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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  Rons Rally Red GT - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By RGW - June 24 - 2:00 am

  Excellent car! As a college graduation present, we gave our daughter our 2001 Elantra GLS sedan. So, Dad needed a new car! Having compared it with other cars in its class (of which there are none!), Elantra GT beat them in overall value, standard equipment, horsepower and interior room! Not to mention euro- style and looks! I chose the Rally Red over the other colors, just to be different. If you ever make one in yellow, Im there! I put almost 9,000 miles on it in less than 6 months. Love to drive it? Yup!

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  Great Car - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By Will S - June 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive had a great experience with this car.

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  Reliable Car - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Great Elantra - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought my car new. In 3 1/2 years, I racked up 110,000 miles. Only problem I had so far was with one spark plug cable going bad, causing the engine to run rough. It caused me $60 to repair. Other than this, I spent money on regular maintenance such as oil&filter change (3-4K miles), one set of tires, and spark plugs.

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  fours years old - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By gjens - June 17 - 2:00 am

  Since I purchase this car in March 2000 Ive had zero problems. I change the oil every five thou, had the tires replaced at 30,000 and one tune-up. I couldnt be more please. Naturaly the air filter,oil filter and other regular maintance items have been replaced.

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  Whats wrong with you people - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By atblis - June 16 - 2:00 am

  This car isnt that great(actually its junk). I want to like it, but I still wish (more now than ever) Id bought a Honda/Toyota. The handling is quirky, but adequate. The brakes are weak (try panic stopping). The clutch is weak and touchy. The motor does make adequate power. Fuel mileage is the bottom end of mediocre. Also, plan on putting new tires on it every 10,000 miles (or less) once it gets older. The dealer has been worthless. They wont even look at the car. "It needs aligned." I just had the thing aligned 1000 miles ago (and this is the 2nd time because of tire wear).

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  Test Drive and Buy - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bman99 - June 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car after having an American made pick up truck. After getting used to the much smaller size, I quickly realized just how fun this car is to drive! The GT has great pick up and an extremely comfortable interior. The functionality of the controls is superb and the quality has been great. I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for an economical alternative to the American made vehicles. Test drive the car and be prepared to buy!

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  AWESOME CAR!!! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By ElantraGTguy - June 13 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle definately 100% has the most bang for the buck! Ok here are the very few negative things. Some may not consider this a bad thing, but the dash gagues are indigo and for easy manufacturing reasons almost every other lighted button or dial in this car is that standard pale green from the radio to the air conditioner controls to the door locks/windows. The paint on this car is very very easily scratched or chipped so be careful. This car is really an amazing car for the price. Do your research and take this one for a spin, I think youll like!

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  Very Nice Car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By joeveto - June 7 - 10:00 am

  This is a great car. The size is deceptive, as its much larger on the inside than you would think. The car looks a lot like a Saab 9-3, but has more interior and cargo space. And its more efficient. We go on trips with our two kids and the dog, or with four grown adults. The car handles all our stuff and returns 34mpg. Weve had no mechanical issues with this car. No squeeks or rattles. Great car.

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  Got much more car for less! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Roentgen - June 2 - 10:43 am

  Our family has always been a "Toyota-only" consumer when it comes to automobiles, so when my relatives found out we were even considering the Elantra, they thought we were were crazy. But having done my research, the Elantra would give us all the features we looked for in a car without having to break the bank- and we have not been disappointed! More room than the Corolla or Civic, enough for two car seats in the back. You gotta love the standard safety features, sweet warranty, and the dashboard blue lights that add a nice touch. The gas mileage has been great and altogether, it has been a great car for me to commute to work and lug around the kids. Even the relatives love it!

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  Very good try at a ReDesign - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By newtohyundai - June 2 - 2:40 am

  Overall, I like my first Hyundai. I had some initial problems that were scary. The transmission had several episodes of rough shifting/jerking. The Owners Manual said the transmission has a learning curve. My last 5 Hondas never gave me shift shock while learning my driving habits. The mileage avgs have been 29city and 33hwy after 1800 miles. The car is quiet and comfortable. Now my biggest issue is the Speedometer. It was reading high by 9%. Hyundai changed the Instrument Cluster, which brought the error within their specs. It still reads high by 8% and Hyundais DPSM will not allow any more work on this problem. Everyone, think about your odometer running you out of warranty early.