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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  Farewell, old friend - 2004 Hyundai Elantra
  By avhelp - August 2 - 11:56 pm

  Someone once told me machines dont have a soul. I disagree. My Hyundai took me to work and happy places, safely and always got me home. We logged 131K miles together, and it just got to the point where it got tired. Life had been perfect except for a battery at 100K. Now, at 131K, We needed new struts,shocks, breaks, timing belt, water pump, CV joints, tires and headlight glass. With all that mileage, how much longer could we go on before something big broke? I took the repair money and bought its cute cousin, the SOUL. I know the Kia and Hyundai family are as one, so I am looking forward to more far off trips to enjoy. Thank you, Blue Hyundai, for taking me to and from safely.

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  First Hyundai, very pleased - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By thebagel42 - August 1 - 7:07 am

  I dont usually write reviews, but after seeing all the reviews reporting poor gas mileage I felt like I had to say something. Ive got about 10K miles on my 2012 elantra. Just about a month ago I drove from Cleveland to Ann Arbor (~180 miles) and I averaged 41 mpg. Thats with speeds between 65-75 mph. When I first got the car I could get 29-30 in a city. However, Ive recently found it more fun to drive this stick shift car in a less-than-optimal way. I now average about 26-27 in the city but get to enjoy the car a little more. So getting at or above the estimated mpg is very possible. In addition, there is plenty of room in the interior of the car.

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  Good, not great! - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By zbrian - June 24 - 1:21 pm

  So I purchased a new 2012 Elantra about 3 months ago. I have put 5,200 miles on the car so I thought it was time to write my review. The car is really good in some aspects such as exterior styling and smooth ride, but lacks in other areas. This car is a head turner, as I have had many people compliment or ask questions about it. The paint quality also seems good. Overall the car is worth the money (I hope). Overall this model of elantra has not been released long enough to attest to the reliability or longevity.

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  Regretful - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By jmk1109 - June 17 - 2:47 pm

  I purchased this car mainly for the fuel economy. My 60 miles per day of driving to and from work only get me 32 mpg. I did get 40 driving from Harrisburg, PA to Pittsburgh, though. My biggest disappointment about the car is the steering. I blow around on the highway when there are strong wind gusts. The handling is horrible and I feel like I cant even control my car. I feel unsafe. My tire also blew out while on the highway - and to my surprise there was no spare tire. I cant believe Hyundai doesnt make it standard to provide its customers with a spare! I regret buying the car and I would rather pay more money for gas in a less efficient car than drive a car that is unsafe.

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  Best value for the buck - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By anwarma - June 9 - 7:40 am

  I get 38 mpg easily on highway but if you drive like maniac with aggresive driving style with frequent rapid acceleration then dont expect high fuel economy. I easily 32 in the city but then my commute to work is very small and most of the time car sits on Metra train parking lot.I do have one disappointment, the leather on the steering wheel is coming off and I have made a claim but looks like Hyundai is still working on a permanent solution and has told me that I will be contacted once the new steering wheel is shipped to the dealer for installation. Otherwise a superb car for the price. Kudos to Hyundai for learning from their mistakes to build a amazing machine.

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  Great Car Great Price - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By kccoflbp - May 31 - 9:04 pm

  Bought used in 2008 with 26,000 miles for 5200 dollars. Still own it and love it today. Now has 126,000 miles and running strong. The only maintenance we have done is regular oil changes and timing belt change at 70,000 miles. Averaging 35 miles per gallon.

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  good car not great - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By jonate69 - May 25 - 12:31 am

  Did my research and picked a 2013 elantra, have 2 thousand miles on it aready ...and this is my review im only going to note the cons ...hope hyundai looks at these reviews to improve the car 1) car doesnt look like a econo-box but sounds like one when driving it, way to much road noise ...and makes me feel like i overpaid for this car. 2) engine is underpowered by at least 10 horsepower or needs more low end torque for quicker 0-60 times , struggling to have enough speed to merge safely onto highway. the accent has 138 hp, the elantra has 148 hp and the sonata has 198 hp ....need more power

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  Love it!....so far... - 2013 Hyundai Elantra
  By sinnerman2 - May 21 - 1:01 pm

  Bought the new 2013 limited with ALL the packages for 23,000 even. Love this car so far. the styling, the FEATURES!, the comfort, the ease of use, etc...All seems up to par so far except the best mileage I have gotten is an average of 28.6mpg with a mix of city and highway..and this is with the ECO mode on....I am trying to be paitent as others have told me that it takes a few hundred to couple thousand miles to start seeing the GOOD gas mileage it promises...I sure hope it gets there soon. Only got about 300 miles on it so far...But overall, this car is the bomb!! i recently test drove the 2011 Lexus IS 250 as I entended to "step up" my car...but this was even better than the lexus IS!!

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  Awesome Over All - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By ryan86 - May 18 - 5:01 pm

  I bought my 2012 Elantra Limited at the end of Sept 2011 last year. Over all its been a great car. I fell in love with the design as well as its gas mileage. The gas mileage in my opinion is not what they say it is. I wish it where better to be honest. But, yes there is a but.... Its not bad like most cars built with what options I have. Hyundai is the old Toyota. Just a well built nice looking car.

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  Gas mileage - 2012 Hyundai Elantra
  By gchildeb - May 16 - 5:56 pm

  This car does not live up to the 29/40 mpg it says it is ssuppose to get. The trip meter will consistently indicate mpg about 4 to 5 more than what you are really getting. You watch the trip meter and think great, I am getting 40 mpg. Then you fill up and find out you really only got 35 mpg. Dont get me wrong it is still good but should be easily correctable. Advertised mpg on the window sticker are verified by the government. Somebody is wrong. Aside from that the car is awesome. I quit riding Yamaha motorcycles because the speedometers were always off by about 4 miles per hour. This is not new technology.