Elentra.
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Good looks-poor gas mileage - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
By wbill130 - February 2 - 9:26 amBuzzy stereo speakers, horrible gas mileage, tested carefully at only 22 mpg, not the 33 mpg HWY as advertised. Very noisy engine when accelerating at 2500 RPM or above, excessive road noise over small bumps. Great interior looks & features (love the Blue dash lights). Need rear view auto- dimmer glass.
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The Little GT That Could - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By DaBluz - February 2 - 2:00 amIve had the car for about a month and I love it! Im glad I did my research before assuming this car was junk just because its a Hyundai. If you notice, there arent many on the road which makes me feel good. Its great not to be a sheep and follow everyone else to the Honda, Nissan and Toyota dealers. Im a lifer for Hyundai!
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A Bargain and Fun to Drive Too - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By Enrique - January 27 - 6:10 pmIts been a joy to own and drive. The things you get for the price is hard to believe, even 4 years later. The hatchback styling is very Saabish and practical. The trunk is large (fits four tires perfectly) and with the seats folded, its huge (10+ tires, full size desk, etc). The space, ride and quietness surprises everyone. Although the stock handling doesnt live up to the GT emblem, a Tiburon rear sway bar takes minutes to swap in. Reliability has been better than I expected - about one trip per year to the dealership and its never left me stranded.
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I am satisfied - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
By Mary S - January 20 - 3:03 pmThis is my first brand new car, but Im not really excited about it. This car is just basic transportation, in a decent looking frame. I spend almost 2 hours a day in my car and the Elantra is reasonably comfortable. I am averaging 27 mpg...I thought it would be a bit better. Anyway, I chose the maroon color and I get many compliments on the color. I was also impressed with the many standard features. Its still new so I hope it continues running well!!!
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Do not buy this car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By jflo - January 19 - 2:00 amI had the care for about 5 months. I put 8000 hazardous miles on it. Rattles, squeeks, terrible acceleration...just a sucky car! Finally the throttle wore out last month leaving me stranded on the side of the road! Roadside assist took 3 hours to arrive! I couldnt believe it! In only 5 months this car had gone from brand new best buy to a clunker! So I got rid of the hunk o junk! Hyundai was not surprised at all of my complaints, and said that many people have the same difficulty
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Good Car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By KC - January 14 - 11:41 pmIve read several of consumer comments while shopping for a new car. I bought my Elantra in 2002. It was a base GLS, no options for $9990. It was a lose leader. I owned the car for 5 years and 50,000 miles. The cost of ownership was lower than any other vehicle period. I changed the oil, rotated the tires and replaced the tires at 46,000 miles. Thats all I put into the car. No windshield wipers, no battery, no brakes. Everything worked fine. The car was extremely reliable, started everytime and got me from point A to B. The car was totaled, so Im looking at replacing it with a 05 Elantra. I had a manual, no issues with the clutch or gear box. I drove this car hard and didnt have an issue.