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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  Blue Elantra Wont Leave You Feeling Blue - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Doug - June 23 - 11:22 am

  Best car on the road for the money. Quiet ride, superb fuel economy, very comfortable car. Car got 46 mpg on recent road trip.

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  Black Beauty - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bran Da Man - June 20 - 2:00 am

  I have a black elantra with a spoiler shes beautiful. She is so fun to drive and when I tell you I drive her I drive her hard. I pit her against mustangs and Cmaros and Vetts (although I have been laughed at numerous occasions, Its still fun. But I have no problem smokin civics with v-tech. The only real problems I had with her is that I had to get 3 new alternators and a new spark plug. I hooked up all sorts of audio equipment to the battery and thats when my alternators started going. Other than that she is a very reliable car.

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  the perfect 10 - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By nata456 - June 19 - 10:00 am

  when a car exceeds your expectations, you win. definitely, best deal in the elantra lineup is the gt. for a few extra dollars, you get a whole lot more car.

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  Best Hatchback Buy - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By backy - June 19 - 10:00 am

  The Elantra GT is the best value in the compact 5-door class, at least $3000 less than other cars with comparable equipment. It is a solid, comfortable car with a good blend of ride and handling, excellent driving position, and roomy cargo area. This is my second Elantra and I am very satisfied thus far.

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  Few flaws but good - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sean Dechter - June 18 - 2:00 am

  The car has great road handling especially if you take the time to listen to the engine with nothing on. Also a few gizmos might need a little work on timimg, but I did buy an automatic.

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  Good little car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By TomF - June 17 - 2:00 am

  $12,008 total price. $1,000 under invoice. I am very pleased with the quality and the features compared to the price. Plus a great warranty. Peppy little car. Ive put 17,000 miles on it in 7 months over rock roads. I had two problems, a defective throttle sensor and 7 flat tires. The dealer repaired the sensor. No charge. The flat tires came from nails, probably due to the miles on rock roads. The gas milage could be better. Ive averaged 24 mpg but it has been decreasing steadily. On recent tanks Ive only been getting about 22mpg. For this size car I expected better. Overall Im impressed. Would definitely consider other Hyundai models.

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  LOVE IT - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Krystal - June 15 - 7:40 pm

  I love this car! Much better than my honda civic EX. Its peppy for a 4 cylinder, the gas miliage is decent, and it had a cute body style with plenty of room.

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  Its Cute! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By NikNikNik - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had it a couple of days, but so far, so good! Its really cute, lots of features, great price, and drives well! Mine is GT fully loaded with all the bells and whistles for under 19k!

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  2005 GT Sedan - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By tvilberg - June 14 - 10:00 am

  I went to a Hyundai dealer Toyota and Subaru. The Hyundai was, by far, the most fun to drive and the best value. The snappy 2L 4 cyl engine couples well with the 5-speed to produce a sports-car driving experience. The car handles exceptionally well in curves. I was so surprised by how much fun driving a GT was that I bought one. The exterior finish and design are first-rate, as is the awsome feature list. The GT comes with leather seats and all of the ammenities of an upscale roadster --- but at a price near a sub-compact. The only feastures I can think to improve would be the seats (a bit stiff and the mileage (34mpg hwy). The real-time mpg display inhibits flogging the engine, too.

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  If you can spend the money...upgrade - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
  By Warren Burton - June 14 - 2:00 am

  The car is 4 years old with 70K miles and wont pass smog by a large margin...this is a warning to you all. Of course the "great" new Hyundai warranty does not cover emissions at this point. The car accelerates so badly you almost get killed every time you have to merge on to the freeway. Using the airconditioning cuts what little power you have in half. Stay away from Romero Motors in Ontario California as they are a bunch of crooks and do not back up the products they sell.