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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  Nice car for the price - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By bsh1 - July 3 - 6:19 pm

  Have had the car for about three months now and I am very satisfied with my purchase. My family owns two huyndais and they have been good reliable cars so far. I thought the previous elantras were kind of ugly but this year the design is very appealing, which is why i went for it. For the money I think you get a great deal considering the safety options etc. My main complaint with this car is the speedometer. It is way off and it is a common thing if you read the forum here. Huyndai needs to take responsibility over this and get it fixed. 4-10% error cannot be ignored.I have yet to test my odometer-keeping my fingers crossed.

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  I love my car. - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By UAFAN84 - July 2 - 10:00 am

  When I bought my car I wasnt sure about buying a Hyundai, but my experience has been nothing but positive.

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  GREAT LITTLE GAS MIZER - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By anthony1223 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I BOUGHT THE CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND LOVE THE OPTIONS. I HAD TO TRADE IN MY 99 GRAND CHEROKEE FOR TRAVELING REASONS AND AM VERY HAPPY WITH THE WARRANTY.

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  Great Car! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By David - June 26 - 2:26 pm

  My wife had a 2002 Hyundai Elantra which started falling apart. We decided instead of paying costly repairs we would buy a new one. First we looked into the Toyota Yaris and Corolla..We really didnt care for either of them. We then test drove a Nissan Sentra which seemed great but the price was a bit higher than we were wanting to pay. We decided to give Hyundai a shot again. We test drove the "new" elantra and fell in love with it. We choose the purple color but really it should be called Black Cherry. This car was for my wife and she is very happy with it! Best price and warranty out there for a small car.

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  Near perfect - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By dieselhead - June 26 - 10:00 am

  I can only find two things to gripe about with this car: rear visibility is less than stellar and the low beam/high beam switch should be a toggle style switch. Otherwise this car shines in all areas. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but this ex-European has no problem with the Euro-styling. The performance and handling seem more than adequate for a car with this much practicality. Long term reliabilty is something of an unknown and to be honest I wouldnt have bought this car without the 100k/10yr warranty. I have no regrets about buying this car. The only question is, do we need a second one?

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  Sporty, yet practical. - 2014 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sydney Ealy - June 26 - 12:24 am

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  Edmunds inconsistant editorial Elant 06 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By crb - June 25 - 12:56 am

  Consumers Reports Buyers Guide Elantra 06 rates reliability very good/accidant avoid ance very good/Edmunds editorial 04//05/ rating is a 78/06 75 Elantra Sorry you are wrong Edmunds.com My Elantra averages better than 26 miles per gallon.Consumer Guide rates Honda Civic 26.1 mpg. Civic is a 10 EX Mazda 3 10/Hyundai is a solid 8 No recalls 06 Elantra/ 05/04 recalls. Edmunds gets it right 07 8.3 07 bettet car but 06/05/04 Recommended by C.R., C.G.

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  Not sure I would purchase again - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Krista - June 21 - 12:27 am

  I am a long-time Hyundai owner. I like the body style, the comfort of the seats and the design of the interior. Additionally, the ultimate performance of the vehicle is better than prior models and the engine has more power. However, the manual transmission is difficult, to say the least, and I have driven a manual since I started driving. The friction point is hard to hit and the shifting is not smooth. Additionally the reverse is located in the same spot as 1st and does not easily come out of reverse to be put into first gear. Also, if you try to replace the stock stereo its almost impossible to find a wiring harness I ultimately had to have one shipped from New York to California.

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  Elantra Limited - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By davids - June 18 - 5:49 pm

  Me and my significant other have already put 5K miles on our Seattle Blue Limited with light gray leather. He fight each other over who gets to drive it. I like the looks of the old Elentra but this version is incredible. The Mazda3 Grand Touring is nice and perhaps more handsome but basically costs 5K more with inferior gas mileage. So its not even close IMHO. The 4c is peppy, climbs hills easily. 5 spd better than auto. The rear end sits up high so rear visibility is not good. But other than that, its a great, great car. There are a few little things I wish it had, (see below) but I venture to say this is the best bargain of all cars, all cars, sold in the United States right now.

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  half and half - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By rendawn - June 18 - 4:04 pm

  I love the drive of the Elantra and so far the mileage is great. Be careful when washing the car you dont want to apply too much pressure or you will dent your car. The interior is extremely comfortable but I have to go to the service dept this week to get the seat belt adjusting piece fixed,its stuck and the sunglass holder is broken and Ive never even used it. I have made more trips back to the dealer than Ive ever had to with a car. I previously owned a Tucson and I never had a single problem so I thought I would get the same quality with the Elantra. I hope nothing else breaks. Its fun to drive, handles nice but the cheap parts are cheap...I still prefer it over a Toyota or Honda