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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  good but not perfect - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By mely - February 22 - 10:00 am

  i have had my baby since my birthday last August. it drives well i live in denver and i went to the mountains it handled good up but when going down it was a little scary. i hate the paint quality it easly damages. but it is very realable i drive about 100 miles a day to and from work and with out i don;t know where i would be

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  Love it! - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By cheapskate - February 20 - 10:00 am

  I am delighted with the amount of car I got for the money. I shopped very carefully for 3 weeks and I know I would have had to pay at least $2,000 more for an equivalent car. I love the solid ride. Everything is high quality and well designed. This car was for my wife. I am going to buy another one for myself..........

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  I smile often with my car!... - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Rich - February 17 - 4:01 pm

  I put 25k mile on my new Elantra since I purchased it 6 months ago. The best mpg was 35 and I usually get about 33 to 34 for combine city/high and Im totally satisfied my cars mpg. The cabin is quite as 4cyl engine, the front dash design is cool and nice look, the sound system is awesome enough to listen clear and powerful sound from my favorite CDs. I never thought this is a small sedan because it provides a good room for even five adults. I went to Lake Tahoe twice with my friends and we all liked and impressed about the handling, acceleration, and the way breaking. It is worth for the money and some worry about resale value.

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  Stop Thinking about buying this car !!! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By josh - February 17 - 12:20 pm

  I have been in 3 Major accidents in my 2002 elantra gls the first 2 did nearly $10,000 in damage the third was a total loss where I only received $3,500 for my car from Allstate. This car does not have anti lock breaks (abs) and it has poor traction control. In all 3 accidents none of my airbags deployed. My insurance sky rocketed. After the second accident I never felt safe again. The feeling of sliding and then slamming into something is something I will never forget. Save your self and other people from elantras and avoid them like the plague.

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  Elantra is Solid Car - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Daniel G - February 17 - 9:59 am

  Build quality is pretty good, some refinements missing. Example, light behind panel next to shift lever is BRIGHT at night and actually catches my eye and annoys. Wont dim with the dimmer knob like the rest of dash. Heater goes cold when idling at lights. Downshifts a little too easy, but overall good automatic. Good factory sound system. Seats okay, a little cardboardy. For price though cant really beat.

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  18,000 mile review - 2007 Hyundai Elantra
  By Brian - February 15 - 11:24 pm

  This is a follow up with my earlier post on my initial purchase. I have now logged 18,000 miles after 1 year and 2 months. I have not had any mechanical problems and I have not had any part on this car break on me. I am getting a solid 25-27 mpg in city and 33-36 mpg on the highway. I have installed various after market devices and still have not had any electrical problems. Although the car can use an extra 20-30 hp for passing, but still acceleration is adequate. Air conditioning gets the job done, even during 100 degree summer temps. After driving this car for over a year I would recommend this car for people that want a car that is good on gas, comfortable and great for a commuter.

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  Great Car - 2009 Hyundai Elantra
  By tom - February 15 - 9:46 am

  We picked up the car and in Tempe, AZ and drove to Coursegold, Calif. It was a great trip. The car was comfortable to drive and we averaged 37 MPH. The trip was only 1700 miles but so far we loved the car. Lots of room inside, looks great inside and out. Loved the XM Radio, 50s & 60s music all the way. Will write more as we get mores miles. We believe we will continue to love the car.

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  Great Value for the Money - 2008 Hyundai Elantra
  By Best Deal Going - February 14 - 5:27 pm

  I have always bought new vehicles and driven them between 250-300,000 miles. After exhaustive research which included talking to other Elantra owners I purchased one. I got a tremendous deal out the door including financing for about 15k(on an SE not GLS). On the last trip at 75 mph with the air on, a full load of passengers and full trunk I got 34 mpg. This wasnt based on the trip computer, it was the old fashioned way of calculating.Mixed driving 29 mpg. After 20,000 miles I am thoroughly convinced that this is the best deal out there. I test drove all the other cars in the class and sure some are peppier or handle better but if you are looking for best bang for you buck, here it is.

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  Believe - 2005 Hyundai Elantra
  By Hyundai Fan - February 12 - 11:43 am

  I bought my 2002 Elantra GT (manual transmission, ABS, moonroof) in October of 2002. 2 and1/2 years later, Im convinced it was one of the smartest things Ive ever done. Seats are comfortable, ride is smooth and quieter than my wifes 2001 Neon, no mechanical problems, and its a great looking car inside and out. Quality look and feel of the leather and controls and more rear legroom than youre likely to find in a compact car. Love the storage capacity with the seats folded. I bought an old house and do lots of home imporvement projects myself. Im always amazed at how much stuff I can fit in there with ease.

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  Great value, great fun - 2006 Hyundai Elantra
  By Herb & Amy - February 11 - 7:34 pm

  This car handles well and at the same time rides very comfortably on the road. Sporty feel without the roughness of a true sports car. Nice combination.