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 - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By mosin1942 - February 21 - 12:21 pm

  This was my first foreign car and I am very pleased with it so far. Bought it new in Oct. 2013. The gas mileage has been outstanding. On a trip to Denver from Longmont and back which took 96 miles the computer said we averaged 46 mpg. On average we are getting approx. 33 to 35 mpg.

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  So far, so good. - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By topperman - February 17 - 4:34 pm

  I bought this Elantra over 2 years ago and have about 47k miles on it now. I have not experienced any of the mechanical or noise problems described in other reviews. The original tires were bad (noisy) and I replaced them after 40K. As far as gas mileage, I have found that there is a huge discrepancy in mileage depending on many factors: speed, outside temperature, wind, vehicle load. and terrain. I have found that headwinds or sidewinds will affect mpg up to 5 or 6. I probably average 35 mpg hwy and 28-30 city. Under optimum conditions I have consistently achieved 36-38 hwy. Would I buy another Hyundai? Maybe. Next time Ill go into something a little bigger. I am over 6.

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  Disappointing in the end - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By bast2112 - February 10 - 12:05 pm

  When researching which new car to purchase, the deciding factors in the end were that I had an Elantra for 12 years and it was very reliable, and I wanted a car with decent gas mileage. So far its been reliable, though a few small things have failed already. But the gas mileage is just plain terrible. If I had known, I would have gotten the car I really wanted that had weaker gas mileage instead!

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  Elegant Elantra for featherfooters - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By litesong2 - January 27 - 11:55 pm

  Worst feature, youll have to dump 3 gears before you finally get Elantra to go. Poor rear suspension. Beware of potholes, & rear wheel skip! Comfortable, less so with lots of weight. Elantra is the best looking car in 20 years, inside & out! Using ethanol-free gasoline & careful driving, accurately AVERAGED 39+mpg (high-43mpg), May thru early December, Seattle weather. Presently, with cold & winter blend gasoline, its dropped to 38mpg. Should still be above my hoped for 35-36mpg after the first year. Elantra has lots of road & tire noise, but very quiet on "experimental quiet pavement". Widest rear seat shoulder width of any car getting nearly 40mpg. 100%, no problems.

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  Takes my beatings, and keeps on ticking! - 2002 Hyundai Elantra
  By washadair - January 25 - 3:44 am

  Bought new, and never babied! It gets neglected and abused! So the fact that its still going strong, with nearly 230,000 miles on it, and hasnt needed any major repairs, is AMAZING! Oil changes done when I get around to it, often after 10-15k miles. Never brought it in for scheduled maintenance, but did get a complete Tune-Up once or twice. Original clutch lasted for over 200k miles! The radiator and thermostat were replaced the year prior. A few things have worn out, or about to: Drivers door wont lock (bad relay switch) making key fobs useless the motor for the drivers power window is slowly dying cant change time on clock high-beams turn on randomly when using the turn signal.

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  ABS problems in ice due to cheap tires - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By adveragedriver - January 21 - 2:28 pm

  As a whole, I like this car. It has a very comfortable driving position for someone my size (63"), gets good gas mileage (though not what was advertised), is reasonably quiet and has this nice extended warranty. I have noticed a couple of significant problems, however, one of which is dangerous. But first, for the false sales pitch. The sales person will tell you that the oil only needs to be changed every 7500 miles. That was one of the selling points to me. But the manual has all sorts of fine print around that figure, so the actual service guys will tell you that you may void the warranty unless you change the oil around every 5000. So dont get caught in that trap. see below

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  Now one full year old GL model - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By caperguy - January 16 - 8:23 pm

  A bit disappointed with the gas mileage as it is not getting what was advertised 13000 miles later.

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  a steal - 2010 Hyundai Elantra
  By elantrablueman - January 7 - 8:49 pm

  Bought a leftover 2010 in Jan 2011 for 12,200, 13,200 otd. Have conv. package and love the xm radio. Now have 57k and the car has been near flawless. Had a minor brake light switch recall. Averaging 30.9 mpg annually. Keep records for taxes. Better mpg on hwy/trips. I change oil every 5k and keep on trucking. Still have original brake pads. Facing some big bills at 60 k: timing belt, trans fluid, probably brakes, too. Could go $1,200. However, with my new Michelins, I could go another 60k.

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  Still going - 1998 Hyundai Elantra
  By supgamer - January 4 - 9:52 am

  I bought this car about 6 years ago for $1600 with 76,000 mi, now I have over 213,000 on it and still going like a charm, everything is working properly. Some of the things I had to repair were: 1 clutch, 2 oxygen sensors, 1 crankshaft position sensor, radiator, 1 air blower, drivers side interior door handle ( used the one from the back door as still opens the door with minor difficulty), 3 out of 4 vent louvers, (cant remember anything else), and the usual things: 1 timing belt, 2 batteries, 1 tune up stuff, oil, 2 sets of tires, brakes, bulbs, etc.

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  41000 Leased Miles Review - 2011 Hyundai Elantra
  By vixyswillie - January 1 - 3:20 pm

  Review based on 41000 leased driving miles in SE Wisconsin. No major mechanical problems. One recall repair for defective airbag headliner support bracket. Scheduled maintenance costs low. Ride somewhat noisy and rough, including side-to-side jostling over stretches of rough roads. Poor performance in snowy/slippery conditions (could have been a tires issue). Maneuverability excellent. Feature set excellent - an amazing value for the money. Beautiful exterior styling - got lots of compliments on the car. Interior comfortable, fairly roomy and well designed. Outstanding fuel economy (low to mid 30s combined city/highway). I would recommend this car.