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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  Not too shabby - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Hopper - February 20 - 9:53 pm

  Pros- I have yet to find any defective cosmetic/operational problem with this car.The ride is better and the road noise is much less than the new Honda EX Civic that my wife just purchased. Cons- Sluggish steering, around 30 mph the transmission should down shift to a lower gear but refuses to and you will get this engine strain noise & sometimes I manually down shift the transmission in city driving to get it out of its misery. Summary- This is the best value out there if you are keeping a car for a few years. You cant wrong considering the options you get for the money. I would not have purchased this car if I had intended on trading in a year or two as one would take a bath.

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  What a steal. - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By ZZ - February 16 - 2:00 am

  For those who have been looking for a car under $15,000, look no further. The Elantra GT as well as the base Elantra have no current competition in the value to price game. After 32,000 miles I have had zero problems with a car that is fun to drive and loaded with everything from sun roof to leather seats - all for under $13,000. My daughter just bought a base 2003 GLS yesterday - with an owners loyality discount of $2,000 plus rebates - - out the door at a price of $8,800....

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  Excellent Value - Great Features - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jay - February 3 - 6:00 am

  I have the PZEV SE w/ Premium Package (Sunroof and Heated Seats) in Blue. The car was pretty difficult to find - there were only about 12 in the entire state of California. I personally think the exterior is quite stylish, much better than the civic or pre-2009 corolla models. Main gripes are that acceleration in PZEV is a bit poor (132hp instead of 138), and that gas mileage is not as good as corolla or civic (I get about 30 mpg highway, 22 or so city). Still, amazing value for money. I purchased for $16.8K all in, including California Taxes, Title & Registration (which are about $1600). I think (and hope) that this is pretty competitive deal considering the sunroof and heated seats.

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  Great First Car purchase - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Benjamin Nazario Jr - January 25 - 10:53 am

  Great performance, very smooth on road, great first car purchase. Saves me alot on gas. But need to include ABS as standard option with cruise control. Needs better speakers for good quality. Overall outstanding car.

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  Theres a reason for the warranty - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By K.C. - January 21 - 2:00 am

  I have 15000 miles on my car, the dealership did what appears to be a terrible job with the 15000 mile service (putting the oil plug back in correctly would have been helpful). My 6 month old car just threw a rod. Its dead. Can I get a hold of anybody? No! Do I need to take time off work tomorrow to call the dealer? Yes. I couldnt get hold of Roadside assistance through the police dispatcher, but RA sent an automated message saying to take a survey through an option on their roadside assistance phone number. Thats helpful alone at night in the rain. Beware these vehicles and the dealers!

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  Hyundai,Honda, Mazda,Toyota ? - Elantra! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By John - January 20 - 12:33 pm

  After looking at the Mazda 3, Civic, and Corolla we went with the Elantra. The interior size, ride and features available with the Limited could not be met by the other three. Closest was the Mazda but it was smaller and the Corola and Civic didnt offer leather and heated seats, which have been greatly appreciated. Add in the outstanding warranty and safety features and it became obvious to us which was the car of preference.

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  Continue to be surprised - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By J Romer - January 16 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Elantra GT for two years and have 46,000 miles. I continue to enjoy this car more and more. I had a Maxima (96) before this and although it had more power, I have found the Elantra to be much more fun to drive. Mainly ride and handling. And you cant beat the price and the warrentee. (Yes, Im a value oriented car buyer.) And I see some who critisize the fact that ABS is an option. Personally I like the fact that I have a choice to have ABS. I didnt get it...and didnt want it. I guess I like to drive a car and not have it drive me...call me crazy.

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  Dont waste your money!! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Marcelo L. - January 16 - 10:00 am

  I have my Elantra for less than 1 year now and I can say it runs great and has a low gas consumption. I had no major mechanic problem but some eletric ones. The worst part of owning a Hyundai is the depreciation. I paid $15,000.00 for my car and a little over 1 year the same HYUNDAI pays me just $8,000.00... Its right... I have lost $7,000.00 within 1,5 year. I am now paying my loan (still have 11k) and have to pay at least 4k to get rid of this car. Trying a trade-in, some dealers pay even less than.

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  Killer Seats! - 2017 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bill - January 13 - 4:02 pm

  Such a handsome car, but.....the seats are very poorly designed and extremely uncomfortable. I have the powered drivers seat with 8 adjustments and still cannot find a comfortable position! The seat bottom is very hard (like a cinder block) and keeps your knees above your hips at its lowest angle setting. According to all I have read, this is position tilts your pelvis back and puts all your weight on your buttocks. After about 15 minutes in this seat I feel like I weigh about 500 lbs. ...and its all concentrated on my bottom bones! I find myself squirming trying to get comfortable. After about a half hour, my feet fall asleep and my right hip starts to ache. Its so bad that Im going to have to get rid of it at an extreme (poor resale value too) loss. I also find the steering to be too light and vague at lower speeds. I dont feel confident when I have to squeeze through tight spots at low speeds and I often feel like the car lurches left and right on curves and startles me. I did not experience these issues in my last car and wish I bought another of the same model. Ive also come to find out that my former car has all the advanced safety features like, collision braking, lane departure steering and smart cruze control as standard equipment! This car cost thousands more with those options.

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  My 2004 elantra GT - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By chris patton - January 10 - 10:00 am

  i bought a elantra GT last month,i looked at the civic and the sentra. Both were 1,500 to 2,500 dollars more. The fit and finish on my car is excellent, i have yet to find any defects inside or out.