Overview & Reviews

The Hyundai Elantra Touring was based on the European version of the fourth-generation Elantra sedan. Compared to the sedan of the same time period, the Elantra Touring hatchback wagon had a slightly longer wheelbase, sportier suspension tuning and different styling inside and out.

Where the Elantra Touring really stood out, however, was with its hauling abilities. The interior was roomy enough to seat four adults in comfort, and cargo volume was impressive. Unfortunately, the Touring never sold in big numbers, and Hyundai eventually replaced it with the newer Elantra GT. But if you need a used practical hauler with some driving spirit, the Elantra Touring merits a close look.

Used Hyundai Elantra Touring
Produced from 2009 through 2012, the Hyundai Elantra Touring was initially offered in a single well-equipped trim level. For 2010, Hyundai broke out the Touring into two trim levels, GLS and SE. Standard equipment on the GLS included air-conditioning, a tilt steering wheel, full power accessories, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat and a six-speaker sound system with a USB/iPod interface.

There was an optional package available for the GLS that we recommend looking for that included extra features including roof rails, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, upgraded upholstery and additional driver seat adjustments. Those features were standard on the SE, as well as 17-inch alloy wheels, a sunroof, leather upholstery and heated front seats. Bluetooth was optional on both models.

The Elantra Touring was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 138 horsepower and 137 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission was standard, and a four-speed automatic was optional.

Inside, there was plenty of room for all occupants and their gear. The Touring was more like a midsize wagon than a compact hatchback, as it offered 24 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a massive 65 cubes with them folded down. The latter is more than many competing hatchbacks or wagons. The Touring's cabin design came from Hyundai's European studios, but the result -- primarily in terms of the interior materials – was inferior to the U.S.-market Elantra sedan of the same time.

On the road, we found the Hyundai Elantra Touring performed reasonably well, hitting 60 mph in a little under 9 seconds. The Touring's ride was also smooth and stable, and the relatively quiet cabin made it a good highway cruiser.

If versatility and utility are at the top of your list, a used Hyundai Elantra Touring stands as a great choice among small hatchbacks or wagons, especially considering its feature content, large cargo capacity and overall drivability.

User Reviews:

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  Fun car to drive, easy to park - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By mike - July 2 - 6:36 am

  Traded in a Suburban, this car is fun to drive, somewhat noisy, so far we had 3k miles, my daughter like is very much (she is 3yrs old. my first brand new car, we have a 2001 Saab 95 that is not as noisy as this.

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  Love the Touring - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Atl_touring - May 5 - 4:10 pm

  I have had this car for a week and am loving it. I traded in my 2008 Veracruz and dont miss it at all.

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  Value, utility and fun - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By hyundaivirgin - April 18 - 5:43 am

  This car has everything we needed and wanted: big on the inside with more cargo space than small SUVs we were looking at like the CX-7 or Tucson, small on the outside and very maneuverable into tight parking spaces and our garage, very good fuel economy for the size, great German styling, a well designed interior, lots of safety features like side airbags and ECS and ABS as standard, and a low sticker price. This car is sold as the i30cw and got the highest crash ratings, include side, from the UK and Australian testing agencies. Note the American NHTSA ratings were copied (inappropriately) from the Elantra sedan, with which this car shares none of its design.

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  What a gem! - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Kalun47 - February 19 - 10:10 pm

  I had considered the 09 Outback and Honda FIT before i eventually came upon the ET SE A/T. The legroom for the backseat is amazing, and the cargo room is unmatched when the seats are folded down. As far as safety features go, the ET is top-notch. It was airbags all around, ABS, ESC, and maximum braking when the pedal is suddenly depressed. The Honda FIT is roughly the same price, and doesnt come with ESC. This car has more passenger room than some of the compact and midsized SUVs on the market. The suspension is spring quite hard, so you can feel every imperfection on the road.

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  Rough Two Months - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Rochester - February 2 - 1:43 pm

  I owned a Mazda Protege 5 at a similar price and it had very good handling without the noise and harsh ride of this car. It has the harsh ride of a all out sports car with none of the fun power.

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  Sporty Lite Station Wagon - 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Ruprecht - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 2011 Elantra Touring recently and think it is a nice car so far. It is reasonably priced and nice- looking. The steering and braking are excellent with the new Electronic Stability Control. Hyundai did a good job of updating the car and creating what is essentially a small station wagon. It looks more like a station wagon than a hatchback and has a huge amount of space for a compact car. Overall I like the car!

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  2009 Hyundai Touring 4auto - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By doubleg - January 29 - 12:26 am

  Driven a Civic, Corolla, Matrix,Vibe, Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Touring came out on top. The Mazda was fun to drive, but it is smaller and cost more. The others did not compare in quality and safety features. In 2weeks I have driven 80% in city and a 200 mile trip on the interstate and winding roads and the touring handled great. Quite cabin, cruising at 65MpH with plenty of zip (ok it is not a sports car but it has enough for every day commutes and highway use. Great cargo space. Fit and finish excellent and safety features sold me. Some complain about steering feel, but in my case the wagon handled better than my 2003 Honda Accord.

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  Fuel Economy not what I expected - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By John - January 16 - 1:13 pm

  Great looking vehicle. Good get up and go. Fuel economy is not what I expected. I am getting 23.1 MPG in town. Took one long trip so far, and did manage to get little over 26 MPG on that trip. That was in the rolling hills of CA. I would question why AC in the glove box. My bigest complaint is the position of the steering wheel post on the lower part of the steering wheel. It is right where you would put your hands. I assume they had to put it there to support the air bag? It is unconfortable to hold the steering wheel on the lower part. Drivers seat could be fore confortable!

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  Excellent value - 2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By crowcanada - January 1 - 10:41 pm

  My wife and kids positively *love* our Touring! Theyre all short (52 to 54) so they love the visibility and low-dash design The controls are well laid out and easy to use. The radio is small and fiddly. Ride is stiff, but handling is good. Not truly sporty, though. Hyundai seems to think making things stiff and heavy = sporty, but thats not true. It is a vastly better driver than my 13 Elantra Sedan, which, although more comfortable, has "unsettled" handling. Handling is predictable and road holding good. Engine is weak and mileage is not great in this class. Seats are hard and flat, but surprisingly dont kill you on long (14+ hour) drives.

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  Fantastic little wagon :) - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By happycat - December 28 - 10:40 pm

  Have had the Touring for a few months now and am very happy with it. Fuel efficiency with 60/40 hwy/city miles sits on 29.9 mpg. On 2-3 hr. trips the average has bumped up to about 31 mpg. I have never cleared it completely out to measure efficiency on only a long trip. The back is huge, both in terms of seating room and storage. Loading and unloading is a breeze as the cargo area is wide, flat, and at a good height. The hatch door is not too tall to reach when I need to close it and I am short (52"). Visibility is amazing out the front and the rear is okay--the d-pillars create a bit of a blind spot, but it is well compensated for with the mirrors. Lots of cubbies. Comfortable.