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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  185,000 miles and still going strong! - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Blondie - June 8 - 12:57 pm

  I bought my car used in 2002 and have not had any problems with it whatsoever except the front middle console lid breaking off since I bought it. I have 185,000 miles on my car and have never had anything go wrong with it (knock on wood). I would highly recommend this car to any commuter. Best car Ive ever owned. If Hyundai made an AWD car instead of the larger SUVs Id go out and buy one in a heartbeat!

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  Customer Lost for Life - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rebecca Gavin - June 5 - 11:52 am

  I am writing this review because I am extremely frustrated by an intermittent problem with the air conditioner. Basically, sometimes the air comes on, and sometimes it doesnt. It can take as long as 5-10 minutes for the fan to kick in. Imagine what thats like when its 90 degrees out? Problem is, its intermittent. Ive had it in to the dealer. But if its working when I bring it in, they cant figure out the problem. So, I will likely have to live with this as long as I have the car. I have to use my car for my job, so this is pretty awful. Every summer, its the same thing. No more Hyundais for me.

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  Great Ride - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By SGM - June 4 - 8:25 pm

  I reviewed road tests of several vehicles of this size and went on to drive a few. The Elantra came out on top. I believe it fills all the requirements for a vehicle in this price range. For the customers complaining of a bumpy ride, you should have test driven it more. You are not getting a Rolls Royce at this price. What you are getting is good basic transportation with all the safety items included. It will get you where you need to go. It is a great buy!

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  Satisfied Buyer - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By lululea217 - June 3 - 9:46 pm

  I love this car! It rides very smoothly and the XM radio is a must have that I didnt know I needed until now!

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  2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By dhw - June 3 - 4:17 am

  I have owned my 2002 Hyundai Elantra for over 8 years. I have over 230,000 miles. Best little car I have owned. I liked it so much I purchased another Hyundai Elantra this past year. This will make 3 Hyundais in the past 20 years. My first (excel) I passed the 200k mark and then donated it to charity. I enjoy the ride and have had very limited problems. I average 29-35 mpg on the highway and around 25 around town.

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  Great car! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jay - May 30 - 9:04 pm

  I bought this car used a few months ago and couldnt be more pleased. I routinely get 37+ MPG on the highway and it handles great in the deep MN snow. Great storage with the hatchback and the interior is great. Cant beat the leather, sunroof, etc. that you wont get with a Civic or a Corolla.

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  Buyer Beware - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By Henry - May 26 - 5:57 pm

  Ive owned my Elantra for almost a year, I bought it for around $4,500 in 2009. As I write this considering the age and mileage of my car I have boon somewhat lucky considering how hard I drive it. I have had some somewhat minor issues like CV joint problems and ball joint issues. Still I would definitely not recommend anyone buy one, unless it was in very good shape. Look into buying a reliable car and dont rush into buying. I wish someone would have told me this but instead I rushed and bought something cheap and I could have done better and so can you.

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  Great for high mileage drivers - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Renee - May 25 - 6:56 pm

  I bought this car "new" (it was a demo car with 160,00 KM on it) in 2005. Currently, its traveled 300,000 KM (just over 200,000 miles) with only maintenance service so far. I had to service the clutch at 250,000 km - and have had the breaks done 2x (unfortunately full replacement due to the salted roads in Canada). As far as reliability goes its been an awesome car for me, though its not luxurious, it does get the job done!

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  Very Satisfied - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By SGM - May 23 - 7:28 pm

  Quiet ride at all speeds. Comfortable seating front & rear. The trunk is quite large and the rear seat backs fold easily for maximum space. A great value!

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  I love this car - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By kd1985 - May 22 - 11:38 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 2002. I dont know what the other people are talking about but I believe theyve had 1 recall since then. I never had any problems with this car until I moved to a place that had crazy humidity and drastic weather change. Then I had a few problems here or there due to the drastic change, but thats it. I would absolutely buy another Elantra in a heartbeat.