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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  Great little car, for a decent price! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dani - February 26 - 12:50 am

  I purchased my car brand new and itll be two years in May since Ive had it. I keep up with the maintenance so in return, my car has not let me down!! I take day trips on the weekends and the gas mileage is great. Smooth ride, good handling, and pretty comfortable (unless youre over 60" and sitting in the back-seat).

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  i love this car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By SaraLee18 - February 24 - 2:00 am

  i love this car. it is roomy andincredibly gas efficient, anddidnt break my bank. I hope to have this car for the next 10 years.

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  Move aside Honda - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jay - February 23 - 11:57 pm

  One of the nicest compacts out there. Rides better and has more room and pep than my Civic had. But my 3 negatives are: (1)Squeaks developed going slowly over speed bumps after 8 mos. (2)I have yet to get over 20 mpg and I drive slowly and do not accelerate suddenly. I do drive solely in town however. (3)The rear window fogs when its rainy and humid unless the AC is full blast.

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  Floating !!!! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By noliman - February 21 - 12:15 am

  After many , many cars, domestic and abroad, I can tell you only this- FANTASTIC C A R ! Floating feeling, as plain, not ordinary car. BRAVO for Hyundai.

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  2006 Hyundai - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By James - February 20 - 11:09 pm

  This is my first new vehicle ever, and I plan to drive this for many years to come. Although I originally intended to purchase the 06 hatchback, it was only available in a manual which I wasnt looking forward to as I drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic. The driving of the vehicle is fantastic and I have driven some vehicles that cost twice its amount that perform much less effectively. The Elantra has a peppy 4-cyl that proves that this world does not need to be dominated by 6-cyl vehicles it is both peppy and quick when it needs to be. It comes standard with most of the features that are not provided standard on comparable vehicles.

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  Best car in price range, or even higher - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By mike - February 18 - 6:02 pm

  Very happy with car, quality far above domestic cars,and beats many Japanese models costing thousands more which is a big surprise to me. The Koreans are offering a lot for the money.

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  Love it - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Defenderman2 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Okay, going on 2 yrs here and couldnt be happier with this car. Amazing build quality, dealer responds to every single detail (replaced headlamps for free!). Car has more power than most realize and 4 out of 5 friends would buy one in a minute. Company is purchasing one as a general use vehicle on my recommendation.

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  Excellent Choice - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Regina - February 17 - 11:42 pm

  When I first saw the car on the showroom floor I knew that was what I wanted. A 5 door vehicle. I love the hatchback. Once you unlock your doors all you have to do is raise the back. Its great not to have to look for the key. Lots of room. Great on the highway.

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  You get what you pay for. - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Gina - February 17 - 12:30 am

  I bought the GLS hatchback when my old Chevrolaet Cavalier was near its end (1990)158,000 miles. The GLS cost me 15,000 out the door. Well at first I thought I got a good car for a good price. I was so wrong. 4 days after I took delivery it died at a stop light. I called the dealer and they towed it to the shop. They told me the computor needed to be replaced. I got it back the and 1 week later it was dead in the morning, had it towed again. This time they blamed the mechanice for leaving a wire loose. The A/C stopped working on its 2nd use, they told me the fuse was blown and replaced that. Then a few weeks later when raing the wipers stopped working, again they said a fuse blew.

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  6300 miles - so far, so good - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By seedygal - February 13 - 8:34 pm

  This car purchase is the meeting point of lowest cost for the highest number of desired features, relatively good gas mileage for reasonable cabin/trunk space, and operational reliability. I plan to drive this vehicle for the next 10 years, so the Hyundai warranty was a very strong selling feature. Didnt pay the extra $800 for two features I wanted (AT and cruise) but I havent been sorry. The car drives well thru all conditions including snow/ice, tho an 8 hr road trip is about as much as I want in it. It does have the highway floaty feel to it. For mostly about town transportation, Im quite satisifed w/ it, tho I will be acquiring after market cruise control (for less than $800!).