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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  Nice - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By JOe - February 12 - 2:28 am

  ....didnt realize all the warranties and abilities this car has. At this point im satisfied, just purchased it today. Only 9 miles on it!

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  Good Luck Fixing It - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By driver - February 12 - 1:50 am

  The check-engine light went on. So I went to the dealer, who told me the exhaust manifold is cracked, and it will not be covered under the warranty because "it must be your driving." A few months later, I get a letter from Hyundai telling me exactly that the car is known to crack the manifold itself. So I go to the dealer and asked both the exhaust manifold and catalyst converter to be replaced. The fix costed over $800, and Hyunai would only reimburse about $400. 1 weeks later, car starts to lose power, and eventually died on the highway. It turns out the dealer never replaced the manifold or the converter and the car overheated and killed radiator.

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  Wow - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By jcouture - February 11 - 4:34 am

  I used this car for my 100 mile trip to Boston and surrounding area. Im a lead foot and always beat this poor car every day. Now it has 250,000 miles and it still runs great! I have had allot of transmission problems. Other than that, all its needed is a wheel bearing and an altornator. If you are a courier, buy this car! Its perfect for zipping arround the city, and its more powerfull than I expected.

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  Outstanding Value - GET ONE ! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sparks - February 8 - 12:53 pm

  Ive just bought my first Hyundai, an Elantra GT Sedan with full package and Im thrilled with it. Had never even considered one until a week ago, but the facts and the feel all added up to one obvious decision - I had to buy one. FACTS: Theres NOTHING thats cheaper anywhere in the market in new cars. Ive compared all the majors. With the special $1,750 rebate, it was a must-have! Theres more standard on these cars than any other make and no better warranty anywhere! Period. FEEL: Plenty of power from a 2.0 liter motor if youre OK with a manual tranny. Very solid ride (GT only) - handles turns and bumps with ease and safety.

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  GREAT Little Car - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Tom Butler - February 7 - 4:59 pm

  Was skeptical at first of the EPAs mileage ratings. On the first trip, I obtained a consistant 38-40 mpg, highway. Around town, Im getting 25- 28. Car is very comfortable, and the GTs suspension is very tight.

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  Fun-to-Drive, but low on refinement - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By KB - February 7 - 2:02 pm

  I got a used 01 Elantra which had served me well. Apart from regular maintenance, never had any major issues. Performance wise 0-60 in 8.4 (manual) and ~140 hp (exaggerated or otherwise), this car has got it for traffic light takeoffs & freeway merging. Although gearshift quality is a tad vague at times. Engine is slightly on the rougher side at high revs but has more than enough guts to take on compact crowd. Fuel economy is disappointing as well. In short, its a winner if low cost, reliability, driveablity (MT) is important & fuel economy, interior trim quality & image are not that important

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  Im Impressed - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Xaviermgk - February 4 - 4:20 am

  This is my first new car, so my frame of reference may be skewed, but I think the Elantras overall package is simply unbeatable. The exterior design is slick, the interior is sufficiently functional and solid, and the engine definitely has some kick to it. The one factor that amazed me is the turning stability and turn radius, which nearly equalled my Volvo. Ive consistently gotten gas mileage between 29-31 mpg, with only about half of the mileage on the highway.

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  Bought New - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By akitas3 - February 2 - 4:23 pm

  Love my lil car. In the 5 years or ownership this car has been back to the dealer once for a recall. Otherwise no other problems.

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  Very Haooy - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By SteveCat - February 1 - 2:00 am

  Great car for a low price

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  The Sponsored Elantra - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lance Seidman - January 31 - 7:17 pm

  This car is great, it gets awesome mileage but since I put in a sound system, the mileage is much lower.