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:

• 

  Great Car for the price - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By lexigirl - January 8 - 9:56 am

  Have only had a little over a week. Love the way it drives and looks. Paid $14,990 with sunroof package. Only complaint is the alarm system goes off for no reason quite often. Brought to dealership & was told its fixed, but when we arrived to pick up the car, alarm was going off in parking lot. Made another appt to bring back. Had to have the brakes looked at as it was vibrating when braking. This they easily fixed by shaving the rust that had built up sitting on lot. Brakes are fine now. Warranty is outstanding! Looking to sell my SUV & get another one.

• 

  1 week rental left us very impressed - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By mouse n lkwd nj - January 7 - 2:00 am

  while on vacation we rented a elantra and were pleasantly suprised by its all round performance. we put over 1100 miles on it with 4 adults and it made a great impression on all of us. we all found it comfortable to drive and the rear seat is very roomy, it had multiple seat adjustments, a/c, power windows etc. it drove very smooth and was more refined then cars costing thousands more. we averaged about 28mpg with mixed city/hwy driving w/4 aboard

• 

  great car! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By VP - January 5 - 2:22 pm

  This is an excellent car for all around driving... does well on the highway and great in urban traffic situations. I originally was leaning towards getting a Civic but now love the Hyundai and urge all my friends to get one too. And getting an average of 29 miles per gallon is nice too, considering the price of gas lately.

• 

  A Lot of Value - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By PWesch - January 1 - 10:00 am

  After 18 months and 24000 I still think my Elantra provides the most value in the price class. It could benefit from more low end torque, especially when the AC is on. Otherwise, the car is fun to drive has a comfortable interior. My driver side heated mirror didnt work from day one, but was replaced under warranty and there have been no other problems.

• 

  yea - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By elantraman - January 1 - 10:00 am

  Can not beat it for the price. Compare to similar vehicles not 20K+ cars. Comfortable.

• 

  The Elantra: Much Better Than Expected! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By psyduck - January 1 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is reliable, fun to drive and looks great for the price. It replaced a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS in my household. I must say that I liked the 2000 model, but really love this one! It has many improved features and more options! The body styling is the area of greatest improvment...many people think it is either a Saab or another expensive high-end import! I got a great deal ($13,600) for a fully loaded GT with automatic. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

• 

  2005 elantra Gt - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By abram123 - December 28 - 10:56 pm

  I absolutely like my Hyundai Elantra hatchback I brought 3 month ago. The only problems I had is the brakes making noise in wet weather. It rides like a dream and the gas mileage is great Im getting 36 mile per gal. Im been a Honda person for years. The Elantra holes the road like a dream and handle get in the snow cover roads.

• 

  Fun Little Car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Luke - December 28 - 6:30 pm

  Initial quality was better than expected. Only disappointment was FM tuner did not work. I like the GTs leather interior and ride. I didnt like the Black Bodyside molding. Its a pain to hand wax around it.

• 

  Great Value - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By hyundaifan - December 26 - 1:31 am

  Bought in Mar of O5 and now have 11k miles on it. Car has been flawless. Traction control great on icy roads. Starts great in below zero weather. Gas mileage consistently between 27 and 33 mpg. Handling is nice not to stiff and rides much nicer and quieter than my 02 Honda civic. Stereo good. Cannot see why anyone would pay the extra money for a Honda which is several thousand more with less equipment. Warranty is unbeatable and overall quality seems to be great. I would recommend this car to anyone that is looking for a great car at a great price.

• 

  Even better than I thought it would be - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By James - December 24 - 11:51 am

  I love this car! I have been driving a 94 Geo Prizm around for a long time, finally traded it in for a pre- owned 05 Elantra GT 4dr sedan (manual transmission) with only 8400 miles on it, and I am in heaven. It is a great commuter car, plenty of pep, I get good gas mileage, and it loooks great to me, which is what matters. I have only had the car for 3 days now, and I like it more every day I drive it. I seem to find excuses to have to run errands just so I can drive this car some more. The handling also seems to be perfectly fine to me, as long as you dont compare it to a performance sports car. Now if Hyundai only made a small minivan or CUV for my wife . . . :)