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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  Love this car! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By someone_somewhere - April 12 - 4:16 pm

  Ive had this car over 2 years and never had a problem with it except one little dash light that stuck on and Hyundai fixed it free with no hassles.

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  2006 Elantra - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By jb - April 11 - 8:03 pm

  Nice fun car to drive. I have had no problem beating the EPA rated mileage. I average 31 in city driving and 40 on the highway.

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  good car, service too expensive. - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Beth - April 11 - 9:40 am

  I just took my car in for its 60,000 servicing-- $880!! I was not shocked by the $400 servicing at 30,000, but this one threw me for a loop! I wasnt prepared for that big a number. (I guess the warranty is not COMPLETELY free, since these two services are REQUIRED in order to keep your car under warranty.) I have had to replace a few bulbs too, and they are a little tricky to do yourself. One bigger issue: When I accelerate hard to get up to speed (like on an on-ramp) the car downshifts ROUGH-- it sounds like the transmission is about to fall out of the bottom of the car. I dont like that much, and the dealership doesnt seem to think it is a big deal, but it makes me nervous.

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  Got Lucky - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By RichVid - April 10 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I were in the market for a secondary, slightly used car for our household. We looked at Saturns, Ford Focuses, Mazda Proteges, etc etc...in other words, something reliable but not wanting to pay the $$$ of a used Honda or Toyota. We never considered a Hyundai. Then we noticed a neighbor down the street with a nice looking Elantra for sale. Further Investigation revealed a 2002 GLS with only 11,000 miles and a price tag around 6K! After driving the car, it was pretty much a no brainer...it now sits in our driveway...What a wonderful little car at a steal of a price.

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  an excellent car and value - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Happy Hyundai owner - April 8 - 4:30 pm

  this car is an exceptional value for the money, fun to drive, solid and reliable.Quite ride and plemty of room for adults amd a very large trunk

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  Replacement clutches are NO GOOD!! - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By K Mills - April 7 - 11:09 pm

  My son bought this 99 Elantra in 12/03 during his last yr of high school. It had about 23k miles on it, now has almost 90k. Usual maintenance, tires, brakes once and thought it would get him through college. Wrong! Replaced the clutch 5/06 and it had to be replaced again 1/07 - less than 8 months later, no change in driving habits or mileage. Now we cant unload this thing to save our lives and the blasted clutch is acting up again... Oh, and the inside door handles arent the best either. They just come off in your hand - no "man- handling" necessary. Have replaced 3 of those.

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  Unbelievable! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By new GT Owner - April 7 - 10:00 am

  Just bought an Elantra GT 2002 pewter with automatic. Great control in corners, the car follows very well the road. Good acceleration, even with automatic. The car feels very solid and is far from Civic, Sentra or Protege. Body lean is better controled in Elantra bacause of the suspension. I drove before the Sentra and Accord for about 1 year each. I like Elantra better, especially for its price and features.

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  Cheap to buy, cheap to feed! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bill - April 5 - 3:26 pm

  We wnated something affordable for my commute downtown - this car has been great. Cheap to buy, cheap to feed (gas), cheap to keep. Not luxury, but a good, comfortable, servicable car, that handles very well (suggest buying good tires)in traffic and on open road. Great room in back seat and trunk. Have had a few problems after 60K, but nothing serious. Negotiated extended warranty as part of deal (bought a demo) and it proved useful when radiator went. Had problem with tie rods, but dealer handled. Would like to stop hearing "thats just what happens with these cars" from dealer, however - thats the one thing that will make me compare elsewhere for the next car.

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  Almost perfect - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dan L. - April 2 - 10:00 am

  I researched cars in this class for months before taking the plunge. I bought the Elantra GT to replace my wifes Neon Sport. We both have past racing experience and realy enjoy driving a good-performing car. The GT has most of what I was looking for and is the only car out there that offers so much for so little.

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  great car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By tre - April 2 - 1:55 am

  this car has been awesome!..i love the handling the features and the style. this is the best overall car i have ever owned!..little stuff bug me like the wierd wear patterns on the hubcaps..looks like painted thin plastic succecptable to wear...i need to have those replaced...paint in general seems thin on the whole car.. (easy scratch marks)...but that really is my biggest complaint..the car is a winner outside of that!!!...peppy..handles well..nice stereo and well designed..thank god i dont have to get my 63" frame in the backseat tho!...=)...not a ton of room back there, but enough for the average joe or jo-ette...i like this car alot, make driving fun for me again!!