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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  Elantra wowed me - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By artzfemme - April 26 - 7:41 pm

  I absolutely love it. It has a lot of get up and go! The standard options are fantastic and so is the warranty. I love the sporty look and the way it handles.

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  Superb Vehicle - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Nicholas Rodriguez - April 25 - 2:31 am

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  04 GLS Elantra - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ashley - April 21 - 7:28 pm

  Bought the car brand new. Very good for about 1.5 years, then had to replace brake pads 2 times in 1 year, among other problems. Not good handling, car does not want to turn. No acceleration.

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  What a difference 30 years makes - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By singledad - April 19 - 9:27 pm

  In 1986 Hyundai introduced the Excel. It was cheap. It came with automatic transmission, air conditioning and a radio. Basic transportation for $5k. They were made in Korea and I had to wait weeks to get one. What a piece of junk. That car almost put an end to Hyundai in the US. We take for granted reliable cars today but Hyundai was a junk car and that stigma lasts to this day. No more. First my personal opinion. I dont like Korean cars. They are disposable transportation appliances. As they age they become unreliable. So my daughter wants a new car. After learning on a beater. So we shop. I advised her that this is the kind of car you lease. Its a transportation appliance. So she leases this one and I have to say its a nice car. Roomy and good on gas. Power everything. Quiet ride and engine. The radio connects to her iphone easily and it sounds good. It includes oil changes and washes too, A good deal. Now time will tell if it holds up to a 20 year olds hard driving.

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  Great Car, BAD 30k mi checkup!!! part 1 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By clarose_lapro - April 18 - 9:34 pm

  I like my car I really do. My rear brakes started to make a pretty nasty noise and my check engine light came on so so I took my car in for the 30k check up. Wow it costs $500 to replace the FLUIDS $ FILTER this is required by your warranty contract only fine Hyundai parts are acceptable or...So it just so happens my cable assembly for my parking break "froze" ruining my REAR brakes, Rear Brakes shot @ 30k. Hyundai replaces the cable assembly no problem...but the serv. dept calls me to try an authorize work on my rear brakes which I would have to pay for, what?

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  2 years and still satisfied! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ken - April 18 - 9:31 pm

  I was hesitant to buy this car at the start, but quickly fell in love with it. Price, economy and warranty are just plain unbeatable. I was trying to purchase a 3-5 year old Camry or Honda and got into a brand new Elantra for the same money.

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  I was surprised by the quality... - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By kjones65 - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car a year ago as a company car to make daily trips and occasionally haul some equipment. I have been pleasantly surprised that the quality of the fit and finish over the year has been just as good as my passat. Hyundai has developed a solid product line in design and quality since it partnered with Daimler Chrysler. I would rec. this car for anyone looking for a great value.

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  Great Second Car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Stevete - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I had a Porsche Boxster S and a Mercedes S430 when I bought this car. Sold the Boxster S and use this car instead. Sound system is much better than the Boxster and the car is 10 times more reliable than the Merc. I could have bought 7 of these for what I paid for the S430.

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  Jurys Still Out - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jeff - April 15 - 7:10 pm

  Pretty good ecomony car, but DO NOT buy a standard! Clutch failed and is not covered under the bumpper to bumper warrenty. Cost to fix - around $1,000.

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  Windshield - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ben - April 13 - 1:24 pm

  Our Elantra is 5 weeks old. It was parked outside a friends house for 3 hours. Virtually no traffic and no trees overhead. The temperature was about 86 degrees. When my wife returned to the car there was a 12 inch crack in the windshield. No evidence at all that it was caused by an object, no star or chip, just the crack. My theory is heat caused the crack, something I have never seen before. Is the windshield defective? That is my conclusion.