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 car - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By skisurf1 - June 16 - 11:11 pm

  I own a 2006 Civic currently and have owned a Chevy and Toyota. The dealer experience was not up to speed but the car is. You just can beat the warranty, the price and free road side assistance for 5 years. Honda civic would cost $3000 more and probably have as many recalls like my current Hondas. The transmission kills my 06 Civic. I feel little vibrations in the seat and cabin is quiet compared to Honda. I cant say enough about the design. They have surpassed Honda and Toyota simply as that.

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  Mileage issue - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By youngblood - June 16 - 2:04 pm

  Ive had my Elantra Limited for 3 months and find that my mileage varies considerably based on a couple of factors. 1) Driving at a steady speed of 55-60 mph on an open highway or interstate, Im getting over 40 mpg. But if I drive in the 70-80 mph range, my mpg drops to the low to mid 30s. 2) Driving in the city with lots of stops, the mph drops to the 24-29 mpg range. 3) Using regular unleaded gas (compared with the cheaper ethanol blend sold in the Midwest) results in significantly higher gas mileage. 4) The "ECO" system has no effect on MPG that I can determine.

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  WOW! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By satexas - June 15 - 8:56 pm

  My wife and i decided to depart from the luxury car segment and get something more practical. We decided on the hyundai because of the feature content of the limited and the gas mileage. We just werent sure of hyundai reliability. I am happy to say we have had the car 3 months and havent looked back. Sure its no speed demon, but if all you want is a great every day driver and a car that has most of the technology of a luxury car with great gas mileage then this is the car for you. My wife has managed up to 44mpg hypermiling it on the expressway. Those people that arent getting the high 30 mpg on the highway may just need to have a lighter foot. Great car would totally recommended.

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  Great car overall - but read the full review - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By tiversen - June 13 - 3:02 pm

  Have driven the car for about 1000 miles. This is a good choice for a highway commuter or inexpensive family car. Hope it holds up - but bought the 10 yr 100k bumper to bumper just in case. Here is the good, the fair and the needs improvement.

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  i wish i was getting the advertised gas mileage - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By debbishaw - June 12 - 9:52 pm

  i bought the car for gas mileage and i am very disappointed that i am only getting 31 MPG on highways. and they were not coming down on price due their gas fuel economy.is this even legal to advertise 40 mpg when it does not come close?

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  General electrical system problems. - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By hardrock46 - June 12 - 10:32 am

  We have owned 2 Hyundas previously and were very pleased with with both cars. Excelent reliability and performance. Then we bought this 2009 elantra (brand new) and have been very disappointed. While the car always starts fine, runs great and gets great gas mileage it is plagued with bull crap electrical problems. 1. Check engine light keeps coming on. Had it in for this several times. Dealer cant or wont fix it. 2. Tire pressure light kept coming on. They seemed to fix that, so far. 3. The theft alarm keeps randomly coming on. Just did it again this morning. Multiple trips to dealer, no fix. 4. Winshield washer quit. Tank full, pump runs, no water. Will take it back in again.

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  Great Car no problems!!!!! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By hellblitz - June 10 - 9:08 pm

  The Car runs Great now going on its fifth year and doing nutting but basic maintenance. Never had a break down. The one defect to this car I would say is the Brakes. The work great and better then most cars Ive driven but they are small which means that you have to change them every 10k to 15k miles depending on how hard you break.

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  40 MPG? - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By jouett - June 9 - 8:54 am

  Ive had my 2011 Limited for two months, and just under 2,000 miles. Traded an 09 Accord EX. Like the looks inside and out, and for the price, think its very well equipped. My only negative remark so far is with the advertised 40 mpg estimate. I understand all the variables that go into the final average fuel numbers. Driving conservatively on 30 mile r/t per day, Ive not seen 30 mpg yet. Prior to the Honda was an 03 Corolla that did provide 30+ mpg. Im hoping this one improve with time.

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  Know what you are getting. - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By skolakowski1 - June 8 - 1:27 pm

  The AC is inadequate. On 95 degree days, it is still warm in the car. This is a common problem for Hyundai. I had to have the windows tinted to help. I was in a head on accident and the air bags didnt go off. Another common problem for Hyundai. Im waiting for a recall announcement. The idiot lights come on sporadically (ESC,ABS,TPMS). The longest one has stayed on was over an hour. I dont know if the ABS and ESC are working. Another common problem for Hyundai. The car has over 50K miles on it and we have not had any problems with it not running or starting. We get about 25 miles to the gallon but do mostly city driving.

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  Questionable MPG - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By txn - June 3 - 12:04 pm

  We got this car a week ago solely based on the 29-40 MPG. So far we have gotten 27 during on the first tank. I hope it improves. The car appears to be made well and the quality of the interior is impressive. I just hope the mileage gets into the advertised range. Anyone here fall short of the low end of the range and try to deal witht he dealer on it?