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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  Love my Hyundai - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patty - October 29 - 2:16 pm

  Drove to Columubus OH from Philly on one tank of gas - with AC! I truly enjoy driving my Hyundai, recommend the manual transmission to zip around and compete with the V6s on the roads these days. My husband has a 2000 Honda Civic and I much, much prefer my Hyundai. Just turned over 40,000 miles and drive my car hard with no problems!

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  My Elantra - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jessica - October 29 - 1:34 pm

  Ive had my new 2005 Elantra for 1 week and from day 1 I just fell in love. It handles beautifully! The gas mileage is unbelieveable! Wonderful car, were very happy.

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  Didnt know much about Hyundai.... - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By hyundai1st - October 28 - 2:39 pm

  ... was a little nervous buying one. I bought this car 11 mos. ago w/72000 miles on it. It now has 83000. I have had to replace front brakes/rotors, Tires, and Battery. I do a lot of up and down hill climbing and wanted to start with new rotors and brakes, Tires I nknew about when I bought it, and the Battery was originaland 5 yrs old. All regular maintenance in my opinion. I am 62" and 260lbs, and feel comfortable behind the wheel.

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  Poor Quaility Paint Jobs - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By tim - October 27 - 7:07 pm

  I own 2 hyundias the elantra has paint peeling of from bugs and such(the rep calls it fallout)They do not cover this my 2004 santa fe has this problem also and they would only pay for 1/2 of the cost it was bought new and only has 20,000 miles on it my 95 and 97 model car paint jobs are fine. Poor paint quality paint and clearcoat very thin. Look over the car closely and dont drive on gravel. Also make sure you go buy the rules of there warranty at 30,000 miles transmission drain and radiator flush. If you don,t they mostlikely wont cover it if you have problems.

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  A fun car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jared - October 27 - 5:58 pm

  When I bought the Elantra I was looking for a fairly sensible yet fun car. I am delighted to say that I found one. It handles smoothly and doesnt slouch on the highway.

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  save so much money - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By i-suggest-this-car - October 27 - 10:00 am

  This is overall a good car, and better than others because costs so much less. Bought mine 11k with cd player for $8000, no defects at all. It is very reliable and better than many including the regular focus, sentra, aerio, cavalier, and neon. I would suggest it to anyone who wants an economy car that is decent in all respects and absolutelty no problems. Reliability and savings are the best 2 aspects of this car

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  Best car I ever purchased - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By bernie - October 26 - 11:50 pm

  At the age of 50 I have owned my share of cars, THIS is the BEST car I have owned. It hugs and holds to the road in down pouring rain with no problems, I anticapte NO problems this winter with the snow. The warrente was the orignal reason I first started looking into a Hyundai, one I test drove it I was hooked. I HIGHLY recomend this car, it is GREAT!!!!

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  Very reliable - 1995 Hyundai Elantra
  By Reliable - October 25 - 5:00 pm

  Never thought Id drive a Hyundai. Wife bought new before we married. Been the most reliable car Ive owned in 25 yrs, including Hondas, etc. Only major issue has been replacing the front wheel bearings 3 times (twice under warrenty). Has the usual list of TSBs issues on the transmission but it has not broken. Besides the hard shifting and occasional engine hesitations, been a great car.

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  Best Bet for a get-a-bout - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By mrs613 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This car is a champ! Quality is amazing for the price. Did fantastic in a drivers side t-bone crash...no injuries (except my anger of a 4 month old car being hit!) Gas mileage over 30mpg running the a/c. I have hauled bedroom furniture, an adult with a broken leg and been on serious shopping excursions...all seperate occassions, yet plenty of extra room.

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  ELANTRA GT - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By quietjohn1 - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Overall a neat car. my only complaint so far are the sweaty leather seats, would rather have cloth. As to horsepower, the specs say 140 HP. If this engine has 140HP, they must be Shetland ponies. My 1995 ford contour with a 2.0 litre 4 cyl. (122hp), and my 1995 ford probe with a 2.0 litre 4 cyl. (118hp)both have a lot more power than this one. The car does handle nicely and the hatchback is what I wanted. Just wish it really had 140HP.