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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  Youve Got to drive it - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By KentKEN1147 - January 4 - 12:42 pm

  I tried many cars at Auto Show before deciding on Elantra SE, more interior room than many bigger cars. Handling fantastic when pushed on mountain roads but SE suspension is sometimes unforgiving on poor roads. If the road is bad youll definitely know it. The car is great on freeways but you have to drive it, on the on ramps dont leave it in "D" use the shift-tronic youll enjoy the power and control it gives you. Im a high mileage driver and enjoy the 30-31 mpg average Im getting. Long rides avg 34+ mpg.

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  Beats Corolla or Civic - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By John Shaffer - January 4 - 5:12 am

  very quiet cab..great radio. roomy for a tall person...easy entry...of the 8 small cars i have owned the elantra is the most comfortable and quiet car...

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  Great car! - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lindsay - January 2 - 11:32 am

  Overall I love my Elantra. When I was looking to buy a new car last year, I singled in on the Elantra because of its rave reviews and all the comparisons people were making between it and similar vehicles (Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic) in terms of dependability and other perks. My previous vehicle was a Toyota Corolla (so far I like the Elantra just as much). During the first year of ownership Ive not had any mechanical problems (knock on wood) and have had to do minimal maintenance on it. Its exactly what I wanted in a vehicle--its dependable, low-maintenance, nice looking, has acceptable gas mileage, has good standard features, and wasnt outrageous in terms of pricetag.

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  Great car for the price - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Lonnie - January 1 - 9:41 pm

  I bought this car as a commuter mostly because of the gas mileage. I was fully expecting to have to make allowances for driving an "economy" car but have been completely surprised in all respects. People are going to laugh but I actually drive my Elantra on weekends now while my 07 Caddy CTS spends most of the time in the garage. Absolutely no problems with nearly 45000 miles on the clock. I added aftermarket tinting and put new, larger tires on it with some aftermarket wheels just for appearance sake but theres not much else Id change about this car. All this for under 13000 out the door. Great job, Hyundai!

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  Not Worth the Money - 2001 Hyundai Elantra
  By HyundaiOwnernMD - December 29 - 2:25 pm

  I would steer clear of this vehicle. Since day one the car vibrates excessively and makes loud noises when driving at speeds of 55 mph or higher, regardless if A/C is on or off. Took it to dealer where I purchased and they told me "All of the Hyundai Elantras due the same thing". Have also been told its because its a 4 cyl, yet other 4 cyl vehicles Ive had ride a lot smoother and quieter than this vehicle. Not to mention the exterior "looks at" something and gets a dent. Save your money. Not worth the annoyance.

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  I luv my Elantra! - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bruce - December 29 - 1:24 pm

  Great car - cheap as hell to buy, own, and operate. We have 20K miles on in now - and we may not need to buy another car for a decade.

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  A great little car for the money! - 1996 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kalikiano - December 28 - 4:16 pm

  I bought my 1996 Hyundai Elantra GLS wagon used (in 2008), with 117,000 miles on it. Since I wanted a white paint exterior, I really had to search a bit until I found one (in Arizona). Ive put about 3000 miles on it so far and it has performed like a champ. Lots of room for myself, wife, and two large dogs. Well appointed, comfortable, with excellent cooling/heating capabilities and superb 360 degree visibility, I soon grew quite fond of this modest but sturdy little Korean automobile. With excellent fuel economy (27-30 mpg average for both city and highway), its really the frugal persons Honda Civic: high quality for low cost. Id recommend it to anyone looking for a good used car!

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  Very very pleased - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By JeffM - December 27 - 12:30 pm

  I am very pleased with the car. Very quiet on the road, good but not great acceleration, handles very nimbly, will hold 90 mph with seemingly no effort or noise.

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  Surprised - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By TISH - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I just love driving this car! 9000 miles in 4 mo. The 5 speed has quick pick-up and we just purchased a 2nd Hyundai yesterday! Wish I had this kind of quick set-up when I drove in road rallyes!

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  02 Elantra makes the grade - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By nick - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I had a wonderful buying experience at Mirak, the only dealership in the area that took me seriously and would negotiate on the price. The cars engine sounds better and better as the miles add up. The headlines rattles slightly but other than that there are no problems with my new car. Power is acceptable and one can easily push the engine towards the red line to get that added boost if needed.