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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  I love it! - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By aha - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for just over 2 years and no problems at all-- I love it! I had intended to buy a used Jetta, but this car stole my heart and I still love to drive it. Its definitely a lot of car for the price. 5 adults fit comfortably, with plenty of room for cargo as well.

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  2007 Hyundai Elantra - Speedometer Issue - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By kbrandau - April 18 - 3:13 pm

  I also purchased a 2007 Elantra, on 2/19/2007, and within 2 days I noticed that vehicles, even U-Hauls were passing me, so to stay with traffic, the speedometer was showing 85mph on the Interstate. I purposely drove by a stationary radar unit in a 45mph zone, going with the flow of traffic, the radar indicated 45mph, speedometer indicated 55mph. I contacted the Service Manager at the Dealer, and he said that he is having alot of complaints about this, and that I should bring it in, so he could get the part number off the speedometer, so they could order a new "cluster".

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  very good car for its price - 1993 Hyundai Elantra
  By piotr borycki - April 18 - 2:00 am

  great car for its price. it has lots of errors in design - however they affect only esthetics. the only mechanical feature is really bad is suspension. you feel avere turn and curve. but if you dont treat it as a sport car its still accetable - just driving it is less comfortable and threathen passenger. engine is very good - for this light vehicle 124hp is completely enough to give you satisfactory acceleration even at 80- 90mph - which makes passing pretty safe operation

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  Faster than you think! - 1999 Hyundai Elantra
  By Randal - April 16 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car because it had the most bang for the buck. It has 140 horse power stock and now after a few modifications my car will give a $19k Honda SI, a run for the money. I have 120,000 miles on my car and it still running strong. I never had any problems with the car.

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  I Love This Car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Joanna - April 8 - 11:50 pm

  This is a very nice driving car. I do alot of traveling and have had no problems with the heavy strain I put on the car. Id buy another again, and recommend it to anyone.

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  a little car great gas miles - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Michael Perry - April 8 - 9:31 pm

  Not good on long trips!!

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  Underated car - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ian J - April 8 - 1:46 pm

  This was to replace my wifes 3.4 V6 Alero. We looked around for the last 6 months,& chose the Elantra. Civics are far too expensive, even taking in to account their high residuals. We chose the Elantra SE over the GLS with preferred package, as for around $1000 in our case, we got the tremendous Stability Control, which Consumer Reports magazine say is the most significant safety feature on cars since the seat belt. See Hyundai web site for details of this & other SE features. The room inside is amazing, the ergonomics are superb. Little things, like doors opening a full 90 degrees to make entry/exit easier. A great little car. Try it & be amazed. Go for the SE though.

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  Best car for your $$$ - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By SteveS - April 7 - 12:40 am

  I just bought this car after carefull research of similar models. I am very happy with my purchase. You can not get a different new car with this many options and standard features for the $, period. This is a great compact sedan with everything you need. Easy to see out of, easy to get around in, easy to get in and out of. There are a few features that are missing like power seats but you have to remember what you are buying. A economical car. I have put around 300 miles on it and its getting about 23.5 mpg and climbing. This lower mpg was due to a lead footed car porter. I am shocked at how well this car handles on the highway. I would do a road trip in this thing in a second.

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  When given lemons.... - 1994 Hyundai Elantra
  By Amber - April 5 - 2:00 am

  This is a visually decent car to look at however as you all know, Hyundai did a TERRIBLE job with the earlier 90s versions of ANY of their vehicles. I would NOT recommend this year car to anyone. The transmission started going about 3 months after the purchase (which was a used purchase at 9,000 miles) and has been a constant headache along with the steering and brakes ever since. Luckily, mom only drives it 25- 30 miles a week so I let her keep it.

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  Good...could be better. - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Pepe - March 30 - 2:00 am

  Bought my 1997 Elantra in 1996. New model, was skeptacle but have learned to love it. Good reliable car for the money. Definitely not Honda quality, but getting there. Great price for what you get.