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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  New Purchase - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By jerseyjohn365 - December 12 - 12:26 am

  Pros: Roomy interior, they have taken a few inches from the back and added additional passenger leg room. Lots of features in the SE AT, sun roof, XM, mp3 stereo w/USB and iPOD jacks, ESC, airbags, etc. Cons: ride is stiffer than the Ford Focus wagon it is replacing. Fuel mileage is not fantastic - just average.

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  A speedy "little" hatchback - 2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By jayteejr - October 17 - 11:12 am

  I research every one of my purchases to DEATH and buying a new car was no different. We have a young child and two dogs, so needless to say we needed something that could haul them all comfortably. I am not a fan of SUVs and a minivan was out of the question. Browsing Edmunds I ran into the Elantra Touring, scheduled a test drive and never looked back. The SE trim game me everything I wanted and the manual transmission keeps it fun to drive. Only about 300 miles on her to date, but so far this has been a great purchase!

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  Good car - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By utvols02 - October 13 - 2:56 am

  I bought this car for my wife a couple months ago, and she absolutely loves it. After driving the manual version, I can say that the automatic version feels much slower, but acceleration is still adequate. The brakes are very good. Ive been averaging 30mpg between city and highway driving, which is a few mpg better than advertised. Overall we are very pleased with the car, and I would have no hesitation picking this car over the competition again.

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  try it, youll like it - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Nance - September 15 - 3:50 pm

  smooth, comfortable, quiet, great price to add to the competition. Test drove Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit (owned), NO comparison. Display layout easy use and read, radio great. Very stable feeling on the road. When doors get shut, they sound solid. Not a cheap feel. Easy to get in and out of. Completely sold on first test drive. Very enjoyable, looking forward to driving every day. Been getting very good gas mileage--avg. 33-34 breaking in miles, driving hills and town.

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  like this car so far - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By R Fritz - August 8 - 12:40 pm

  Shifts smoothly and plenty of pep. Rides and looks like a Volvo. Precise handling,but bumpy ride. Hard seats, but comfortable with 8 way adjustable. Well equipped with even a refrigerated glove box. Quite roomy and a good value. No gas mileage figures yet. Good warrantee, but plenty of exceptions

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  worth every penny - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By frank wagner - July 11 - 4:33 am

  The 2010 elantra touring se/manual is a well built car and easy to drive. Plenty of leg room and comfort for front and back passengers. I traded in my Hyundai elantra 2000 gls manual that I had driven for 10 years. It held up remarkably well and Im sure the touring will do the same. The touring handles the road extremely well and the cloth interior is exceptionally attractive. This car delivers a very smooth ride and is a pleasure to drive on long trips.

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  Engine rebuild at 85,000 miles - 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Matthew P. - June 9 - 4:45 pm

  Oil seal failed at the right-hand side of the engine (accessory side, not transmission side). Found the cause to be worn main bearings allowing the crankshaft to move within the engine block, which pushed the oil seal out. $3700 to have the engine removed, rebuilt and reinstalled. Though the car has been in our family since new the Title was transferred from husband to wife, then to mother so Hyundai sees it as having changed ownership 3 times and would not honor the 100,000 mile power-train warranty. **update** Since original post the engine came out again at 90,000 miles. Unable to locate a new crankshaft, the shop that rebuilt the engine performed a weld repair on the crankshaft which failed resulting in a ticking noise. The repair shop honored their warranty and repaired the engine at no charge, but we were down a car for 5 weeks. Car just passed 101,000 miles yesterday and the engine light came on. To be continued . . .

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  OK, not great - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Ray - May 30 - 1:30 pm

  Good fuel economy. Comfortable seating. Plenty of back seat room. Poor ride. Feel every bump with the Sports package tires. I wanted a small hatchback type vehicle to take the place of my mid sized SUV. My other car is a Toyota Camry and the ride in the Touring is nowhere near that. I should of spent the extra money and gotten the Rav 4

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  Big Car for Small Price - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By PittsburghGirl - May 17 - 9:50 am

  My husband & I were having doubts about trading in our RAV4 because we didnt want to give up the cargo space. The ET is a great alternative. We havent had any problems so far. The day after we bought it, the great storm of Feb 2010 arrived. The car did great, even on the hills that make up Pittsburgh. I love the large windshield, and there arent any blindspots. So far, we love this car.

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  Eighteen Months Later - 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring
  By Mister Digger - April 21 - 10:00 am

  At 58,300 miles and 18 months of very reliable ownership, it was time to trade this one in on something bigger and more comfortable. I now have a bone spur on my heel, so this very reliable car suddenly did not meet my needs. I had to trade up to a small crossover SUV, which wound up not being another Hyundai. Like Honda, the Hyundai seats seem to be made for durability rather than comfort. Big people like me may find them a bit uncomfortable. Also, it seems that most other drivers on the road hate the way this car looks, so they are constantly trying to push this underpowered car out the way. It also looked like each driver behind me was sitting in my cargo area. A bit unnerving!