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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  2010 Elantra GLS - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By NJ Commuter - November 16 - 3:52 pm

  I have 375 miles on my new 2010 Elantra GLS. So far, so good. I went to dealer to test drive and ended up purchasing the car. With the $2000 in incentives the dealer offered I walked away paying just under $16,000 for the car which included all taxes, fees and destination charges. My first tank of gas I averaged just under 31mpg in mixed city/highway driving. Car feels solid, has a comfortable driving position and handles well. Its also a good looking car. Car came with 3 months of XM satellite radio included. Back seat is very comfortable for my teenage kids. Im hoping for many years of trouble free operation - only time will tell.

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  Excellant Small Car for the Money - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By RW Willis - November 16 - 2:00 am

  This car was purchased for my daughter who will be going off to college and for the money was an extremly good value. We looked at the Saturn ION, Ford Focus and Nissan Sentra and based on the overall price and features this car wins hands down.

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  Probably would buy another one. - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By jcscratch - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Paid $13,700 for this car: power everything, moonroof and ABS. Im 63" and find it fairly comfortable to sit in--very good visibility. No trouble to date, at 18,000 miles. Very quiet car. This car blows the Ford Focus away (I got rid of my focus at 36,000 miles because of build quality and it was very uncomfortable). Bottom line: If I had to spend less than $14,000 on another car, I would buy another Elantra. (but see the suggested improvements)

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  Did the research... - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Reen - November 14 - 4:48 pm

  We cash for clunkered and got our Elantra for $10000. Id have been happy with just that great deal, but now throw in reliability, nice gas mileage, solid looks, and fun driveability, and Im a happy girl. I knew I wanted a reliable, low-cost car to get back and forth to work/school, and that would last for YEARS. After checking all the research, Hyundai was the only manufacturer left standing that fit my criteria, and if anything does go wrong, the unbeatable warranty has me covered. This is the first new car Ive purchased since 1991, and only Hyundai managed to convince me the purchase would be worth the investment. So far, so good....

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  Rattle Trap - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike A - November 14 - 10:00 am

  The car makes more noises driving down the freeway than any car I have owned. After taking to dealer several times to try to stop rattles, they no longer return my calls.

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  Hard to beat - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Ziglifler - November 14 - 10:00 am

  For what the Elantra GT costs and what you get for the money , it is very hard to beat .. I have had mine for 6 months and have almost 11k on it sofar and i am very please with the car . I own a accent with 170+k miles on it so buying another Hyundai wasnt a problem . They have shown me they make good cars . The base model has all the options you could want from a car and for 15k or under it cant be beat .

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  06 Elantra - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By rosegaliana - November 14 - 4:40 am

  This is our 4th Hyundai. What can we say, we keep coming back! Our first was a 93 Excel, then an 01 Accent, and an 02 Elantra GT. We bought this car a few days ago for my husband and so far he loves it! We had a Forenza and the Elantra is way better. Good styling (a bit like my old Elantra), comfy seats, fun to drive. My Elantra had no problems, but the Accent had transmission problems (but it also got driven into the ground) so we arent worried. Looking forward to many good years with this one. We paid 11,300, so cant complain. Oh, and by the way, there are rear cup holders! Just below the rear bench, in between, push in and they pop out!

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  Not Happy with the ride. - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Catherine Curtis - November 12 - 11:14 am

  This car vibrates like a lumber wagon and it has Solis tires on it. That could be the problem, but I dont think so. I have had 2 4-wheel alignments on it and the wheels balanced 3 times in 17,000 miles. It is now in for rebalancing again at the price of $100.00, plus diagnostic fees. I had a 2003 Hyundai Elantra and it was a great car. Drove it for 6 years 100,000 with the wheels taken care of 2 times. Fuel economy is not as good as advertised or as good as my 2003.

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  Real Review, this is not a 10 CAR!! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By CamaroCurt - November 11 - 10:00 am

  This is an OK car, nothing special especially in terms of the materials used. Car has many squeaks/rattles/buzzes that the dealer does not want to address. Car handles well and the 4 wheel discs work well. Seats are comfy and I fit, 65" 225lbs nicely. Build quality is only fair due to rattles and cheapness of interior materials, seats are already showing wear?? in 2 months... This concerns me. Car can be caught completely flat footed on hills where it WILL NOT downshift, the lead tech told me this was a KNOWN issue , he also said they were not as well made as the Sonata,

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  This car stinks - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By Laurie - November 11 - 9:53 am

  I purchased this car brand new. I was so excited. It was suppose to get 33mpg on the highway. I only drive highway miles. I am getting 24mpg and the dealer and Hyundai just say they cant find anything wrong with it. They are not doing anything about it but giving me the run around. I will never purchase another Hyundai again!!! Should have bought the Toyota like I was thinking about!