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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  130,000K miles, and its perfect! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By petarvn1 - February 26 - 11:22 pm

  This car was bought for my eldest brother when he started college. He got this car in 11 with 101K miles on it. Since then, another 30ishK miles have come and gone, and its as fresh as ever. It does show its age (fuel tank has hairline fracture in it, has needed a lot of engine parts replaced recently) but for a car driven like this one, its not bad at all! The manual gets better MPGs than our 40K mile 06 auto elantra, and it looks just as good! Just one problem with this car, and thats the trunk. Its large, but not as larger as the hatchs. Overall, a great 1st car (especially for $4995!) Only problem right now is a missing trim piece that fell off due to bad glue!

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  Best car ive never owned - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By petarvn1 - February 26 - 11:08 pm

  I know, the title is weird, but hear me out. My brother got one of these when he got a job. It was a mechanic owned, 35,000 original mile elantra with no problems with it (other than a CD that was stuck in the Stereo.) The car is very comfy to ride in the front, but rear hedroom is not too great for anyone over 6 foot. Its also a good looking car, for what it is. The cars achilles heel is the Slushbox they call an automatic. We happen to have an 04 manual as well, and its MUCH more fun to drive. other that that, its just a great comuter car. 5K miles in 5 months, with no issues. Maintenence is pricier than youd expect though.

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  Look in the trunk! - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By cjj71 - February 22 - 10:28 am

  I really was a fan of my 12 Elantra since I purchased. No, I have not been able to get close to the mileage stated on sticker but I dont put a lot of mile on my car and they are mostly city miles. I liked the "extras" heated seats, XM, blue-tooth. Price was good compared to other cars in same class.("Get what you pay for") NOW this is why I am not a fan anymore...I recently got a flat tire (in Feb. in very cold NH) luckily I was close to enough to make it to work before it went completely flat!) well upon opening the trunk to get the spare and jack I found NEITHER!!! There is a small air pump. I called my auto dealer to find out the Elantra does not come with a spare tire or a jack!!!

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  Fun to drive and very efficient too! - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By bleese - February 12 - 5:31 pm

  Weve owned our Elantra for a year now and we love driving it daily. Its sporty and very quick to respond to sudden turns and stops. We dropped from a Honda Accord to this car and at first were worried about the size, but after a few days, we quickly feel in love with it. The savings on gas is amazing, the trunk space is massive and at 62" tall, I have plenty of leg and head room in either the driver or passenger seat. It handles well in all weather conditions and is super quiet. We havent had any issues and never mind taking it in for an oil change with inspection since the warranty is so extensive. I recommend this car to anyone needing a solid, dependable vehicle.

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  Second time Elantra owner. - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By 2ndtimeowner - February 12 - 4:40 pm

  Just traded our 2010 Elantra.Why ?Why not. new style new color . and the best fact we liked our last Elantra . The dealership and I dont say this much but,they made it work. really. we only had 35,500 miles on last car ,gave us great trade in . and in the end walked into new car as if it was nothing. trade in covered loan ,payment stayed the same .. But most of all we liked the service ,and also the car .. the 2010 was a big question mark for us . our first hyundai. We owned Honda,toyota , many times over the years . But this elantra . These two Elantras are the best bang for the buck. saved alot of money . The 2013 is no question a nicer car.

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  Problems with tires and break - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By rafiai - February 11 - 8:51 pm

  I have bought this car just over one year ago, we do live in cold climate ( Ontario), I am not sure if this car was built for this climate, as the car has done only 25000 KM, the dealership tells me I need new sets of tires and my break are rusted, I was shocked to hear I have to spend over $1400 for a car that is one year old and Hyundai Canada refused to cover the cost, they said to me the tires are not part of the car and I have to go to the tire manufacturer , and when I did approached them, they refused to pay for the tires, this is a car that is been used for inner city and was kept indoor at all times, and I am 56 years old, so I was not racing with

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  Deplorable Gas Mileage - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By metzrob - February 1 - 2:57 pm

  I am getting under 30 MPG on my 2012 Hyundai Elantra while doing 55 MPH on the highway and using cruise control. They respond to your emails with big promises, but then they just disappear and think that you will magically become a satisfied, and silent, customer. Im neither satisfied nor silent. I estimate that I have steered at least 15-20 people away from Hyundai and I will try to warn as many people as i can in the future.

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  Deplorable Gas Mileage - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By metzrob - January 31 - 5:30 pm

  I am getting horrible gas mileage on my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It is under 30 MPG while doing 55 MPH using cruise control on an open highway. The dealership treats me like a moron and promises me the moon and then thinks I will just disappear and somehow magically become a satisfied customer if they do nothing. The mileage rebate program is woefully insufficient. People need to know that these cars are not good on mileage to say the least.

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  2006 Elantra GLS still going strong at 214,576 - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By binski72 - January 29 - 5:18 pm

  I bought this car new in june of 2006. The only thing I have done to this car is change the oil every 5,000 miles. I have gone through 3 sets of tires and front brakes 3 times. at 120,000 I did a complete tune up and had the trans and radiator flushed. This is my 4th elantra and they heve never let me down. Just make sure you do the basic maintaince and it will last a long time. I do drive 90% of the time on the highway. With the cruise controll set at 68mph I am still getting 32mpg on the highway. If i set it at 78mph it drops to 28mpg.

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  I love this car - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By elantra6 - January 26 - 12:25 pm

  I have had this car for 3 weeks and I love it. I was trying to choose between Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Ford, Kia, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla , Nisan... and few othes... At the end I had to pich between Honda Cic and Elantra - and I chose the Elantra. So I saved $3,000 , got a better looking car, more leg space, much better warranty , 5 years of road side assistance, 2 years of free oil change. The quality is great it drives great- feels very sporty.