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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  A small car for a big Man - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By T-bone - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Im 6 4 220 lbs. and this car is a very roomy car for my long legs I drive 100 miles a day and for the first time I have not had back pain since I bought my elantra. The car is great to drive and has alot of pick up. I lookes at many cars before I bought thia one. any I talked to who has this car loves it to. T-bone

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  A small car for a big Man - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By T-Bone - March 10 - 2:00 am

  Im 6 4 220 lbs. and this car is a very roomy car for my long legs I drive 100 miles a day and for the first time I have not had back pain since I bought my elantra. The car is great to drive and has alot of pick up. I lookes at many cars before I bought thia one. any I talked to who has this car loves it to. T-bone

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  quick little car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By frank w - March 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car a little over a week ago. Love it!!! Fun to drive. Great setup on the interior. No complaints whatsoever.

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  Good Deal - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By dodge man - March 4 - 10:00 am

  My review is plan and simple. Im a big commuter. Im talking 2,400 miles a month. Ive had this car for one month now. Im very satisfied with it. I bought it used, (second owners still get 5yr/60,000 coverage on the drivetrain). Try gettting that from Honda. At anyrate, the only flaw with these vehicles is the front seat track locking mechanisms. They have a tendency to move if theyre not fully locked in. You have to put some large force into them to lock them in. The seat movement is why their crash test score isnt as high. Just push your seat hard until it clicks twice and youre fine.

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  Love my new car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By JohnH - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Two weeks ago I bought a Carbon Blue Hyundai Elantra GT. I love the car and love the price I paid for it. It Came with leather seating, power windows, cruise, six speakers, CD player, Electric sun roof, keyless remore entry, ect. Stickered at $15,362.00, invoiced at $14,500.00, I got the $1,500.00 cash back from Hyundai, made the dealer dip into his holdback, and bought the car for $12,895.00.

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  What a deal... - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jaw10611 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased this car on yesterday. I was really surprise. Considering that I am 63, 260 lbs., I had second thoughts about getting another compact car... but this car easied all worries. I am really happy. The leather seats, leg room, hip room, sunroof, and most important cost... I now see how it feels to hit the lottery. Oh yea, deal with the sales internet manager when making the purchase... better deal. I got this car $1,251.00 less than what the TMV on edmunds states, plus $1,500 rebate.

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  First one and Love it! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By was266 - February 28 - 10:00 am

  Was unsure at first about the Hyundai line for when they hit the US shores in the 80s they were "junk" But,after alot of research and asking Hyundai owners i went for it and am very glad i did pretty much i am driving a Saab 900s for half the price! It has run FLAWLESSLY in the past year,I have never gotten below 30MPG and so far am very impressed with it!

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  dollarvalue - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Blacky - February 28 - 10:00 am

  This car is a delight to drive responsive and the steering is instant The features installed are equil to any of the expensive cars on the market also the gas consumption is very good on the hwy and in town.

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  26K in PA - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By PattyP - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car nearly 2 years ago, now Im up to 26K. Ive had no real problems with it; however, I did notice that when the automatic trans shifts gear, its a bit sloppy between gears. Took it back to have it checked out and the 2003 loaner they gave me did the same thing. They say its normal. Well see how it goes but everything else is just great...reliable, good power, very comfortable.

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  Great Value - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Fred - February 21 - 1:03 am

  Test drove the Civic, Corolla and Elantra. All very nice cars but the Elantra has many more standard features, gives a bigger car ride and is overall a great value. The 138 HP 2.0 Liter engine is in a class by itself in this car category. Acceleration is very good and the engine is fairly quiet. Fit and finish on the car is excellent. Once you get over the bad history and stigma of driving a Hyundai from years ago, you will be favorably impressed and this probably wont be the last Hyundai you purchase. This car is simply a better and heavier car than the Civic or Corolla with a much better warranty. Gas mileage is less than its competitors, but worth it.