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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Happy - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
By TMiller - December 13 - 2:00 amI bought the car new. I had a problem with the overflow leaking. I think that it was the dealers b.s. though. Their has always been a problem when I fill the gas tank it puts out a strong gas odor. I have brought it in and of course they dont know what it is. I have had 4/5 new gas caps. I too have a problem with the door handle. The car has been from NY to FL a dozen times and to GA a few too. I have another car now (due to a growing family, it doesnt hold more than 2 car seats) but the elantra still bails me out in any snow storm. Or any other time I need it and is now driven on a more part time basis by my other half.
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98 Elantra - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
By Treebeard5 - December 7 - 2:00 amThis has been a reliable vehicle. It lacks the comforts of more expensive vehicles, but for the money its not a bad buy. No mechanical problems, just general maintenance including belts, hoses, battery, tires, etc. Would buy Hyundai again.
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New Owner - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By sinbad - December 7 - 2:00 amPurchased the car a few days ago. No options on this 5spd hatchback. Paid 14,800 for it minus the 750 rebate. Nice car. Bought it for the styling, price and warranty. I heard the rebate just went up today!
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SSS service still stinks - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By vin kehayas - December 7 - 2:00 ami was totally taken when i bought this car. great buying experience, until da - da-da-da i brought it to service. repairs i needed were minor but boy did they show their ignorance and lack of concern and plain stupidity.couldf not do a wheel balance correctly. tech could not find the problem i had even thou the part was on order from first visitand laying in parts dept, discover the differance, i did not.
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Great Value - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By bri70 - December 5 - 10:00 amExcellent value for the money.
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Great for the money - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
By HAC - December 5 - 2:00 amThe car is reliable, economical, sound and safe. Have performed routine maintenance and the car still performs almost like new. Was involved in a collission (was rear- ended) and damage to the car was very limited, while the other car was severely damaged. Extremely safe car.
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Great Car! Fun and Sporty - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
By Rhondaborne - December 3 - 2:00 amWe purchased our Elantra over two years ago. I have never held on to a car as long as this one because it is comfortable, reliable, dependable and you just cant beat the warranty! I would recommend this car to everyone. My stereo system sounds better than the one in my husbands Toyota! There is only one thing I would correct and that is the wind noise. Please note that this is true in all of the cars that I have owned - even Toyota and Honda.
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Great value - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By flashgq - December 2 - 10:00 amWith the 2K rebate I got this in Automatic for under 14K with sunroof and abs!!! Unbeatable value!
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My first new car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By Ric h - December 2 - 10:00 amI bought my 2003 Elantra in Feb 2003 for $14.800 the only extras I bought were the extended warranty package and a cd player everything else was standard, I also looked at was the Toyota Echo but I thought the Elantra was a better looking car and a better value for my money.I also looked at the Accent but my wife didnt like the smaller engine and smaller tires but it was $3000 cheaper then the Elantra, My biggest complaint is the gas mileage I get only 19 miles to the gallon! 99% of my driving is local and I have only 5400 miles on it in 15 months of driving! the dealer says I will get better mileage once it is broken in
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Elantra - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By wallykos - December 1 - 2:00 amAlthough I have just purchased this veh. for less than a month, I love this little capable car. The performance on highway is quite impresive.
