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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  Great Car - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By ibnagy99 - October 13 - 2:26 pm

  After owning a BMW that was expensive to upkeep, buying this car was great. I love the gas mileage and it is fun to drive. The sound system rocks!

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  A big time lemon!!! - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By John N - October 12 - 10:25 am

  This car gave me problems practically from the get go. The air conditioner went out literally 8 times in the 5 years I owned it!!! The first 6 were covered under warranty, but after the warranty expired, the dealership refused to stand by their work and fix it for free. Also, both cv joints went, and the cooler system needed major repairs. All of this before 80,000 miles, and I was meticulous with the maintenance. I never missed anything. I will never buy a Hyundai again.

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  Im glad I did my research - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Barbarann - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I test drove the Elantra last December...compared to the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra it won hands down. But I hesitated because of poor crash test results re: airbag deployment. Ive had my 2002 Elantra for 2 weeks and love the way it handles. My "workhorse" 93 Toyota Camry still runs and looks good but at 190,000 miles it became a second car for my daughter. The Elantra is so much peppier and responsive. I had to get used to sitting a little lower on the road and more road noise. Im having too much fun playing with the moonroof. CD feature is nice although I dont believe the speaker system compares to Toyota. Still checking gas mileage...with only 2 fills, between 25-28 mpg mostly city driving

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  I Will Never Go Back To A Ford - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By DONNA RENNINGER - October 8 - 9:26 pm

  I absolutely love this car for its comfort, fuel economy, the style of the vehicle and performance. With my cars acceleration ability, as well as its anti-lock brakes, I could not have asked for a better vehicle to save my life. I have been a Ford person all my life and last year I decided to check out the Hyundai Elantras because I liked their style -- now I will never go back to a Ford.

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  Best Car For The Buck - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By jc1979us - October 8 - 10:03 am

  Great car. Best bang for the buck in its class. Has more safety features than its competitors. Excellent gas mileage. First new car Ive owned and worth every penny.

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  2002 Elantra = Cheap fun - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Bill Carr - October 8 - 2:00 am

  Love the features! Need better shift linkage (smoother) and give the car a horn, not a buzzer!

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  Happy so far! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jessica - October 8 - 2:00 am

  have to say that the biggest appeal to this car is the fact that not many people even know about it yet, it hasnt become the standard like the honda civic

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  Love our elantra! - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By dtiman - October 5 - 1:19 pm

  Bought our 2008 Elantra GLS sedan in early March 2009. I was a little disappointed with the high 20s MPG at first, but by the time the odometer reached 1000 miles, we were routinely getting 33mpg in 70/30 highway/city driving. 31-33 is what we routinely get in mixed driving recently. Overall, we really like this car. It has a good feel and is fun and easy to drive. We are closing in on 6,000 miles with no problems yet.

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  veloster turbo replacement - 2018 Hyundai Elantra
  By herbs sport - October 5 - 2:40 am

  first of all,stay away from the dual clutch transmission,as i had in my 2016 veloster turbo..its horrible.the ride of the elantra sport is just the icing on the cake.mine is a 6-speed manual with the tech package..enough said..you must drive this car..gas mileage is much higher than hyundai says,too.

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  Price is worth it - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By swimmurgirl - October 2 - 10:37 pm

  I bought this car for my daughter and she fell in love with it. She loves the blue light interior and the way it handles. The price was awesome. Paid 14K for it. Very impressed. I was worried about engine noise, but after driving it, it wasnt that bad. So no complaints. Had to decide between the Corolla S and Hyundai. Went with Hyundai based on price and features. We get 3 months of XM. Toyota doesnt offer that. A lot more amenities that a kid could like at that age.