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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  owner - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By carl - March 17 - 1:26 pm

  it a fun car to drive , handles well on the highway and acclerates well

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  This is the Best Car ever - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By invoice - March 13 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. My wife and I fight over driving it and we have decide to get her one of her owe.

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  new style elantra is a beauty! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By tucker - March 13 - 10:00 am

  although just buying this car, on first impluse, its a great car to look at. It has a very "alive" engine and the noise is kept to a minimal. All the standard features will just blow you away... I managed to take home the "convenience package (which consists of keyless entry w/ alarm, cruise control, and a cd player upgrade)..so as of 2100 miles..im in love with this car. Although i am pro-hyundai anyway because i use to own a 2000 hyundai accent. In my honest opinion, despite all my respect for this company, I really do think they are making a honest and very respectable leap into making nice quality cars. GO HYUNDAI!

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  Great Value, Great Fun - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bob in Macon,GA - March 10 - 6:10 am

  Have only owned it for a week,but it has exceeded my expectations so far. Great Interstate cruiser: quiet and comfortable. Build quality appears to be great, and gas mileage looks great so far.

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  Loving it so far. - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ema - March 8 - 5:23 pm

  Ive had my Elantra GT for just under a year now.I bought it used for about $11K last May 2005 with 35,000 miles on it. Its fully loaded with sunroof, traction control, Kenwood CD Stereo w/ detachable face. No way I would have gotten so much for such that price from the other cars I was considering (Golf, Matrix, Protege, Saturn).Ive got just over 52,000 miles on it now. I love this car. I drive 75 miles a day to get to work and driving around Chicago streets and highways is so much more comfortable. Cargo space is excellent for the size of the car. Only problem, that recently popped up, is with cruise control switch which was replaced by the warranty. Just regular maintanence so far

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  Incredible Car! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Z.S.W - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Engine: Quiet at idle, sounds awesome at full-throttle, responsive, not underpowered. Clutch operation is smooth, yet grippy. Suspension: Unbelievably smooth and comfortable ride - like a Cadillac, yet handling leans more towards that of a sporty car. Stops fast and straight. Quiet tires (Michelin). Interior: Roomy and comfortable. Hyundai thought of everything, from numerous storage compartments to hiding rear cup holders. Factory sound equipment sounds extremely nice, with good bass and ear-tingling highs. Exterior: Attractive styling compared with previous years. Good paint selection.

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  Ive just bought a terrific Elantra - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Laurenbogle - March 8 - 2:00 am

  After my parked 98 Accord was totaled by a reckless driver that was driving too fast my heart broke. I thought nothing would be able to replace the Accord. However the moment I test drove the 2004 Elantra it felt right. I felt so comfortable and safe driving it, I had to get it!!!! The exterior/interior are very classy looking and ive been getting tons of compliments on it!!!! Lauren

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  A Solid Deal - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Brendan K. - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for almost a year. I took a 6,000 mile road trip through 120-degree desert without a hiccup from this car. It drives extremely well, engine power is more than sufficient (especially with a manual transmission), and it has not given me a single mechanical problem after 15,000+ miles. I experienced some wind noise at high speeds, but the dealership replaced the weather strips under warranty. All this for $11,400 + TTL, and they even threw in the upgraded Sony CD/Casette player!

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  awesome bargain - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By dodgerfan - March 7 - 10:00 am

  i love this car. enough said

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  Skeptical at first but... - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Driven - March 6 - 2:35 pm

  I couldnt have totaled my last Volvo at a worse time, financially. So, I went in search of some realiable transportation, telling myself that it would just be for a year max and then I could get into another Volvo. After reading about this car in the Kiplingers Report, then reading the reviews on here and other sites, I called my dealership. Unfortunately, this was soon after a Hyundai ship had been lost at sea and these cars were a bit hard to come by but they found me one and even came down to my price. Well, its been over two years and Im still driving it. Not because I have to but because I actually like it. Quality, milage, its there!