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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  Do Not buy a Hyundai - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By jackiefran - November 4 - 2:11 am

  Do Not buy a Hyundai! They do not stand behind their products! Warranty sounds good until you go to use it !! Hyundai dealership scammed me all the way !! After they they screwed me the salesman hit on me and tried to .. too !!

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  Feeling Screwed Over - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By Joe - February 10 - 3:37 pm

  I purchased a 2013 Elantra new. I immediately had issues with the mileage. It is stickered for 41 mpg highway. I have never gotten more than 34 mpg after adjusting for the 2.7 mpg the gauge is off when compared to the odometer and actual fuel purchased. The compensation card issued by Hyundai due to the court settlement doesnt even come close to compensating me for the lower mileage. This is the first car I have ever had that has gotten less than the sticker. After 15k or 20k miles there were issues with the pollution control system that took 4-5 trips to the dealership to resolve. Now at 107k (virtually all highway miles) the car engine started making rattling noises that turned out to be a bad piston. The dealer estimates the repair cost to be over $5,600. This is in spite of regular maintenance checks and oil changes. Finally the two sets of 80k mile tires I have had on the car after the initial set that came with the car have each lasted less than 45k miles and developed significant road noise after about 25k miles even with regular rotation. Never again will I purchase a Hyundai and I discourage everyone I talk to from purchasing one too.

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  Terrible Car - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By cory - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Terrible Car, Terrible Warranty. Do not buy this car because of its warranty. The car breaks down on a daily basis and the warranty covers a very small amount of the cost to repair. I will never buy any hyundai again!

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  Not worth the money - 2000 Hyundai Elantra
  By Jlanders - November 23 - 2:00 am

  The car with waranty is great, but you dont get a much of a car.The car is noisy,underpowered and cheaply built.Accelaration is poor and handling is terrible.The seats arent comfortable neither is the ride.Decent gas milage and good waranty but overall not a good pick in cars.

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  This car sucks...Id rather have a Geo - 1997 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sweetlou014 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This car is the worst car I have ever driven. I bought the car with 80,000 miles on it and since then have had nothing but trouble with it. The oxygen sensors went, and they are the most expensive I have ever seen. Diagnostic tests say that the oxygen sensor was the only thing wrong, but the car runs terrible. It skips in gears, revs incredibly high when idling sometimes. Overall, the only good thing I can say about this car is... umm... well... wait... nope, theres nothing good! K Im done.

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  Worst car Ive ever owned - 2016 Hyundai Elantra
  By Mike - December 26 - 4:47 am

  Fit and finish Terrible. Handling poor. Bad weather Handling DEADLY. It is so bad in snow and ice I just left it home. Brakes were bad from DAY 1. Dealers response was they couldnt find anything wrong. I eventually had to do an entire brake job. New pads and rotors. Dealer put an inspection sticker on it even with bad brakes and worn tires. Corporate Hyundai is a total waste. They are uninterested in anything but M O N E Y!!! You get subtle threats when trying to resolve an issue. I could go on and on but there isnt enough space here. But something else this company vehicles are a waste of time.