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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Gets the job done. - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
By Macnewbee - February 25 - 8:40 pmI dont think I would ever say to anyone, "Oh yeah, I love my car." Having said that the car itself, for what it is, is great. I paid 13,500 for it. Ive driven it 32,000 miles since I bought it 9 months ago. Id say 30K miles were spent on I-95 to and from work at 80 miles an hour. The car does what it needs to do everyday- starts and stops. There has been hesitation in the engine on more than one occasion. Something to expect out of a car with 100K on the engine, not a brand new car. I asked the maintenance people about this and they said that should be expected out of a Hyundai. The car came with features that would cost 30K on any other car. For the cost, the value is great.
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Mistake - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Too NOISY - February 22 - 6:54 pm2010 Hyundai continues to ride flat with stiff suspension. Lots of noise on most bumps. Dealership adjusted seats and bushings. No improvement. Tries trading at 800 miles. Too much of a loss. Take a test ride on an uneven road not a smooth road like I did. Poor economy. 25mpg on highway. My traded cobalt was better.Big Mistake!
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Love my new 2010 Elantra GLS! - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Laura - February 17 - 7:17 pmI just got my 2010 Elantra GLS w/sunroof for 16,395 (after a week of haggling between dealerships). My Olds Alero hit a snowbank and was totaled so had one week to research and buy car. Was looking between Corolla, Mazda 3, Malibu...about 10 diff cars. I love the Elantra, the 10 year 100,000 mi warranty cant be beat. Feels more luxurious than other small cars I drove. Neat blue backlighting in interior. Great gas mileage - 36 mpg. Looks and feels sporty. 3 mo of free xm radio is cool. Sleek look, good pickup. Really happy with my purchase.
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Bouncing Ball - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By CA - February 15 - 3:19 pmIf you like driving down the road on a trampoline then this is the car for you. The ride is horrible! The car looks sharp and has lots of nice features but if you get sick when you are driving the vehicle what is the purpose.
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Bang, Bang, Bang - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Debi in Tampa - February 14 - 10:09 amI purchased a 4 door hatchback. I will start out with the negative-low rider- bang, bang, bang over every little bump. I sometimes think a plastic bag makes it bang. The cars suspension needs major improvement. My Chevy Malibu was so much more comfortable and truthfully I wish I had gone back to a Chevy. Gas mileage is about 22.9 per gallon in city.
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Rides better than the Sonata - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By gem0648 - February 14 - 9:21 amI was surprised at how quiet the cabin was and the way it handle the rough roads. It beats the Sonata (2009) in these areas. Fun to drive. Gas mileage seems to be the same as the Sonata 4 cyl. Turning radius is great. Nice looking exterior and trunk release pops the trunk all the way open...nice feature compared to Sonata.
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nice and quit ride !! - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By peter - February 12 - 5:23 pmThis is my 3rd elantra and the reason why I bought it is because I never had a problem with none of them in the past I drive long distance and it gives me around 32 mpg I love it love the blue lights in the center console...
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Almost my last - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
By CloseCall - February 12 - 4:42 pmThis car pretty much drove me from high school through the Navy and nearly 6 years of DC area drivers. Its made long trips from Virginia to Texas and back. It spent good stretches just sitting parked for months at a time and nearly daily trips verging on 70 miles both ways. At 130,000 miles I had to finally get the transmission replaced after having let it sit nearly a year without getting the oil changed. I would still be driving it today if that where possible, but alas snow/ice/and a plow truck combined to take it away from me in rough wreck. It was good. not always comfortable or good looking but it served well.
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great car for the price - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By John Shaffer - February 12 - 1:04 pmi have had my elantra gls for 3 months. getting 31mph around town...seat not very comfortable for a tall man but over all the care is great regarding performance. better than my toyotas or renault, or vw..looks good too.
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Suspension Problems - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
By Seanbird - February 10 - 7:58 pmThe car looks good, drives nice, great on gas and is pretty comfortable. Basically its a good car for the price. The problem i have is the loud knocking noise every time i turn the wheel or go over a bump and the dealership cant figure it out even after taken the car to them three times. I guess thats what they mean by you get what u pay for.
