Overview & Reviews

Hyundai has added a GT sedan to the lineup. It has the same price and equipment as the GT hatchback, save for a rear wiper, and it gets a body-color rear spoiler. The hatchback will wear a black rear lip spoiler, and both GTs will come with floor mats. Meanwhile, the value-packed GLS sedan remains unchanged, except ABS will be slightly more affordable, as it has been added to the Accessory Group 3 options package, which costs $925. Finally, Hyundai announced that it had misstated the horsepower ratings for all of the models in its lineup -- the Elantra is now rated at 135 hp, rather than 140, though the engine itself is unchanged.

• Solidly built, powerful engine for its class, plenty of standard features, ultralow price tag.

• Poor offset crash test score, ABS available only as a package option.

User Reviews:

Showing 71 through 80 of 373.00

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  The van died - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Dead Van Man - August 15 - 10:00 am

  Bought a used GM van 2 months ago. It died. I needed a car, so I bought an Elantra GLS (Dealer clearing them out with auto-trans at $11,950 for 2003s!). I recommended my girlfriend buy one last year after a lot of research told me it was the best car for the money and besides, the warranty cant be beat. I agree with Edmunds on this one - a great car. If youre shopping for an economy sedan, do yourself a favor and get an Elantra. You get much more that youd expect for the price. Now we both have one and both are superb. Beats the "gold standard" Civic hands down in my book.

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  Kinda..Ehh - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Sketchy - August 11 - 4:26 pm

  Bought this car second hand with low miles for a occasional trip and back and forth to work car. In town MPG sucks for this car. With A/C on car has little power so always finding myself putting it to the floor to keep up. Does ok with a/c off. Very comfy seats and layout isnt bad. Highway MPG is ok but still under 30 avg 65 mph. Gremlins start to show up after 50k miles but knock on wood, still hasnt left me stranded. Transmission likes to slip when real light pedal pressure is applied. Rattling/ticking noise started around engine sometime ago. Figured it was cheap gas but ran 93 octane still no help. Looking at new cars now. Hyundai? Ehh...I dunno. Warranty only 50k after 1st owner.

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  sofarsogood - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By gaels guy - August 11 - 3:52 pm

  Now nearing 5.5years ownership, and 75,000 miles. A/c compressor went at 73,000 I live in Florida and a/c gets used a great deal. Got rear-ended by an 18 Wheeler truck, took quite a shot and the car survived. 5,000+ in repair. Have had 3 left headlight bulbs and 1 set of fog lights go. 1 thermostat. Get 31-34 mph highway 23- 27 in town. I never use Hyundai for the 30-60,000 servicing. Had the a/c repaired locally. On 3rd set of tires.

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  Hyundai proven to have been a good buy - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Happy Owner - July 20 - 7:40 pm

  The Elantra Gt gave me what I wanted. Looks, utility ( thats why I chose the GT hatchback) dependability and price. In 76000+ miles the only things that have gone wrong are 3 low beam headlights bulbs, 1 battery, the thermostat and just recently the A/C compressor. The brake pads show little wear at this time. I was rear-ended by an 18 wheeler and took such a hit that the motor mounts broke. After the repair you would never know that the car was ever hit. Still rides and handles great. Excellent brakes headlights are strong. All in all it has been a very good car in every respect. I will probably replace it with another Hyundai one day, if it ever wears out.

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  Pay now or Pay later - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Cheap? - July 7 - 8:10 am

  We bought the Elantra VE because it handled well on a test drive and we seemed to be getting more for our money, however over the past five years we have spent $8000 in maintenance and repairs. The key fobs wore out in less than two years rendering the alarm system useless. Every problem has been solved on the second visit, not on the first - so we have paid twice to have each problem fixed. The brakes always squeal, the rubber door seals eroded away in less than a year and the fuel system has been cleaned twice. We may have paid less for the Elantra than other 4-Door sedans, but we spent it on repairs over the past 5 years. Our advice - buy North American and pay the extra 5- 8 K up front.

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  Best Car Ever - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Gemg - July 4 - 9:43 pm

  Bought new out the door for 14K, pretty good. Ive only done routine maintenance, the car has never had a single problem. Most trouble free car Ive ever had. An unassuming simple car but a little nicer than "basic transport". Always gets 30+mpg. Even got 38mpg between Reno and Sacramento (all downhill LOL!) Commuted in Colorado going 40 miles each way from 5000ft to 8500ft elevation each time. Sub zero weather and never garaged. Someone ran a red light and hit the side from drivers door forward at 60mph - totaled it. My daughter who was driving and my son the passenger walked away with only bruises and sore muscles. Now looking for another Elantra to replace it.

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  Review - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By spiffsteruno - June 28 - 10:00 am

  The Elantra is not a reliable car. It was at the dealer every other week for transmissino problems. The car has died on the highway and hyundai did nothing for me. I had to wait 2 hours for their tow truck to get me and they didnt even give me a loaner. I am very disapointed with this car.

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  Satisfied but not ecstatic - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By dbh1 - June 28 - 10:00 am

  I had to have the starter replaced. This was covered under the 5 yr 60k warranty. The roadside assistance program works.

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  ok for the money - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By jeff - June 17 - 4:22 pm

  Daily driver, the first year the car seemed pretty solid. After that you started hearing more noise. Too much maintance for such a small car. If you dont follow the schedule it will void the so called 100,000 mile warranty!

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  Okay car, but I found better - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Patrick - June 16 - 4:24 pm

  OK car overall. Nice interior - instrument panel and blue lighting were nice, but pleather was cheap. POOR GAS MILEAGE! About 18 MPG - Lower than sticker. Brake pads had to be replaced constantly. The auto trans was not that good, never had any probs with it, but it coulda shifted smoother. Engine had a rattle to it when accelerating up hills - had it checked out, but was told that the noise was normal and didnt seem to effect performance. Also when turning steering wheel, it made a scratching noise. Overall, the car had a few rattles and noises that were minor which didnt effect the performance of the car, but were annoying since they were constant.