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:
Showing 2031 through 2040 of 2,696.00-
good relatively cheap car - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
By eugen - May 7 - 2:00 amI had a pleasant experience with this car. Not enough power though. The sound system is badly designed but it is not an essential part of a car I guess... for me at least. It get realatively good mileage on the highways. Wished it kept its value better.
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Reliable car at a low price - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By velantra - May 4 - 2:00 amThis car has been very reliable. I love the style and the engine pulls well. It cost me thousands less than the competitors and recently place 2nd for Corporate nameplate in J.D. Powers inital quality survey for 2004. Im sure the long term surey will show positive results also.
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Torture your BMW-owning friends - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By hansent - May 2 - 10:00 amIve put 2,000 miles on this spirited five speed and couldnt be happier! The gearbox is smooth, the engine peppy, and the handling surprisingly agile. Im 62" and fit comfortably in the leather seats. The stereo is very good and the instruments are laid out perfectly. My BMW 3-series owning friend hates it when our friends tell him how similar our cars appear to be!
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Not bad for the buck! - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
By fce - May 1 - 2:00 amNot a bad little car. I bought it for commuting with 105000 miles. It had a bad auto transmission. As far as I know this is the major downfall of this car. I have junk yard connections so I put the trans. in myself. It is only a 2 hour job at most. Bam! I got a decent little car. The car drives solid, no rattles, it even handles pretty good.
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Great Car - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
By peachferrari - April 30 - 2:00 amI bought this car with about 40,000 miles on it. Shortly after, the check engine light came on, and I had to get the catalytic converter replaced. I was able to do it in Utah, as the Las Vegas dealer I went to didnt give me the time of day. Other than that, it has been great. Love the peppy engine and my aftermarket CD player sounds good with the speakers.
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Im a Hyundai convert... - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By Ian Lozada - April 26 - 2:00 amStill runs like showroom new after 24000 miles. Fun to drive. Scratches easily.
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The best car Ive tried yet. - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
By kuehnerlantra - April 25 - 10:00 amIm work full-time, and Im a full-time college student. I commute an average of around 500mi per week, so I had to find a car that was reliable. I looked at the Hondas, but theyre too expensive, and over rated. The Elantra is an amazing value. Its confortable for any size driver or passenger. It has tons of storage space, and gets good gas mileage, I average around 400mi per tank of fuel. They only way youre going to believe me is if you test drive one, so go try it, stop believing the Honda myth.
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From palm trees to mountains - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By twitch1900 - April 25 - 10:00 amAwesome car for the money....many ammenities incl in the price! Puts Honda and Toyota to shame for comparable car.
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I like my Elantra - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By Drakke - April 25 - 10:00 amMy 2003 Elantra, replaced a 2001 Elantra, which was totalled in an accident. I like the Elantra. Its reliable. The local dealer, Automax, has an excellent service department. Im happy with my Elantra.
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I love this car! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
By Jayme - April 24 - 6:23 pmI had a 2004 Hyundai Elantra before this 2007 and they are not the same car. It is so so much better. It has a lot more room on the inside and the outside but it still drives like a littler car. I love this car!
