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:

• 

  If You Can Pay Less Than $300 A Month - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By galeval - July 28 - 10:00 am

  What I really like about this care is that you dont need a lot of space for parking. One of my main goals in purchasing this car is the monthly payment. I dont what to pay a car note that was more than my student loans. My car note is less than $300 a month (for 5 years), even with the features I pay extra for like automatic pop-up sunroof with sunshade.

• 

  Nothing Special - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By cubdust - July 26 - 6:45 pm

  I bought the Elantra GT used (45,000 miles) and have owned it for 4 months. Like every vehicle on the market, you truly get what you pay for. Its been very reliable in getting me from point A to point B, but other than that, it offers very little. I feel its way too low to the ground and the pickup is as good as a lawnmower. I made the dealer replace the brakes because they were so loose, and on a few occasions it had trouble switching gears despite its automatic transmission. The stereo is weak and the "dinging" noise the car makes when the door is open is excruciating painful. Other than that, it has performed well and met my expectations, but I will upgrade within 6 months.

• 

  my car - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By JacquiH - July 22 - 10:00 am

  I am most satisfied with the vehicle warranty. We purchased the extended warranty, even though we probably wont need it. When I purchased my first new car, I purchased a Hyundai for the price and the warranty. The car itself caused me to purchase Hyundai again. I do alot of driving in my field of work and the car was/is always reliable.

• 

  Overall Good Experience with this Car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By CCM - July 19 - 7:09 pm

  I had a good experience with this car overall but not good enough to buy another Hyundai. On the plus side, you get a lot of features for the money on the down side, you tend to get what you pay for. In 3 years, I never had any major problems (other than clutch going out after 12 months due to San Francisco hills), but had lots of minor problems: brake lights constantly going out, cruise control went out, CDs stuck in CD player, worn-out floor mats, paint dinged easily. That said, the car was mechanically sound and suited my needs well as a basic city car. Wouldnt buy another Hyundai, a) because I can afford something better now and b) because I cant get past its inherent cheapness.

• 

  great car for the price - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By cadetarotc - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought this vehicle, and have so far had a good experience. Great fuel economy and comfort, but picks up a lot of road noise. If you are looking for a good first new car, and dont want to spend a bunch of money this car is for you. Plus it has an unbeatable warranty.

• 

  Hyundais little gem. - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By PuppetmasterMD - July 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my GT for about 6 months now and I love it. Its a carbon blue 5 speed. Its quick, reliable, and fun to drive. The interior is both cool looking and comfortable as well as practical. Its great around town and on long highway trips (I do a lot of both). I average 31.0 mpg during the school year (long commute) and 30.6 mpg during the off seasons. My Elantra has more features than my friends 2002 Accord. Everyone who sees it is both suprised and impressed. I got it in the 4th of July for $15,500 out the door, but I know that some Elantra owners have gotten paid even less. This is the best car Ive ever owned.

• 

  Bad paint - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Michael - July 18 - 11:52 pm

  The paint started peeling, dealer tried three times to fix and did a real crappy job. Tried to contact Hyundai and they wont even respond. Bought the car for the warrant, but Hyundai wont back the warranty, will never buy a Hyundai again. No support.

• 

  ok for the money - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By toyota - July 17 - 6:12 pm

  Good enough for a first car. Many small problems for a car with <35,000 miles. If you dont have alot of money its ok and better than a used car, but for a little more a Toyota has much more value and quality. Would not get another one.

• 

  Cant Beat It! - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Steve - July 15 - 11:54 pm

  I originally leased my 2001 Elantra when new and bought it out. Still love the interior/exterior styling. Fuel economy is good for a car with a 2 litre engine but not great. Good handling for a car at this price point, but slightly ponderous at low speeds. Brakes could be better. Body hardware has held up very well. Resale value could be a little better, too. Havent needed any major repairs - just new brakes and tires 36 months in. Overall, reliability has been excellent, flawless winter starts. Time will tell whether the car holds up as a used vehicle. The Elantra is a worthy car and almost fully competitive with Honda, Toyota, et al. Buy one, youll be happy.

• 

  LIFE SAVER! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By ringman - July 14 - 10:41 pm

  I bought this car in May, 2005 for my daughter (it only had 28000 miles). I own 2 mercedes and a vette, but this car was quite comfortable and well built for the price --- definitely a great value. On July 4, a drunk driver collided with my daughter head-on on the freeway (est. closing speed of 140 mph!). My daughter survived with bruises and a back injury which she will recover from --- but, she may have been killed or paralyzed in another car (as was the passenger of the other car). As I see it, this car saved her life!!!