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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Never own Hyundai again - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Karen L - February 18 - 8:27 amI own a Hyundai Elentra 2010 and I am getting rid of it in 2 months. Horrible brakes and skids in bad weather.
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Never own Hyundai again - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Karen L - February 18 - 8:27 amI own a Hyundai Elentra 2010 and I am getting rid of it in 2 months. Horrible brakes and skids in bad weather.
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Best Buy - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By chazjr - February 17 - 10:00 amBest Buy in price range. Best warranty in Price range. How can you lose?
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Very User Friendly! - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
By Nick W - February 16 - 10:00 pmI bought this car almost brand new. It had only 6,000 miles when I got it in 2001. I have driven this car all over the USA, putting close 90,000 in the 5yrs I have owned it. I have never had mechanical problems out of this car. I can say it has been good to me. The car is very very reliable and the gas mileage is great also. The only major downside is the resale value. You better never try to sell it coz you will be SHOCKED!! The car depreciates at an alarming rate.
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Bang For Your Buck - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By Valubuyer - February 15 - 10:00 amIve owned my GT Hatchback for 30 days now. I have found it to be a fantastic car. I realize there are a significant percentage of buyers out there who will not be satisfied unless they have paid a lot of money for their vehicle. Try as you might, you will be unable to pay more than $14,000, so you folks will need to look elsewhere. I went with the hatchback vs. the sedan trim based on the distinctive style. A word of caution however; the hatchback model with ABS/moonroof package seems to be a pretty rare animal. Be prepared to wait for delivery.
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No Problems - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By streak - February 12 - 1:49 pmHave had this car for over 3 years. Light usage, mostly in town, some trips. Have had no problems..nada. Guess Ill take it in at 30k for checkup. Have not replaced any lights,but will check them all out after reading other reviews. A very fun and reliable car.
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CUTE CAR - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
By - February 6 - 2:00 amI HAVE FOUND THE HYUNDAI TO BE A GOOD VALUE FOR THE PRICE... THE SIZE IS GOOD AND IT DRIVES VERY NICE WITH PLENTY OF SPACE.. HAVE TAKEN IT ON TRIPS AND NOT A PROBLEM WITH GOOD PICK UP AND COMFORT RIDING... NICE MEDIUM CAR.
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Fun to Drive - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By Lori3773 - January 26 - 10:00 amOverall, I really enjoy this car. It is fun to drive, for having a small engine, it really has a lot of get up and go power, especially for the freeway. It is really comfortable, and fits everything that I would need to take with me either camping or to the beach, the trunk is very large.
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GROWIN 2 LUV HYUNDIA - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By NESSA709 - January 20 - 10:00 amIVE HAD MY CAR FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND I MUST SAY IM VERY IMPRESS WITH MY CAR IT HANDLES VERY WELL. HYUNDIA HAS COME A LONG WAYS FROM THAT TACKLE LIL SPACESHIP CAR BACK IN THE DAYS. THE ELANTRA IS MORE LUXURY AND COMFORTABLE TO AFFORD.
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Very pleased! - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
By Tom - January 20 - 4:56 amExcellent car for the price. First time buying a foreign car and very pleased! May buy another in the future!
