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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  Best value for the buck - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By anwarma - June 9 - 7:40 am

  I get 38 mpg easily on highway but if you drive like maniac with aggresive driving style with frequent rapid acceleration then dont expect high fuel economy. I easily 32 in the city but then my commute to work is very small and most of the time car sits on Metra train parking lot.I do have one disappointment, the leather on the steering wheel is coming off and I have made a claim but looks like Hyundai is still working on a permanent solution and has told me that I will be contacted once the new steering wheel is shipped to the dealer for installation. Otherwise a superb car for the price. Kudos to Hyundai for learning from their mistakes to build a amazing machine.

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  Huge Disappointment - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By illinoisbear - June 6 - 9:18 pm

  I bought this car for one reason: fuel economy. I wanted a car that actually delivers 40 mpg on the highway. Imagine my disappointment that this car actually got 30.45 miles per gallon on a recent 200-mile trip. Tell me Im a bad driver or whatever, but 30.45 is a far cry from 40. Oh, Im right around 3,000 miles. This car replaced a 2003 Saturn L200 that was getting 30-32 mpg mostly in town with some highway mileage. Im extremely disappointed in this car. Wish Id read the reviews before buying.

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  Never again - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By jancielubert - June 4 - 10:09 pm

  I have never gotten the 40 MPG touted by Hyundai. Best mileage is 33. Also the cloth seats are impossible to clean and Hyundai dealer wont try to clean the seat, they say it will cause a stain. When parking you cannot see the front end in relationship to the parking spot and the same with the rear. It is hard to get into the front seats without hitting your head. I am only 52". The car did not come with a spare that had to be purchased fo $300.00. They include a pump for flats but if you have a side puncture, it wont work. This is my second Hyundai and I am planning on selling it as soon as possible. Bluetooth is not compatible with all phones.

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  Great Car Great Price - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By kccoflbp - May 31 - 9:04 pm

  Bought used in 2008 with 26,000 miles for 5200 dollars. Still own it and love it today. Now has 126,000 miles and running strong. The only maintenance we have done is regular oil changes and timing belt change at 70,000 miles. Averaging 35 miles per gallon.

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  Real life 29/40 mpg is realistic! - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By himpg1 - May 26 - 4:59 pm

  After 2 months owning the 2013 Elantra Limited and 2600 miles driven, I have found the car will get the 29/40 mpg as listed unless there is strong head winds! Read the 2012 April Popular Mechanics magazine article that tests the Elantra on normal highways and city streets. They were able to easily exceed the 29/40 mpg. This car will do it! It takes a conservative driving style and a desire for good mpg instead of speed or performance. Still very impressed with our Elantra, and no complaints.

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  good car not great - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By jonate69 - May 25 - 12:31 am

  Did my research and picked a 2013 elantra, have 2 thousand miles on it aready ...and this is my review im only going to note the cons ...hope hyundai looks at these reviews to improve the car 1) car doesnt look like a econo-box but sounds like one when driving it, way to much road noise ...and makes me feel like i overpaid for this car. 2) engine is underpowered by at least 10 horsepower or needs more low end torque for quicker 0-60 times , struggling to have enough speed to merge safely onto highway. the accent has 138 hp, the elantra has 148 hp and the sonata has 198 hp ....need more power

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  Buyers Beware - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By erica82 - May 21 - 7:54 pm

  I recently purchased a 2013 Hyundai Elantra Limited. After a lot of research I decided this car was the best value for the money - and it is. However, within 2 weeks of owning this car I was in a minor fender bender and my strut was broken. Yes, minor accident = broken strut. Turns out Hyundai sold me a car they do not have replacement parts for. When this car is running, its great, but dealing with Hyundai to get replacement parts has been a nightmare. Its been three weeks and Hyundai has not been able to tell me when this part will become available. So for now, my brand new car is collecting dust at a garage waiting on Hyundai to pull a part from the production line.

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  Love it!....so far... - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By sinnerman2 - May 21 - 1:01 pm

  Bought the new 2013 limited with ALL the packages for 23,000 even. Love this car so far. the styling, the FEATURES!, the comfort, the ease of use, etc...All seems up to par so far except the best mileage I have gotten is an average of 28.6mpg with a mix of city and highway..and this is with the ECO mode on....I am trying to be paitent as others have told me that it takes a few hundred to couple thousand miles to start seeing the GOOD gas mileage it promises...I sure hope it gets there soon. Only got about 300 miles on it so far...But overall, this car is the bomb!! i recently test drove the 2011 Lexus IS 250 as I entended to "step up" my car...but this was even better than the lexus IS!!

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  Ideal Commuter Car for the Larger Guy - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By lleopold - May 21 - 12:56 pm

  I bought mine two weeks ago after conducting extensive research on commuter vehicles to relinquish my diesel pickup to pure recreational status (I tow a trailer). I commute 74 miles per day to and from work and had been using my wifes Mazda 6 for a number of months. Im a larger (250 lbs, 511") guy so I have a hard time getting into compact cars, so I really didnt enjoy commuting using my wifes car. I found that I could easily get into and out of this car! The form and fit were perfect for the commute and I believe this car would also be great for long-distance travel and bluetooth connection is perfect when Im on conference calls. Im seeing 36 mpg average and its increasing.

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  my 2013 elantra gls - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By steven39 - May 19 - 12:27 pm

  I was so impressed with this cars value that i traded in a 2012 elantra base model for a 2013 elantra with the prefered package that offers more standard features.my selling dealer whom i purchased my previous elantra from gave me a great deal that i couldnt refuse.this 2013 basically rides the same as my other elantra that i traded in however i have noticed that this 2013 elantra was built at the alabama plant and seems to be built a little better than the other elantra i had which was built at the ulsan plant.you can definitly tell the difference between the two.