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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  My 2001 Hyundai Elantra GT - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rebecca - March 26 - 1:03 pm

  I have owned this car since 2002, with 4000 miles on it, this car has been reliable and fun to drive, great for a 17 year old or an adult, and comes fully loaded I would definatly reccomend this car to others that are looking, and GREAT on gas, as I drive all day for my business.

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  great car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By jim c - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Have owned many vehicles--vans, SUV, sedans, sub compacts--this is among the best I have had--as soon as I brought it home, my wife decided she liked it more than her 2001 pearl white Sonata, a larger, more expensive vehicle. For all of you looking at the more expensive Corollas, Sentras, and Civics, please do yourself a favor and drive this one also. Happy car hunting.

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  Very good vehicle - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By NormE - March 9 - 7:42 pm

  My Elantra GT has been my first experience with leasing. When the lease expires in June, I will be sorry to let it go. I need more storage than the hatchback allows for several sets of golf clubs. Everything else about the vehicle has been above average. One missing nicety is a hatch release from inside I cannot understand why this has been overlooked.

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  Move over Civic and Corolla - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By JF - March 8 - 11:46 pm

  I have had this car about a week and love it for a compact. It has more drivers legroom, rides better, has more power, steers better, and just overall is a nicer car than my 99 Civic was. Top it off with a much better warranty than Honda or Toyota offer and for thousands less.

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  2002 Elantra VE - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Chris Mathews - March 7 - 9:18 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used (lease return)with 83300kms on the clock. It has exceeded all my expectations. The only trouble I have had was the failure of the front speed sensor on the auto transmission. It would not let it shift to 3rd gear. I was able to drive at 80kph to the dealer where it was replaced. The transmission shifts beautifully. I plan on another Hyundai as my next vehicle, and I highly recommend it to anyone who asks.The only downside for me is the control for the cruise. It is not as convenient to use as the buttons on the steering wheel used by other manufacturers.

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  great car - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By TW - March 7 - 7:38 pm

  Never had any trouble with this car, I did change the timing belt at about 60000 miles and do timely maintenance as recommended. I would buy this car again.

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  Watch Out - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By kwiff1939 - March 6 - 3:28 am

  quality of leather poor, color off on driver seat back within three months. replacement has same problem. dealership will not replace again. driver door weather seal poor. wore away within few months. replaced one time only. replacement worn out as well. same problem existed on 2002 elantra. replaced three times before trading car in.too many ordinary wear and tear answers. headlight and battery replaced under warranty. hyundai usa will not help. states that the district manager has last say. gas milage poor compared to other similar makes.

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  2005 Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rob - March 4 - 4:10 pm

  I compared & test drove many many vehicles including the Kia Spectra before purchasing the Elantra. For a communter car, the overall quality, reliability and pricing made this a no brainer. The only complaint I have is the gas mileage during local/city driving. I get great mileage on the highway but the city/local mileage seems to suffer severely. But I guess I should not complain too much because the gas mileage is way better than my Chevy Suburban. I did not get the $300 CD Player option, instead purchased an Alpine/Kenwood system & installed it myself for the same price. Overall I think this is an excellent value when everything is factored in.

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  Good Value - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By HunnyCar - March 1 - 5:55 pm

  Fun to drive, especially for a wagon. Handling is zippy and predictable, The 2-liter V6 is smooth and predictable. Reliability has been good at 49,000 miles, but the radio gave out early.

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  very enjoyable ride - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By alan rubin - March 1 - 4:39 pm

  This is one fine car to drive for comfort and handling.From the very nice seating to the fine quiet ride, the limited Elantra is always an enjoyable ride, on city streets or highway driving, its a great enjoyable ride.The gas mileage is 25 city 39 highway and very good performance.Very quiet and a very solid feel over all kinds of roads.Visibility and safety are great and the radio really sounds high end.There is a roomy and comfortable rear seat thats easy getting in and out.Steering is also an improvement over earlier models which gives me a confident feel.Overall for the class I think this car ranks right at the top.