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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  Great Value - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By whatitis101 - August 23 - 12:27 pm

  Just got a 2012 Elantra limited, and this is a great value. I am 6.5 and my wife 5.10 and we have plenty of room, and can also put 2 adults in the back. I looked at all the cars in this size and mileage range, and for the comfort and style we chose the Elantra. So far the only thing I dont care for is the road noise and I would like to see at least an 18 gal fuel tank in it. For what I paid, gas mileage, the great warranty, and good looks, its was a good buy. We keep cars until nothing is left, so lets see how it holds up after 15 years.

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  i couldnt be more happy - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By andydemarcho - August 18 - 2:18 am

  Ive been driving my Hyundai Elantra 2005 with 80,000miles on it. still feels like new! great value for great car.

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  Hyundai is Big Time - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By kevperro2 - August 17 - 4:31 pm

  Ive owned three Hyundai cars to this point (this is my 3rd) and they just keep getting better. They used to be mainly a value play. At this point the Elantra is better than anything in its class in most ways. I dont have enough data on the fuel economy yet but Id expect worse in-town than my 2008 Accent due to the weight/rolling resistance. On the first tank Im in the low 30 (33mpg) with all short trips and around town. The Accent 5-spd gave me 32-33 under the same circumstances and Ive babied the Elantra due to it being new. On the highway Id expect the Elantra to do better due to low wind resistance and taller gearing. Ill update when I get more fuel economy data.

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  a very nice car - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By steven39 - August 10 - 8:32 pm

  just purchased this 2012 elantra gls a few days ago and my initial impressions of the car thus far is wow!!!!!!!!!great exterior design and the interior looks something like a lexus with the 3 tone color combo of beige,silver,and black.

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  Hyundai Elantra GLS - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By iamnovice - August 7 - 4:35 pm

  I purchase an Elantra on June 2. When I bought it, I had three criteria. I wanted really good gas mileage. I wanted a car that was drivable. And I wanted some cargo capacity. I had a 2008 Honda Fit. The Fit got 32 miles to the gallon overall and had a lot of cargo capacity as a hatchback. The Elantra is very drivable and can accelerate better than the Fit and doesnt have the problems maintaining highway speed. And the Elantra has really good EPA mpg ratings. So I thought I could forego the cargo capacity. Unfortunately the Elantra gets just over 30 mpg on gas with no ethanol. So I only got one of my three requirements. I wish I had not purchased the Elantra.

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  Annoying engine vibration - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By stellasmom - August 6 - 9:07 am

  I bought my 2011 Elantra in January. My mpg averages 27 in the city and as high as 37 on a 600 mile trip. Im not getting the advertised mpg. My major compliant is that the cars engine vibrates at idle with the air conditioner on and the engine is hot. Very annoying. The steering wheel vibrates and the drivers side seat vibrates. I took it to dealer service dept to have this checked out and was informed that there was no fix. The car has no idle adjustment. Ive owned cars this size all my life and its been since the 70s that Ive owned a car that vibrated. Obviously the engine is not powerful enough to carry the load of the air conditioner. Cute car, but dont let looks fool you.

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  great car (25000 miles in 10 months) - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By hale1 - August 2 - 11:14 am

  I was a little suspect with Hyundai because of their reputation from their early years, but when I was car shopping the civic, toyota, and chevy cobalt did not compare in bang for the buck. I just wanted a gas friendly car to replace my z71. The worst mpg I have ever got is 29mpg with 36mpg on my recent trip from sc to fl. I made it from olrando to columbia sc on one tank of gas! interior is excellent given the class of car and the ipod hookup is great. The only two concerns I have had are: the light colored seats stain REALLY easy.. even from a water spill and my transmission has done a few quirky things while accelerating. Nothing to make me think it is going to break, just a hard shift.

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  18,000 miles and still great - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By fredtwenty2 - July 31 - 8:41 am

  Very happy with my $14,000 commuter car. excellent on gas, reliability, comfort and all around easy car to own. Im glad I didnt wait for the 2011 model, b/c it seems to be about $10,000 more.

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  Great little car! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By phil110 - July 23 - 2:40 pm

  I used Edmonds to locate this car so thought Id return the favor and write a review. If youre looking for a good reliable fuel efficient ride, this is it. I purchased this car a few months ago with 95K on the clock. Ive just turned 106k and other than routine maintenance have had absolutely no trouble.

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  paint issues/update - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By bhamcarguy - July 22 - 8:43 am

  Just a brief update...in general I like the car..the local dealer scratched my car in 2 places and made some mistakes while repairing the initial paint quality issues. The main areas involved are under the doors and where the water drains around the trunk lid. Unfortunately, this has esclated in the local dealer contacting the regional Hyundai mfg representative to go over the car with me before repairs go any further. Ive never had any issues of this nature with a brand new car and needless to say Im disappointed (so far) with the local dealers repair and the paint fit and finish. Other than the paint, I generally like the car.