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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  Not what I wanted but glad I bought it - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sheri - October 3 - 3:56 am

  To be completely honest this was NOT the car I wanted. I wanted the new Scion XB. The price was the decider here and had to stay in budget. The car gives so much value for the money. My husband has a 2005 and while neither car has a lot going on in the power department it is definitely better than anything in its price range as far as features goes. I was less than thrilled to drive it off the lot but as time goes by I am really starting to appreciate the car. It turns heads at times which is a surprise and the biggest comment I get is THATS A HYUNDAI! The interior is very stylish and does not feel cheap. We looked for over a year and drove everything out there before we bought

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  Great little car - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Crystal - September 29 - 2:24 pm

  This car has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have put 80,000 miles on it so far and I have had no major repairs. Only maintence type repairs have needed to be done. Very good car for the price.

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  New Clutch at 30000 - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patrick - September 28 - 2:08 pm

  New clutch at 30000 and not covered under "bumper to Bumper". I was the only one who drove it and I did not abuse it! Do not buy a manual transmission, because the clutch is not covered under bumper to bumper and they wear out prematurely. A Auto transmission is covered.

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  Excellent car, but bad fuel economy - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By MRP - September 26 - 12:29 am

  Bought the car new trying to same some money. The car comes loaded with a reasonable price comparing with a Toyota Corolla. But then I realized that my car was doing pretty bad for fuel economy inside the city (between 14-16 mpg). I went to the dealer 3 times and the last time I was able to speak with the regional maganger and his answer was... "you buy what buy"... there is nothing we can do to improve the mpg... my answer to him was... "you just lost a customer".

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  GREAT - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By CARDRIVER - September 25 - 2:00 am

  great car! what else can I say?

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  Most bang for the buck! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike St.Clair - September 24 - 1:26 am

  Ok, first off, Ive had way too many cars. Between my wife and me, weve owned 41 cars since 1994. I think Im qualified to say this Hyundai Elantra GT is one of the best driving compact cars Ive ever driven or owned. The leather interior is very comfortable and was made to last. Very nice leather steering wheel and shifter. The ride is 10 out of 10. No other compact car with a sporting attitude even comes close. I average 27.5 city and recently observed 30+ at 80mph+ with the ac on. Great headlights, awesome brakes, very good handling, and way more roomy inside than others. The Focus, Neon, Civic, and Mazda3 should take some notes. The 3 is overrated IMHO>

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  Best deal for the money - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By VictorK - September 20 - 12:03 am

  Im extremely happy with my Elantra. So much that Im considering getting another Hyundai. When I got it I compared it to all its competitors and the fact that A/C, power windows, power and heated mirrors and keyless entry come standard made it the best deal. Also - it comes with Michelin tires!

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  What a gas - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Eric - September 18 - 6:53 pm

  I have had my Elantra for 11,000 miles and are very pleased with performance. Especially fuel. Dont understand some other complaints on Edmunds about gas mileage as I get 36-37 on the open road. Went to Vermont and did almost 500 miles and still had just under 1/4 tank left. I have had trouble with rotor noise that the dealer fixed but now its back.

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  Worst car ever !!! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By floridagal - September 18 - 5:11 pm

  I purchased my hyundia elantra GLS only 4 months ago and I am looking to unload this car fast, it handles really poorly. Have to floor it to get it up to 20mph and from there it speeds up to 50 by hardly touching the gas. The gas pedal has a very soft and loose feel to it, and I dont feel I have any control over this car. My previous 1999 corolla handled much better than this. The car looks nice for the money but was not worth buying as I dont feel safe nor enjoy driving it.

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  best car I ever owned-2nd one - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By WILLIAM KRAMER - September 10 - 8:05 pm

  This is my 2nd elantra, I traded in a 2004 with 36000 miles on it, and had no problems with it, it ran rings arround my 2004 Honda Civic Lease car. The 2006 only has 1200 miles on it, but rids more like a luxury car, and the radion has improved 200 percent. It has lots of power, and ease of handling, and the engine is a thing of beauty.