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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  2001 Elantra GT- Zoom Zoom Zoom - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By mitch rb - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Best bang for the buck! I do alot of traveling and the interior features are great. Good zip in 2nd-5th gears

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  This car is junk! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By ssx_girl - January 24 - 3:17 pm

  We bought this car BRAND NEW with 8 miles on it. I liked the look of the outside, and my brother had bought a 99 Accent & had no problems with it. This car has been NOTHING but one problem after another. We have had the speedometer break once a year, and it has been totally replaced once. It broke again yesterday, and we have to have it fixed again this week. The transmission was replaced before the car was 4 years old, and now that it is almost 5 years old it is going in again for problems! I WOULD and WILL *never* purchase another Hyundai as long as I live. Im lucky I paid an extra $1500 for the extended warranty beyond their 100,000 mile deal they have. It has saved our pocket books!

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  I enjoy my car and recommend it! - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By CCNY Graduate - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Features, such as leather seats, power win/dr, sunroof and a/c, make this car fun to drive. Other features, like rear seats that fold down flat, heated side mirrors, rear defogger, front and side airbags, cruise control and child- locks, make this car responsible and mature. I have not had to use the toll free roadside assistance number for any malfunctions. The bad. The Elantras fuel mileage is really: city 25mpg, highway 30mpg. Im used to a Toyota Tercel @ 35 mpg and 44mpg. Even with 140 horse power, Elantras engine doesnt accelerate quickly. Drive fast it does, accelerating could be better.

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  Great value and Great Vehicle - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jackson4 - January 24 - 2:00 am

  We did entensive research on four vehicles and this one out shined all of them overall. It by far was the best value and has been a pleasure to own. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Not bad - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By the cs car - January 22 - 10:24 am

  We bought our Elantra in August. Not a lot of problems, just a few "rattles". Weve had problems with the paint job. Dealership told us we let bird "poop" sit too long. Not true, we had 4 hurricanes--nothing stayed on too long! We finally got the Hyundai representative to agree it was "paint failure" and it is in the shop being repainted (warranty item). We cant see spending a ton of money on a car. The Hyundais are not bad for the price. Had an Accent that went 90K - couldve gone longer but we sold it.

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  Doesnt feel or look anything like old compacts - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Steve W - January 14 - 6:41 am

  First thing is the SE trim is amazingly well equipped inside if you add the tech package. This is the best infotainment I have seen in an economy car or really any luxury car that was 2013 or prior. Large prominent full color display with seemless Pandora integration using Bluetooth or Android auto. Full phone navigation on the display is great as well even if potentially buggy depending on the phone. Cloth seats in 2017 models have come a long way even in the last few years. Usually cloth looks cheap and a little out of place. In this case the cloth looks durable and well suited to the clean new look of the car. The patterns are taste full and sharp while the added leather center console and wheel on the upgraded SE make the overall interior feel rich for such a budget car. The base sound system is also surprisingly punchy. My wifes 2013 sonata standard system doesnt have nearly as much body or as clear highs. The sound may not touch a premium set of speakers, but having turned down the limited trim with its upgradable speakers I have to say I am plenty happy with the base system. It seems like they must be pushing more wattage than older base head units because it gets loud enough to make your ears ring with only minor distortion. It reminds me of the difference of adding aftermarket speakers and a custom head unit without an amplifier. So better than expected. This car drives a lot more like my 2013 sonata with better electronic steering, than what I used to consider a compact car. I really happen to love the new feel of their steering and also the very quite ride compared to older models. I feel like the car has plenty of power especially in sport mode. I have no doubt a civic especially a si would destroy it but my car only cost 18k after tax and tag and both base packages with the base trim. Honda doesnt offer any breaks to compete with that price. Though I will say the car can cruise at 80 to 90 and still feel smooth and ready to go. Sport mode gives you passing power enough to feel confident in normal city driving so you are not a punching bag. The only time I would want more passing power would be to drive like a jerk. The car also feels very solid on high speed banks. Overall this is the most refined budget compact car I have ever driven. I also find the new civic extremely appealing but the price on the hyundai is infinitely better with all their incentives.

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  A Value Leader Among the Compacts - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By NoMoreAmericanCars - January 13 - 7:22 pm

  My car has 16500 miles on it, and it hasnt started squeaking, rattling or falling apart after 5000 miles like an American car would. Mine is a 5 speed with every option including traciton control and ABS, which is rare and hard to find. I test drove an automatic, but it was too sensitive to throttle inputs and kept reving up to and past 4500 rpm, which is useless since my 5 speed pulls even the steepest hills in 5th. Quality is much better than any American car of this size. Some cheap interior pieces, but they are all put together very well. Even the tires are an expensive Michelin model, which rides comfortably and qietly in the summer, but are useless in the snow (see below).

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  Alot for a little - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By METS313 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  Absolutely the best vehicle made for under $16,000. Loaded to the hilt with great, practical features. I use this car for work. I drive all over the North Eastern U.S., and this car can handle any road condition. A great car.

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  My Hyundai - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Grey Elantra - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I always used to drive Ford. Then when I needed a new car this was in my price range, I wasnt sure if I would like it at first. I am so glad I bought this car. With the price of gas, you cant beat the mileage this car gets and also how comfortable this car rides and drives. My parents would never buy a foreign car, but they fell in love with mine and they are looking in to it. I would definately buy another Hyundai.

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  Love my GT! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Happy-buyer! - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car in January after driving everything else in the "class" range that was $20K or less. I would say $15K, but as soon as you add a CD player and half the features that are standard on the GT to other "base" model cars, you are suddenly looking at a grinning slaesman as he tells you that your Toyota Corrolla as equipped will cost you $19,555 (and thats before tax, tags, freight, etc.). BUT, contrary to buying for the money, I also clearly got the best car in terms of performance, equipment, value and reliability. After 9 months of driving, all I have done is changed the oil. I LOVE this car!!!