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:
Showing 2651 through 2660 of 2,696.00-
Ecstatic about Elantra GT Hatchback - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By fourbreads - May 11 - 2:00 amI just picked up my new 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT Hatchback, automatic, ABS, Moonroof, Tidal Wave color. Could not be happier with this choice. Had to wait about 3 months for this particular color/option combination to come in but it was worth the wait. This is one fun car to drive & the amenities are unbeleivable for a $17,000 car. Get this car now since the rebate went up to $1250.
-
disappointed - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
By jsadams - May 10 - 10:00 amIve had my Elantra for 12 months. It has been in the shop 5 times,IÂ’ve been told it is not fixable. This car was a big mistake. Engine problems, clutch and many more problems. Another problem with the car is I have filed the Lemon Law and after months of calls, Hyundai has agreed to repurchase the vehicle, but that comes with a stiff penalty, the user fee was more than expected.
-
Great car for the money! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By the1cooljay - May 10 - 10:00 amIve only put 500 miles on this car so far, but I am already impressed with this Hyundai product. Nice power and zippy performance with the manual version I have. I got this car with a $2000 off sale at my dealer, so paid only $11,500 brand new! Very good deal.
-
What a pleasant surprise! - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
By Canuck fan - May 10 - 2:36 amOn our list we originally had the Vibe/Matrix, Impreza, PT and Cobalt; the Elantra was a last-minute addition due to a good review I read; never would have considered it otherwise. We in time narrowed our choice to the Vibe and Elantra, and back to back there is no comparison between the two. The Elantra rides much better (my fillings are still resetting from the Vibe test), has a bigger and more useful trunk, has great leg room front and back, and gets virtually the same MPG. The 5-speed shifts nicely, and all controls felt intuitive. And... a fully equipped GT was less than a near-base Vibe. Add to that a five year full warranty, and youve got one great car.
-
Very happy - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By Uconnhuskie - May 6 - 10:00 amI am very happy with this little car. Has a nice get up and go.drives like a dream, good on gas,Very sporty looking,clean inside and out, good on my bank account, nice radeo, cannot complain. Very very happy with it! Go Huskies
-
excellent all around - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
By trunks99 - April 27 - 2:00 ami have had my Hyundai Elantra GT for a year now and i still love it. the leather is luxurious and comfortable and the hatchback design is great for the outdoors (camping, rock climbing, snowboarding). i can fit three snowboards with the 60/40 split and three passengers. the engine is smooth and quiet and absolutely no problems.
-
What a bargain! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By emmaspop - April 25 - 10:00 amThis car is an excellent value. Loaded w/ features and comfortable for a family of 4. Hyundai cant be paying the Koreans enough if they are making a profit off this car!
-
Great Car!!! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
By ExHondadriver - April 25 - 10:00 amI love this car more than my previous 99 Honda Accord. I dont think there is much to improve upon this car. Gas mileage is awesome and the car is very comfortable.
-
Watch out Honda & Toyota, Hyundais here - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
By C SKYWALKER - April 22 - 2:00 amWhat a great little car. I drive this car 130 miles a day minimum. I have close to 50k on it in less than a year and a half and havent had so much as a hick-up. At 65 mph it still has passing gear left. I find it comfortable during my daily drive and certainly enough power. This same car with all the options in a Toyota or Honda would have cost me another $3000 easily.
-
Great car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
By Mary - April 19 - 4:10 pmI really love my Hyundai. I shopped around for the best car for my money and Hyundai was the best buy. I got 0% financing and 10yr warranty. Cant beat that.
