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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  2003 Elantra GLC - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By jfoote - August 21 - 10:00 am

  2000 miles and enjoying car. Mileage is great but not excelent, handles well, nicely equipted for price. Only question is what resell will be in a few years. Recommended for price/value, ride, warranty.

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  Great Deal for Its Kind - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By PsychGuy - August 16 - 2:43 am

  After always driving large vehicles (Pickups & SUVs), I made the switch to my 2004 Elantra GLS. I have been very happy with it. I was also impressed on how well it handles during the New England winters. It has been a very reliable vehicle and for the money it beats any other car in its class hands down.

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  Great Car & Fun to Drive - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Great Car - August 15 - 12:49 am

  Have had the car since it had 15,300 miles on it and now have 98,600 and it runs absolutely great. Took a 425 mile trip and got there on 9.967 gallons of gas!!! THATS 42.6 MPG!!! Way better milage than the sticker suggests! Looking at an 05 to replace it sometime in the future.

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  My favorite little car - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By Texas Bill - August 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this little car in Sep 2001, to date have put over 30000 miles on it. Gas mileage is consistently over 30 mpg (due to a 100 mile a day commute). The comfort and performance are excellent for its class. I regularly recommend it to friends, two of whom have bought Hyundai products. I regularly get comments on its styling and questions about reliability and economy of operation. Im 65 years old, and would willingly buy another Hyundai Elantra.

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  Great Car - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By RSurber - August 13 - 10:27 pm

  I have had this car for 5 years and its still running great. I have driven it from AZ to CO twice and have not had a problem with it. I use it as a commuter car now because it is soo great on gas.

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  Impressive - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By shoeie - August 5 - 5:06 pm

  I am fresh out of college, and didnt have a great deal of money to spend when I went new car shopping. Actually I figured I would end up with a slightly used Corolla or Civic. I am so glad I took a look at my Hyundai. This car is awesome, gets good gas mileage, and with the warranty, either quality is good or theyre going to fix it anyway. I am totally impressed!

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  Cant Beat it for the Money - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By CD - August 3 - 7:38 pm

  I was transferred to an area where I now have a 120 round trip commute to work. This car performs flawlessly and is comfortable even for the long drive. This car is fun to drive and has plenty of power for a 4 cylinder. The transmission could be improved, but it does the job. At cruising speed the Elantra is suprisingly quite and smooth. The sound system could use an upgrade, but it performs ok. I drive this car pretty hard, and I have not had any problems with the engine or transmission. The radio was replaced due to a short, but that is the only problem I have had. Reviews in some magazines say this vehicle gets poor gas mileage, but I have been averaging around 32 miles per gallon

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  Better than ALL the rest! - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By mpg3 - August 1 - 8:53 pm

  I have test driven and/or researched every higher MPG vehicle out there. The Hyundai is the winner, hands down. The warranty was a deciding factor, along with the price with incentives, of course. The Elantra is very roomy and comparable in roominess to my Ford Explorer Ltd. V8. The MPG is a definite plus! I love to drive this car. It handles extremely well driving between cars, etc. There is no drag as I found with other similar cars when I was test driving, the Honda Fit, for example. This was the most impressive, with the Nissan Sentra, a close second. This car beat the Sentra though in safety, warranty, and price, among others. Daughter will drive and want one for Mom, too.

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  Great car for the money - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Garrett - July 31 - 2:54 am

  Excellent experience both in city driving and nine round trips Ohio to Florida and one Ohio to Colorado. Car gets good gas mileage, uses no oil between changes, shifts smoothly (5speed), has good vision, gets good tire wear, handles well at both low and high speeds, stops straight, provides excellent driver comfort with lumbar support seat. Still have original brakes at 55000 miles, orginal exhaust system after five Ohio winters (salt, ice, snow, slush), original batter, and no rust at all. The car has been totally reliable. It has never had a operational problem.

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  I LOVE This Car!!!!! - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lynda P - July 28 - 5:13 pm

  This car may be a 4 cylinder but it has get-up-n-go when you need it. Its a classy lil car. My aunt has a Mercedes and she says my Hyundai rides just as smooth....how about that!!! Hyundais will always be in MY future plans!!!