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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Great Car - 1993 Hyundai Elantra
By Don2000 - December 22 - 2:00 amReliable, Comfortable, Good Mileage, Drove to work 250 Miles a week for the last 5 years.
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# 1 Car 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
By Ingridjoe - December 21 - 2:00 amI just had this car for three months and I love it,would not get rid of it for nothing.I plan on staying with Hyundai cars.The ride is smooth and i love the sunroof. I think a rear spoiler would make it look as good as other vehicles. We got a good deal with low mileage.
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my review - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
By lawrence byrne - December 20 - 6:36 amhad 3 in the last 3 years, no major mechanical problems
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Surprised! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By ptspitz - December 19 - 10:00 amThis car was purchased to replace a 2003 Honda Civic that was totaled ($13000 damage) in a 25 mph accident. I was disappointed that the Honda suffered so much damage at such a low speed when my son hit a Ford Explorer. We looked at another Civic, the Ford Focus, Mazda 3 and the Elantra. The Elantra was by far the best deal for the money. Got it for just under $14000. Its nice to drive; MUCH quieter and smoother than the Civic with more engine power. The MPG is around 25 in city commuter driving, very respectable. So far Im very pleased.
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2003 GT Sedan (5-speed) - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By jabphd - December 19 - 10:00 amPositives: very peppy engine; smooth 5- speed; most passenger leg room for its class; attractive styling; fun to drive. Negatives: Flat spot at 4000rpm; noticeable body lean in tight turns; poor paint job; trunk lid rises to exact position for head-whacking of the unaware; fold-down rear seats provide only a small, semi-circular access between trunk and passenger area.
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fun car great price - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By transformed - December 19 - 2:00 amthe gt 5 door in my area was very difficult to find,northtown dealership found one dealership reallies cares about the customer had one small defect which they fix immediately great dealership to work with
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Fun Car/Reliable - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
By vinney - December 18 - 2:00 amI bought this car new in 1998 and my wife loves it. She would rather keep it than give it up. This car has the 5 speed that gives it some extra pep. I enjoy driving it so I can race some of the teenagers that think there civics are fast. I usually blow there doors off and I have nothing but stock.. The only issue that I had was regular maintanance. Battery, brakes, wipers and tires.
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not bad for the buck - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
By al b. - December 17 - 2:00 amI purchased my car in 1999 and have 76000 miles on it at the current time. The main reason why I purchased the elantra was because of the warranty. this car has plenty of pep and the handling is awesome. The only problem I had with this car was the radiator upper hose was leaking, the dealer replaced the upper and lower hose at no cost.
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Great so far-SE Value Edition 2017 - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
By David Nasr - December 14 - 4:00 amUltimate test: Round trip from Tulsa to Las Vegas.. Dove it a total of 2500 miles, flawless, no issues. Comfortable, and did close to 45 MPG average. Drove though a winter storm in the mountains of New Mexico and although it was scary as hell at night, the little beast performed very well. I love all the features included in the Value edition and the MPG. Very easy to drive in town through stop and go traffic, especially through the Tulsa streets which are full of potholes. The looks are growing on me, in the beginning I thought it was kind of bland, but it really is a nice looking car, it is classy looking and doesnt look (to me) like an economy car, but more like an upscale-sporty sedan. The design is similar to the Sonatas and it has reminiscence to Audis due to both sharing the same designer. Overall this car is a great value, its safe, reliable, well built and economical.
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Best value - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
By daniduo - December 10 - 8:33 pmTheres only good things to say about this vehicle. I traded in my SANTA FE, and I can tell you Hyundai is getting better and better.
