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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  Excellent Hatchback! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jason - March 26 - 6:16 am

  Great car for my money. It worth every penny. Good performance wih great gas savings.

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  Nice Auto - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Steveg - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Was very worried about buying the Elantra giving the fact that Hyundai has had so may problems in the past. I am impressed. Have put 2k miles on the car so far and not the first problem, and the price was great, under 13k.

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  Great college car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By pm2002 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  All around great car for college students or those on a budget. Outperforms a Civic and for thousands less.

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  One great economy car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Blao - March 25 - 8:36 am

  Love at first sight, It looks and equipted much better than more expensive Corolla and Civic. Very roomy with hatchback model. Handling is better than my camry 95 LE V6. The engine is strong enought to move the car smoothly with traffice on both city and highway. Most of material used in the car look and feel great, only a few items look cheap such as the Glove compartment, antenna, muffler...

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  My new shiny red car - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Nicole - March 21 - 8:49 pm

  I have owned many different vehicles in the past include two Grand Cherokees, a Firebird, Escape, Land Rover, and a Corolla. My new 2016 Elantra is by far the BEST car Ive ever owned! The Value Edition offers many bells and whistles that Ive not been used to on other vehicles Ive owned. I was highly impressed with the heated seats, touch screen radio, Bluetooth, back up camera, sunroof, and XM. With Hyundai, they give you 90 of XM subscription for free. However, I already had XM in my Corolla so all I had to do was transfer the service from the Onyx box to the vehicle itself. I absolutely love the fact that my vehicle includes hands free calling. I travel A LOT for my job and being on the phone while driving is part of my everyday job. I was not even planning on really buying a vehicle the day I purchased my 2016 Elantra. My Corolla had just turned 100,000 miles and was starting to really show its wear and tear. I went into the dealer to look at a 2013 model that I saw for sale online. My luck-they had just sold the car that morning. The salesperson asked me to consider buying new due to the warranty and the fact that a new car was not much more expensive than a used one. He asked me what features I was looking for in a car and after I told him, he suggested the value edition for me. After looking at the car and starting the engine, I fell in love with it instantly. It had so many features! After taking it for a test drive, I knew I was going to purchase the car that day. The only changes I would make to the vehicle is the power of acceleration. (I am cognizant of the fact that its only a 1.8 4 cylinder and that its not going to have much power). However, it gets great gas mileage despite not having a lot of power. The only other feature I would add is power seats. The handling is perfect and it has an extremely smooth ride. The sound system is excellent. I will definitely buy Hyundai again!

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  2003 Hyundai Elantra - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Survived the Crash - March 18 - 10:00 am

  I am very impressed! I was hit in the rear bumper by an Acura at about 40-45 mph and rocketed into the stationary truck in front. The Acuras front end was caved-in with severe damage. Amazingly, the Elantra was fully in tact and the trunks door was not even dented, nor tail lights damaged, nor windows broken! The passenger cabin was untouched!! I could not believe it. The bumper and frame took most of the impact, and most damage was below the bumper inside the trunk and frame. Although the car was totalled due to rear frame damage, I drove it for 58 miles at 65 mph back to home and then the autobody shop with no problem. This car is strong!!!

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  Great Deal for Fun wheels - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By flavtech - March 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Elantra GT for 1 month and about 2000 miles now and can say it has beem a great experience so far. It is stylish has adequate performance (although a closer ratio gearbox and a bit more clutch feel would be welcome) and is pretty comfortable on a long trip. It could also use a bit sportier sounding exhaust system in as the engine is almost too quiet. Overall though it reminds me of the original Volkswagen GTI with an extra set of doors.

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  User Friendly Car - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By MKY - March 11 - 10:00 am

  We bought the Elantra to replace a Nissan Maxima station wagon. Our other car is a 1991 Toyota CamryLE (V6). The Camry has been a very good car, costing about $21,000 when it was new. The Camry is a hard act to follow, but despite its lower price, the Elantra has proven itself to be fine car. It has a solid feel and is fun to drive.

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  A Really Great Car - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By JULES KIRCHAIN - March 7 - 5:45 pm

  This car was purchased in California and driven to Florida, back to California and back to Florida. Absolutely no trouble. I recommend the Hyundai Elantra very highly. The front seats are not comfortable on long trips however around town they are adequate. This car gets great gas mileage. The only mechanical problem was the original catalytic converter failed at 60,000 miles but it was covered under warranty and was replaced. Oh, by the way, the 10 year 100,000 mile warranty is simply fantastic. I will never buy another car unless it has the 10/100000 warranty.

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  Awesome Car for the Money! - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By jakedieter - March 7 - 5:36 pm

  Ive only had this car for a few days now, but Ive been a long time Hyundai Elantra owner. Coming of a 2004 Elantra, I am very pleased with the upgrades to the current model. The ride is a lot quieter than its predecessor and the interior design is definitely desirable. I am 62" 215lbs, and I fit very comfortably in the drivers seat. The upgrades stereo with XM and and AUX input makes this car a great boom box on wheels. Gas mileage is key with the rising prices at the pump, and I am seeing 28-29 mpg in and around town.