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 1 through 10 of 373.00

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  Basic commute - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Kalyan C Jagarlamudi - October 25 - 2:00 am

  The car is a reliable, spacious and economical mode of transport. It is no looker and the interiors are dull and grey. Build quality is at par with industry average but surprisingly the car does not feel tinny. The 4 cylinder is very smooth but gets buzzy at high revs and power delivery is linear as expected from a compact sedan with economy in mind. The ride is neither too harsh nor too plush. It is somewhere in between. Handling is abysmal in tight turns though the steering is well weighted. Fuel economy is good. All electricals work seamlessly. It is very reliable and starts at the first crank every time. Cheap to own and run as well. Overall a perfect car on a shoe-string budget!

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  Dont Recommend - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Me - July 23 - 1:45 pm

  Within 4 years I have replaced the transmission, alternator, battery, brakes, replaced all 4 tires, and have gone through about 8 headlights. This is a nice cheap car, but you pay for what you get. I do not consider this car reliable, one thing breaks after the other. Gas is terrible and paint scratches easily.

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  Few repairs after five years - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By deliah - August 31 - 8:14 am

  Originally, it cost $14,000...it now has over 87,000 miles, with only minor repairs. Original battery lasted me to the 80,000 mile point. The windshield got a crack from a thrown up rock on the highway at about the 60,000 mile point. Now, at my last inspection, the brakes barely passed, and Ill need to have them worked on soon, but not bad for this age and mileage. I would buy another of this model.

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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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  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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  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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  Terrible Car - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By E.Martinez - May 3 - 9:41 am

  I bought this car with 50k miles in 2005. Its been a problem after another. I had to replace the engine at 80k miles and now at 98k it has the transmission issues. The Motor Mounts were also replaced. Yes, its a cheap car. However, the maintenance becomes very expensive. I change the oil every 3k and do excellent maint. on it. Nevertheless, its still a problem. Would never buy a Hyundai and/or Kia in my life again. Pay a little more upfront and save a lot later when purchasing a Toyota, Honda or Nissan. Most of Kia and Hyundai engines are joint venture with Mitsubishi and they are not very reliable engines.

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  Beware of Hyundai - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By Tom Larson - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I would STRONGLY advise against purchasing a Hyundai. I purchased a new 2003 Elantra hatchback last July, and 18,000 miles later, the clutch failed. I was just informed by the dealership the clutch is NOT covered by the warranty, and Ill have to shell out $900 to get it fixed. Ive been driving other various manual transmission cars for 20 years with no problems. The Hyundai is a poorly made vehicle, and the much vaunted warranty is total sham, if not fraudulent. Again, I would stay away from Hyundai!

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  disheartened - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By disappointed - December 18 - 7:58 am

  The car was taken back to the dealership within 24 hours for problems. Currently on 4th set of tires within 3 years. Emergency brake locks in cold weather and wears down tires (been towed several times). Maker doesnt take blame, rather passes the buck. Solutions are not guaranteed that problems are fixed, yet my wallet takes the brunt. Dealerships report that my problem is not a warranty issue. Frustrated!

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  Poor Quaility Paint Jobs - 2003 Hyundai Elantra
  By tim - October 27 - 7:07 pm

  I own 2 hyundias the elantra has paint peeling of from bugs and such(the rep calls it fallout)They do not cover this my 2004 santa fe has this problem also and they would only pay for 1/2 of the cost it was bought new and only has 20,000 miles on it my 95 and 97 model car paint jobs are fine. Poor paint quality paint and clearcoat very thin. Look over the car closely and dont drive on gravel. Also make sure you go buy the rules of there warranty at 30,000 miles transmission drain and radiator flush. If you don,t they mostlikely wont cover it if you have problems.