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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  cant touch the deal - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By m & m - May 16 - 2:00 am

  Does everything I ask it to and at that kind of money, Honda, Toyota, Mazda, none can touch it. Gets me from here to there (commutes over 120 miles) with no fuss and easily cruises at high speeds. Big back seat fits car poolers and more than enough power to pass.

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  Questions - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Disappointed - May 15 - 7:33 pm

  Bought the car in jan. 2007, it has 1.500 kms, and I am wondering if the car has front suspension at all... Very noisy in irregular road, the front tren and the direction are causing knockings I am not very happy with...feels like driving a 100.000 kms used car. Further, the audio is poor and in the highway very noisy ( wind )

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  Buyer beware - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lee - May 15 - 9:22 am

  I have never had a car with so many problems in my life. The headlights have gone out simultaneously 6 TIMES, which the dealer claims is a coincidence. The car has been at the dealer and mechanic more than my husbands 1991 Ford Escort. As soon as one thing is fixed, another goes wrong, many things over and over again (like the air bag for instance). I have a friend who bought the same car at the same time and she is having some of the same problems.

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  Second Generation Elantra Owner - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By mlrenner - May 11 - 5:15 pm

  I currently own a 2001 Hyundai Elantra which I am about to pass on to my 16- year-old daughter. The car has 130,000 miles and still runs great so when I wanted to purchase a new vehicle, there was no question that I wanted another Elantra. I went with the SE model this time. I am extremely pleased with how much the vehicle has changed (for the better) since 2001. I love the comfort of the cabin and the sporty look. I am definitely impressed with the horsepower as well. I look forward to driving this vehicle each day!

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  I love it! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dude - May 11 - 3:00 pm

  I just bought this car and I love it already!. This car is very practical for a college student such as myself.

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  Love my GT! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dovid2 - May 11 - 10:00 am

  I have been following this car since its inception. I was finally able to buy one in December. My round-trip commute is 75 miles and the car is still fun to drive and comfortable and I look forward to getting in it every day. My only quibble is the radio, which is geared toward a younger market and somewhat inconvenient to use, although it sounds great and the remote helps.

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  You can do a lot with a little! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Creative Kid - May 3 - 1:09 pm

  With gas going up on top of having to maintain a C55AMG, I said, "phooey" on cars and got something practical. Practical, yes, but quite the fun "be boppin around ride". My benz has a power sunroof, so does my new Elantra, My benz has heated seats, so does my new Elantra, My benz has leather interior, so does my new Elantra, My benz is roomy enough for 5 people, so is my Elantra. My benz gets 19mpg, my Elantra gets almost 40 on the freeway. Hmmm, somebody do the math here but, a $200/mo. car payment, with lower maintenance costs (if any) and gas mileage a tree hugger would love, what would be the only thing missing except the "keeping up with the Jones" mentality. This is value!

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  Hyundai replaced my Toyota - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Fran - May 1 - 9:03 pm

  Researched Toyota (former car an 08 Corolla LE), Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra Se on the web and Consumer Reports. Bought the Elantra Se and am so in love with this car - something I could not say about my 08 Corolla. The latter was a nice car but nothing about it said luxury. (It was totaled by another driver this month) Am so glad I made the switch. Safety features were primary to me after the accident my Corolla was in that nearly killed 3 people. The 4 disc brakes plus Electronic Stability Control and side and curtain air bags sold me. I had wanted them on the Corolla but they were not available unless I went to another much more expensive model Toyota. Am blown away by this car!

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  my elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By keith - April 28 - 12:23 pm

  Overall, I love my Elantra. At first I was skeptical of Hyundai, but I have been pleasantly surprised and impressed. It took me a while to get used to the brake feel- no feedback, feel was not progressive, so they were difficult to modulate. This was just a matter of getting used to the car, the brake feel is not a continuing issue.

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  Elantra Fair For Price - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Snod1013 - April 27 - 10:00 am

  The Elantra offers a powerful alternative to loud, lackluster four- cylinder performance. A few complaints: trunk very light but latch hard--takes twice to close trunk unless you slam it hard. If you dont alarm goes off. Seat belt springs weak, belts dont fully retract, and belt end flops onto door sill and can get caught in door. Seat belt buckles too close to interior, hard to latch. Steering wheel at bad angle if you are 6 feet tall or taller. Pedals close together. Otherwise, fine.