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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  Fun to start with, but just wait... - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By msmit4wm - January 15 - 2:00 am

  The cruise control was broken when I bought it. They fixed it under warranty after installing a new cruise switch and new cruise computer, after 3 trips to the dealer. List of things repaired/replaced so far (outside of normal wear and tear): front rotors resurfaced twice, replaced once, throttle position sensor, idle speed actuator motor, drivers side power window motor/track, exhaust manifold, fuel pressure regulator, both front interior door handles, rearview mirror, windshield, driver side window trim/gasket. The engine now idles so roughly that the steering wheel shakes violently...dealer claims there are no problems.

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  A Winner - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By howdymax - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Hyundai Elantra GLS stick about a year ago and have put about 10,000 miles on it. I traded a 2000 Beatle to get this car with all the bells and whistles. The Beatle handled like a sports car so I wasnt expecting much when I switched. What a surprise. This car handles just as well and better in some cases. Steering is better, suspension is great, trans is easier and it has lots of room inside and in the trunk. it has the same size engine as the Beatle and all the power you need in a car this size. I strongly recommend this car to anyone on a budget and even those who arent. You wont be disappointed.

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  Little Tug That Could - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kao - January 9 - 2:00 am

  Its second hand and WAS in great condition. Great value. I highly recommend Hyundais 1997+ Elantra and Tiburon- no experiences with their other cars. Even got 35mpg cruising at 75-80mph. The alignment was slightly off due to my brothers excellent driving into a truck. DEFINETLY NOT a mountain racer- sad to say, even my moms 1992 AUTOMATIC Corolla handles better overall! Ive tried emergency lane changes at 40mph. The rear kicks too hard damn physics and weight transfer! Now if the car was lowered 1.25" with stiffer springs and anti- sways, slap some 16"x7" wheels . . . Just a great car, really!

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  Fun piece of junk - 1996 Hyundai Elantra
  By umm_bacon - January 8 - 2:00 am

  I got this car used from a family friend, and have had a love hate relationship with it ever since. The car is very fun to drive, it being a 5 speed manual, but everything on it except the engine is crap. Literally every creature comfort has broken on this car: the sun roof, power windows, interior door handles x2, head liner, plastic molding, weather stripping, etc. Aside from the numerous problems with the unessentials (everything but the engine) I have loved every minute of owning this car. I would recomend one for a high school students first car.

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  Perfect Car! - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Enzo Simoni - January 7 - 4:44 am

  This has been a perfect car. Never been to the mechanics, never left me stranded. Awesome gas mileage, great in the snow. Nothing fancy but has been perfect.

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  More then you would expect - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By MarcinZ - January 6 - 10:00 am

  I paid 16500$ for my GT. This is after taxes, fees, etc. I took all the optional equipement and California emmisions. For the price I paid I got more then any other vehicle in the class could offer. GT looks great, is extremly fun to drive, and has great performance. If you are looking for a car that wont drain your wallet and you want to have fun driving it, GT is your best bet. Love the car and would definitely buy it again!

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  first owner - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By vivand - January 1 - 2:00 am

  This has been a good reliable car so far....definitely under valued in the market simply because it is new...

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  Nice Car, Except..... - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Joe Sherman - December 28 - 5:40 am

  Boy, there is a lot to like about Elantra. Best looking small car out there, much more plush, roomy, solid and fun to drive than Sentra, Corolla, Civic, Focus, etc.. But why does a car this size with a 4-cyl/5-spd get such poor gas mileage? Even driving over flat roads at 60mph, I cannot get better than the mid-20s for highway mileage. I have driven larger 6 and 8- cyl cars and gotten better mileage. Cmon Hyundai, you build a nice car, now get with the program and deliver better mileage (especially with gas costing $2.75/gal!!!).

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  Incredible! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By tertullian - December 26 - 3:50 am

  This is a great car. I have reviewed: Sentra, Corolla, and Civic. But I came to buy Elantra for its value overall. I bought 07 Elantra GLS + Preferred Package + Automatic for only $13,000. The other cars dont even come close to that price. The car is well made and its safety features are far above the competitors. The car drives well, it is comfortable, it is roomy (bigger than my old Galant 98). My wife just loves the car. Thank you, Hyundai and keep up the good work.

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  Just lost mine..... - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Crazyboy13 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  To a telephone pole. The safety features worked great, we walked away with minor bruses. I had 96000 miles on it and never had any problems, Cant find one to replace it and I would. looking at an 03. It was a 5spd, with spoiler.