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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  Elantra Rocks - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By elantrarocks - March 28 - 9:54 pm

  I recently went to Pensacola Florida. I rented a mid size Car. When I went to pick it up I thought they gave me the wrong car. It was sleek and very stylish. I am a 61" man about 280lbs. I could not believe I had enough head room and the seat was sturdy and felt very comfortable. The cars not perfect but its close. I then drove from Pensecola to Tallahasse and got 42 miles per gallon. WOW! I did all kinds of milage comparisions while I had the car for a week. In general it gets 32mpg mixed driving. At 75 mph hwy it gets about 35-37mpg. I drove a 17 mile stretch of flat road and it aveaged 55mpg. I was driving a Mazda RX-8. Now I bought a new Elantra for 18,000.00. I would have paid more!

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  Great Large Compact Car - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By goldthaiger - March 26 - 3:30 pm

  I just bought Elantra 2011 a month ago. So far, this car is great. The standard features that come with the car is just fantastic. Its a sport sedan good looking car by far in the market. I was amazed when i first went to the dealer and sit in the car. The interior is great...so roomy. Before i decided to buy Elantra, I went to see and did some research...mazda3 was my first choice, then Corolla and Civic. Mazda3 is a very good looking car, best interior, but MPG didnt really do it for me. Corolla is not an exciting car what so ever and still use the drum brakes the back wheels. Honda is just way too expensive for the smallest compact car. Its my first time buying Hyundai and I love it.

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  WOW! What a nice car - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By bsmith7859 - March 26 - 1:06 pm

  I have had it for 2 weeks now and 1000 miles. The car got 37mpg on the highway from the dealership and Im averaging 32.5 on country roads. The mpg should pick up more as the car gets broke-in. Fun to drive on twisty roads, and from a start it actually takes off well. It is a lite car and on rough roads you get moderate road noise and the bumps are noticable, hey its not a 5000lb caddy, your going to have that. The seats are so comfortable and I love the bluetooth and all the other goodies. Had some snow on the roads and gave me a chance to play with the traction and stabilty control, I would purposely put the car in a slide and the car would quickly straighting itself. I love this car.

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  Suprising! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By drblptq - March 26 - 11:49 am

  Let me begin by saying I purchased this vehicle primarily for its advertised gas mileage, along with its styling and for that it has not disappointed! I average about 33 mpg, with a 50/50 split highway/local. This is a dramatic improvement over my last ride, a CX-9. Of course to compare the two vehicles is useless. The Cx-9 averaged 17mpg mixed. Not bad for a vehicle its size and weight. I drive about 25,000 miles per year, 95% work related, and the Elantra fits the bill with current gas prices.

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  Love This Car - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By tkbeyedoc - March 24 - 9:23 pm

  I have had my 2011 Elantra Ltd with Navigation package for about a week now. I have averaged almost 37mpg (75% highway driving 70++ mph.) I use the car to drop 4 kids off at school and then to make a 50 mile round-trip work commute. The cars drives very nicely (and just for comparison, my previous everyday driver was an 05 XJ Vanden Plas!) Of course, there isnt sports-car power, but ride, handling, and noise are excellent for this category. The only thing I notice is a little motion in crosswinds. The features are just incredible. Being able to stream Pandora on android phone via Bluetooth is just too cool. I honestly have ZERO regrets about this purchase. Now my dad wants one!

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  I was pleasantly shocked - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By jacobe - March 23 - 7:37 pm

  This is my first car and I love it. It handles very well, the best out of all the ones I test drove. It has 102k miles on it, so I replaced the timing belt and some other items, but other then that it runs amazing. Has never left me stranded. The acceleration is very good, for the size of the motor. Also this car goes amazing in snow. When we had our blizzard where we got 6 in. I was going around 4wd drive trucks that were stuck in the snow. Overall it is a great little.

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  Blown away! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By cammer - March 17 - 5:57 pm

  I cant wipe the smile off my face when i drive this car! It has sporty handling, a great view from the drivers seat, comfortable ergonomics and supportive seats. Did i mention it has a huge trunk and a comfortable heated back seat. The creature comforts are on par with luxury sedans costing 2.5x as much and what keeps that smile on my face is I am averaging 37 mpg. driving to Lake Tahoe from Reno. This car is a game changer in my opinion, every other car at 40 mpg felt like an econobox when I drove it.

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  A lot of car for the money, & FORTY mpg!!! - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By pud2 - March 16 - 8:19 pm

  Just got my 2011 Elantra limited, with Nav, blutooth,back-up camera, heated leather seats front and back...I love it! EXCELLENT vehicle, and my first 140 mile run on a hwy, got a little OVER 40mpg!(freeway). It is a beautiful car, everyone who sees it loves it... So far, I am VERY satisfied! Did I say the car is beautiful?!

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  Best buy yet - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By tlouda - March 16 - 12:16 pm

  Just hit 6,000 with the car. I took it on a road trip from Austin, TX to Flagstaff, AZ. The drive is mostly highway with 75 miles per hour speed limit, mostly flat grounds, not much traffic. I maintained a speed around 75-80 mph. The total trip avg. speed was 62 mph. I averaged 37.7 mpg. At one point in New Mexico I drove 150 miles at 42.5 mpg at 75 mph. I suspect I was driving downhill most of the time with wind in the back, because I was not able to duplicate that. I was able to achieve the best gas mileage after I did the first oil change at 3,750 miles. I made sure I put in a high quality engine oil and put a brand gasoline, medium grade, and the gas mileage around 37 to 38 was achieved.

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  First New Car, First New Hyundai and not the last - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By elig - March 15 - 7:51 pm

  I purchased the car new Oct 99. Drove 2 Cali & back to MN a couple of times at generally 80 plus speeds. Smooth ride good economy. Wish it had ABS. It was an option but I wanted a manual & at the time Hyundai figured manual was for eco & ABS was a luxury. I had to lock up one time and put a flat spot on all 4 tyres & left an imprint of the pad on the rotors. The tranny did go at 95k (thank god for 100k warnty) The pin that holds the gears together broke. Wheel bearing (wrty) I have 126k mile would have more but I ride motorcycle alot. I thought Hyundai was junk but the 100k wrty gave me faith. I have purchased a 08 Veracuz, & thinkn bout the new Elantra just cuz 15 mpg sucks & 30 would rule