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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  Overall Dependable Car - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By Karen - September 8 - 11:14 pm

  This has been a dependable car. I bought this car at the 30,000 mile range. Its no good for comfort on long road trips. Seats are uncomfortable if sitting in for more than a 1/2 hour or so. Overall for the price you cant beat it. It has over 80,000 on it now and not ready for brakes yet. Just normal oil and maintenance keeps you running in one of these Elantras.

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  2004 GT hatchback - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By itazura - September 8 - 10:00 am

  Only have a few hundred miles on the car, but the driving experience so far has been very positive. We bought the GT hatchback, and the stiffer suspension does introduce road vibration -- but the precise control through turns and on windy roads is great. The automatic transmission has a lot of zip in first and the lower range of second, but bogs down a bit under acceleration at 40mph+. Rear seats are tight in terms of leg room unless the folks up front scoot forward. One nice improvement over the 2003 is that the childseat tether anchors are no longer back at the back of the hatch area...they are directly below the rear seat backs.

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  Glad I Waited !!! - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ed Jackson - September 7 - 5:44 pm

  I wanted a car with better gas mileage to replace my old 2003 Sonata. However, I also wanted a car with some creature comforts and not just a plain small econo-box. I started looking about a year ago and checked out all the 2015 compact cars. They were okay, but they all lacked the look I liked or the interior was wrong for me. I read the previews about some of the new models and since they sounded promising, I held off buying any of the older cars. Finally the new 2016 Honda Civic and Chevy Cruze rolled out. They received good reviews and the Civic received raves in some places. The prices for the upscale models killed them for me though. I wanted something nice, but not one that would drain my wallet to get one. I finally decided to check out what Hyundai was offering. I had not realized the old Elantra had been completely replaced by a new 2017 model year design. When I came across that news, I was interested to say the least. Hyundai always offers great features, long warranty (I already knew that from before), and decent prices. So I checked out the early reviews and they were positive to very positive, putting the Elantra in the top tier of compact cars. I then saw that Hyundai had a bunch of rebates in effect so I jumped at the chance. I had the find one in the color and trim and I wanted - Mineral Beige in Limited trim - hard to find. But find one I did and took it out for a drive and said to myself, I glad I held out as this is the car I wanted. I bought it right then and there. Pros: Excellent looking car. I think it looks better than most competitors in the class. The 17inch alloys are nice and makes the car distinct. Very good gas mileage. Most of my driving is highway with some city mixed in and Im getting 39mpg combined. Ride is composed, with good road feel. I would have preferred a little more give over bumps, but that is personal preference. You can corner going fairly fast and the tires grip well even though the car is not marketed to the performance crowd. Very little wind noise and engine noise. 147 horsepower is more than enough in this car. It passes on two lanes fast enough to hit 90mph before you know it. The leather seats are comfortable with really good side bolstering and with the power driver seat and tilt/telescoping steering wheel, it wheel gives me an excellent driving position. Excellent blind-side traffic detection and cross-traffic detection when backing up. These are must haves when buying a new car and Hyundais version works really well. Back seat room will be fine for most people and the seats are nice for the class. The AV Media and Radio system is nice. Upscale and works well with plenty of features for the Bluetooth and Wifi users. The standard limited trim has plenty of goodies for most people unless you really want rear heated seats and adaptive cruise control and other high end extras that you are willing to pay more for. Cons: Could have used more soft-touch materials on the door. The plain plastic around the power window buttons detracts from the experience in the limited trim. The trunk is a little small, but this is a compact car after all. The tires are noisy to my ears and intrude into the cabin. I wish Hyundai would have done a little better here. No remote start on the control fob. You have to use the Bluelink cellphone system and pay for the previlage to start remotely. You do get other features if you pay the Bluelink fee. To get the Homelink system with programmable garage door opener you have to add the extra technology package. The package includes other major goodies that some people will want. You can add the Homelink rearview mirror later on as an accessory, but I wish that had been part of the standard limited trim. Overall this is a five star car. Hyundai has really elevated the Elantra in class for 2017. If you dont need the a Sonata size vehicle, you will want to take the Elantra for a test drive and see for youself. Treat yourself to the Limited and you will not be dissappointed for years to come in my opinion.

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  Hyandai Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By draggonfly76 - September 7 - 8:17 am

  The biggest problem I had with the car is the handling is slow, turns are wide, and curves you have to take slowly, mostly below the speed limit. Also the care dents very easily if you put your hand on the hood of the car and press down the metal will bend with your hand. You can have all the safety airbags in the world, but the car is made out of tin. The plus side of this car is it is great on gas I wouldnt have to fill my tank for over 2 weeks at a time.

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  red hyundai - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By tina thompson - September 3 - 9:38 pm

  it is a very dependable car, i have not had any problems with it. evrything works on the car the way it should, this was my first purchase of a new car.

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  Best - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By strawberry - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Good car, runs good, best warrenty, good gas mileage, good styling, reliable,runs smooth, great second car

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  Its ok. - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kate - August 31 - 3:52 pm

  My husband I bought our Hyundai when our Pontiac died. After owning it for about six months now I would say that its "ok". Not "great". Just "ok". We havent had any problems with the engine, we did have a defective tire that went flat for no reason and was completely shredded inside. We have had to call the roadside service that comes with the car for them to jump the battery after we went on vacation for a week and left it at the airport. But other than minor things its been alright. The price is great esp. considering what you get.

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  excellent - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By charlene - August 31 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for over a year and it is the greatest thing ever happen to me, Everything is so good

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  Excellent car for its price - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ketav - August 28 - 9:10 pm

  Its just 2 days that I own this beautiful car. Its fun to drive this car. Easy handling. Its equipped with lot of small utilities, that we see in a high range car. It does make noise when going from mid to high rpm. Overall its a good car and I am satisfied with it.

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  Very comfortable! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By MikeCa - August 28 - 10:00 am

  This car has been great and has everything I wanted at a phenomenal price and the warranty is incomparable! Only problems were with alternator/battery that went dead in first 10 months. Radio also just glitched out and went dead. Both problems were repaired very quickly and congenially! Very happy!