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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  buy this car - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By greg - June 14 - 9:22 pm

  i had a 2003 elantra and loved it and now i just purchased the new 2007 and love it even more. cant say enough about this car except that if you are considering buying a car in this class, then this one needs to be the one

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  Perfect Fit! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By mogultek - June 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Elantra GT for 6 months now, & I still love it. It is fun to drive & very comfortable. Although it is a very inexpensive car, it still has all of the options & style of one twice as expensive. When you think of buying a new car for less than $20,000, you think of having to sacrifice options like leather seats, lumbar support, or a power sunroof. I was very pleasantly surprised to find all of these options & many more inside the Elantra GT, & the best part was, not only was it under $20k, it was under $15k! Once I took it for a test drive, I knew that I was sold. It fits perfectly into my budget, as well as my lifestyle!

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  Good all around car - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Nathan Toke - June 12 - 5:07 pm

  I bought this as my first car in graduate school and it has served me well for three years and 20k miles. It has been reliable and easy to drive. The interior is really crappy as was the case with 1990s hyundais... many plastic parts are wearing down on the interior. The window motors start to die at 80k. Some of this could be enhanced because of sitting so long in the desert (phoenix) sun. The outside of the car is nice (although the paint has worn on the grill and the hub caps look pretty poor these days. The visibility in this car is supreme! which makes this car fun and easy to drive. It is better to drive on the highway at speeds between 60-75(33mpg) than the city (21mpg).

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  My second - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By true - June 9 - 9:50 pm

  This is my second Elantra. My first was a 2001. I didnt intend to buy a car when I went on the lot, but the value and improvements in the interior got me. I did have some trouble with the gas mileage at first, but switched from ethanol to regular unleaded and my mpg has increased to approx. 28 in town, and 34 on highway. I have had quite a few headlights go out, which was also a problem with my 2001. Solution seems to be to replace both at the same time. Minor work has been done..mostly cosmetic rather than repairs.

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  A Great Little Car! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By suzie - June 9 - 2:31 am

  We purchased this car new a little over 2 years ago and havent regretted the purchase yet! My husband drives a lot of miles for his job, and the gas mileage/price is what attracted us to this car. It handles nicely and has the right amount of get-up-and-go for highway and interstate driving. We were also attracted to the safety features. We havent had to do any service on the car other than routine maintenance, but we have had to have the little clips that hold the floor mats down replaced a few times on the drivers side - they seem to break off easily. This car is surprisingly roomy and comfortable.

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  GLs lover - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By GLS - June 8 - 4:26 pm

  Just purchased 5 days ago. Gave $12,800. This included cruise,Automatic, CD player and all taxes.

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  Elantra - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lady JJ - June 8 - 10:00 am

  The Elantra is a very fun car to drive!! The best feature of my Elantra is the sunroof!! Excellent car for a very low price!!

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  Surprised Me - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Paul - June 6 - 10:12 am

  Wanted smaller car for milage looked at Civic and Corolla. Price did for Hyundi after rebates and dealing got it for $15,000 MSRP was 18,380. I cant believe it is quieter than my 2005 Camry and much less wind noise. Audio first rate. Simple controls nice cubbies and tight fit. I never thought a small car, at such a price,could offer so much. Hyundi did it right. Have not had the car long but averaging 30 mpg on combined driving. Waiting to take a trip.My reliability rating is a guess.

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  Dangerous for tall people - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By whatever - June 5 - 10:57 pm

  I love this car and recently got an awesome deal on it. But I have to sit rather akward to keep my head from hitting the ceileing (im 63"). It has a sun roof which is nice though thats where my head is. Problem is if I get hit at the passenger door im very likely to break my neck, even at slower speeds.

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  A Hyundai? Yes, a Hyundai - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Hottdogz - June 5 - 7:59 pm

  We were just minutes away from buying a 2007 Toyota Corolla S and we walked onto the Hyundai lot everything changed. What caught my eye was a sporty little blue car that we thought looked like a Jetta, only nicer. We found the courage to walk into Hyundai territory, only to find the best small car on the market today, the 2007 Hyundai Elantra. When you add up the list of standard features with the SULEV rating, MPG, XM radio and outright fun of ride and drive it was no contest. The Corolla was off the table and staying off the road. We bought a small car because gas prices continue to rise the excitment of it all ended right there. To our supprise, this car Rocks!!!Yes a Hyundai