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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  VERY GOOD VEHICLE - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By LEOFONT - March 30 - 7:29 am

  I have owned new Hondas (2001) Audi and Nissans and this car is just as good with riding features as the aforementioned, if not better than the Nissan and Audi.....great response on the highway, nimble handling, (better than the Honda)and fun to drive...I got 25 Mpg on my first mileage test, but the tradeoff in power is worth it... The dealership was very accommodating and so far completly satisified.... The only downside I can see is the materials are on the "Cheapie" side, and ashtray, accessories are not of the high quality standards of the Honda

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  Disappointed. - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By RK - March 29 - 9:09 am

  The car is nice to look at. The MPG was a lie. The radio has malfunctioned at 80,000 miles. The timing chasing was replaced at around 20,000 miles and now at 83,000 miles the problem seems to happening once more. The tensioner went bad and it looks like it is agaIn. I change the oil every 5,000 miles and drive mostly freeway or highway miles. It has two pending recalls and the smog system had a computer reset early on. Other than that the car has been pretty nice. It does what it was designed for well. It is not a performance car. The brakes are superb. They are much bigger than need to be. And are very well finctioning.

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  3 mph Fender Bender - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By CamsTransAm - March 29 - 2:19 am

  Anyone considering an Elantra should know this! I considered getting an Elantra because of all the airbags/safety. I ended up keeping my car, and glad I did. In January it snowed and I made it to my destination safe (wrecks everywhere) when I hit black ice turning into a parking lot and an Elantra was sitting there. I hit the Elantra going 3 mph and dinged the door HORRIBLY. NO damage to my car!!! she needed two new doors and a new hinge, this is a huge safety concern and should be taken into account. IÂ’ve seen other reviews with govÂ’t crash tests where the airbags did not deploy in time and did more damage than if they hadnÂ’t gone off at all. My wisdom, choose wisely, do ALOT of research.

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  Hyundai Elantra More Car, Less Money - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By JimOhio79 - March 28 - 2:21 pm

  This is alot of car for the money. Ive found it to be both reliable AND economic. It could use a evamp of the exterior styling but is solid step-up from basic transportation. It has outlasted and outperformed my Grand Am, Cavalier, and Neon. Check it out, youll be surprised what this little car has going for it.

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  Hyundai Elantras are the best! - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Deanna Caldwell - March 28 - 1:19 pm

  This is my second Hyundai Elantra purchase. My first one was a 2010 and it still runs like a champ! Need another car so went back to Hyundai. I couldnt be happier with my choice.

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  140,000 miles later - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By alt - March 28 - 10:31 am

  We bought the Elantra with 11,000 miles on it as a used car after being used by a rental company. We have put 140,000 miles on it and it is still working well. The engine still has plenty of pep, it still will reach 80 mpn without a sweat (RPMs about 2600), the engine still purs, and the ride is as good if not better when we first bought it. It has been a very good car for us. The only complaint I have about the car is the need to change the transmission fluid out once every 30,000 miles and having to use the "Hyundai" fluid. Outside of that one concern, this car has given us 4 1/2 years of great service.

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  2nd Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By RJ - March 28 - 10:13 am

  This is the second elantra I purchased. I liked my 1999 elantra but wanted features to help in the snow. This model has ABS brakes and traction control. I have seen a huge difference in handling over the 99 elantra. I also enjoy the other standard features in this little car. The most impressive part of this car is the gas mileage. I crossed NY and went into the hills of Vermont, AC and cruise. This car gave me over 40 miles per gallon. Absolutely fantastic!!

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  Great - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Gena - March 28 - 5:33 am

  I love my elantra, and I love Hyundai

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  Very disappointed!!! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By Linda S. - March 21 - 2:31 pm

  In Feb. 2011 I bought my brand new Elantra. Had to have a dealer call me when one came in as they were selling like hot cakes and none of the dealers had one to even look at in San Diego. It was exciting to see such a beautifully designed car inside and out that would get 29/40 mpg. WOW! This would be only the 2nd "new" car Ive purchased and felt the mpg would make up a lot of the difference in the new car price. The car got 24 mpg! How disappointing. Took it to every Hyundai dealer in San Diego and no one could or would help me and gave me the run around telling me "the car needed a break in period that would finish about 7,500 miles. I called what I thought was the Hyundai Corp. and after two years realized I was calling a third party that is hired by Auto Manufacturers to take complaints, etc. Finally, I told them that Id heard them say "Im sorry" for the last time and would contact an attorney. Contacted a Lemon Law attorney and they couldnt help me as it wasnt an issue with a failing part on the car. To appease many disgruntled and lied to Elantra owners, Hyundai issued many gas cards that equaled a few cents per mile reimbursement for inflating the mpg the car would get. So, I had to go to the dealer, wait in the service dept. line to have someone check my milage, fill out a claim form and wait for the reimbursement card to arrive. Then, when I needed the card refilled had to go to the dealer again and have money added to the card. And very little money I might add. I liked everthing about my purchase except the mpg THAT WAS INFLATED BY 9 mpg and VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! I sold the car with 17,000 miles. It was covered under the warranty to replace the driver headlight where the plastic was peeling eling off. Dont think Ill ever buy another Korean car. It was a stressful, bad experience.

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  Almost Perfect - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Spidy - March 17 - 11:55 pm

  I have mostly good things to say about this vehical Very reliable,Well equiped a bargin for the price!!