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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  Would buy again in a heartbeat! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patrick - June 28 - 10:10 am

  I have owned this vehicle for 2 1/2 months, and it is one of the best decisions I could have made. For the price this vehicle cannot be beat. My wife likes to drive it.

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  Hot in Arizona - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By John - June 26 - 6:13 pm

  Brought it used in 2004. Former owner didnt take good care of it. Local Hyundai dealer fixed all problems with no hassles. Great car so far after putting on 11,000 miles. Love how it drives.

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  The Small Car of the Future - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Don - June 26 - 8:51 am

  Originally I was looking at A Toyota Prius, because of the mileage. However they were out of my price range. I started looking at the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Carrolla, and Nissan Sentra (No KIAs, dont like their styling). Other Brand cars left out due to mileage ratings.. After looking, and driving these cars, I settled on A 2017 Hyundai Elantra Limited for its styling, mileage ratings, smooth ride, and good interior setup. The car has a leather interior which is very comfortable. The setup of the interior is very nice, with all the controls within easy reach. The second day we had the car, we headed out on a small trip (265 miles round trip). The ride was smooth, except my wife said the front passenger seat had too much vibration to it (I will have this looked at by the Dealership). I felt very comfortable during the ride to and from our destination. The mileage was great. I averaged 44.5 MPG going to our destination, and then with driving around the Wildlife refuge (start and stop many times), we ended up for the whole trip with a combined mileage average of 42.3 MPG. I have repeated these numbers time after time going to and from work (30 miles each way. I travel about 24 miles on the freeway, and 6 miles in city. They had a great price, and the dealership was willing to come down substantially on the price. I found this very good, since their main concentration was selling their prior years stock of 2016’s. The experience with the salesman was great (His name is Woody – Streetsboro, Ohio). I would definitely buy a car from him again. I will end this by saying I look forward to getting in this car and driving to work every day.

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  Keeps on Going - 1996 Hyundai Elantra
  By theJackal99 - June 25 - 6:34 pm

  I have over 180,000 on my 1996 Elantra and it just keeps on going. Ive never had to do any major work on it. The paint and exhaust system on the car, however, could use some improvements. Very easy to scratch. The interior could be improved. But again, mechinacally it is awsome.

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  The best car ever - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Alberto - June 25 - 7:53 am

  This was my first new car, it has an astonishing 32 mpg fuel economy, I do my own tune ups, this car is very easy to access under the hood, also in the dashboard, I change the factory stereo and it was very easy, took me only 1 hour to do it. Very fun to drive, and the best of all is an affordable but elegant sedan. I am very happy with it has more than 40k miles and runs like the first day.

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  Dont underestimate this car. - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mulletproof - June 19 - 10:00 am

  How many people have you heard complain about the quality of Hyundai? So had I. But I actually did this thing called "research" on the 2002 GLS. What did my research uncover? That there was no way Id find another car thatd let me walk out the door with all the standard options this car has, plus anti-theft, cruise control, spoiler and an AT for twelve four. Tax, title, registration and plates, people. Not to mention the beefy warrenty AND 24/7 roadside assistance for 5 years. I DEFY you to. It has looks I wouldnt get embarassed over to boot. Sure, it has its drawbacks, but the gains exceed those by a wide margin in this case.

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  Great Buy - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Don N - June 19 - 10:00 am

  The reviews by Edmunds.com was right on the money. I really feel like I bought a great car for less money. Great pick up, comfortable seats, and a nice looking car. My daily commute is now enjoyable. Everyone that has seen it is impressed. I truly recommend.

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  So far so great - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By shimh - June 10 - 9:46 am

  Some problems in minor things. Handle is kind of shaky when driving.

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  BEST ECONOMY CAR - HANDS DOWN!! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By yuphrane - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Hyundai is a very reliable brand, and the Elantra is a dream to drive, especially for those who cannot afford to purchase outside the compact class. Rides smooth as silk, and carries a 5- star safety rating. Theres nothing you wont like about this car, and the purchasing deals and finance rates right now are out of this world!

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  Cheap but well made - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Helix - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Hte car is a reall steal for the money and the amenities you get with it.