During the early 2000s, Hyundai got serious about quality and making cars that people wanted to drive, rather than had to drive because they had no other choice. The third-generation Hyundai Elantra was the first beneficiary of the company’s master plan, the nameplate evolving from an also-ran to a solid contender against the Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Corolla, and other popular options in the compact car category.

Since then, Hyundai has offered the Elantra mainly as a five-passenger compact sedan, but also as a five-door hatchback, a five-door wagon, and a two-door coupe. As diverse as that sounds, however, the Elantra has always had a four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. The Elantra has never been available in all-wheel drive (AWD), and the Elantra Hybrid only recently joined the lineup.

Today, anyone shopping for a practical, durable, and stylish small car should put the Hyundai Elantra sedan on their shopping list. There is even an Elantra N for those who want some driving hijinx.

And the industry-leading warranty? Unlike 20 years ago, it’s now more of a bonus rather than the primary reason to consider the Elantra.

Generations: Seven

Hyundai Elantra 7th generation
Hyundai Elantra 6th generation
Hyundai Elantra 5th generation
Hyundai Elantra 4th generation
Hyundai Elantra 3rd generation

Pros: Plenty of value to be had here, great warranty, plenty of technology (in the current generation)
Cons: Smaller engines can be anemic, polarizing styling, some questionable interior materials

Hyundai Elantra Seventh Generation (2021-present)

The seventh-generation Elantra burst onto the scene with a whole new look and an available hybrid powertrain that returns an EPA fuel rating of 54 miles per gallon combined. The Elantra GT was discontinued for this year.

The Hyundai Elantra SE trim, Hyundai Elantra SEL trim, and Hyundai Elantra Limited trim all get a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), but buyers can also opt for the turbocharged 1.6-liter in the Elantra N Line. That comes with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Depending on the trim, buyers were treated to an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for the first time in this segment. A larger 10.25-inch touchscreen came with the Limited trim, but it made smartphone tethering wired. Every 2021 Hyundai Elantra also got Hyundai’s SmartSense suite of advanced driver-assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beams, and a driver-attention warning system.

In 2022, Hyundai added the hot Elantra N, with a raucous 2.0-liter turbocharged engine mated to a six-speed manual or eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. This little guy produced 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. Car Gurus reviewed the 2022 Hyundai Elantra N and gave it high marks averaging 8.7 out of 10.

Hyundai Elantra Sixth Generation (2017 to 2020)

With the sixth-generation Elantra, Hyundai toned down the sedan’s head-turning looks in favor of a more conservative and upscale appearance. That didn’t last long; A 2019 freshening added dubious geometric shapes that, depending on the trim level and viewing angle, can be downright jarring.

The five-door Elantra GT, based on the European i30, arrived for 2018, showing clean, tailored lines to this day. Fold the rear seats down and cargo space expands from 24.9 to 55.1 cubic feet.

Both versions of the sixth-generation Elantra have nicer interiors than ever, modern infotainment and safety features, and available turbocharged engines that add significant driving spirit.

Three engine choices are available, but most Elantras have the standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a manual or automatic transmission. For 2020, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) replaces the automatic in the sedan body style. Additional choices include turbocharged 1.4-liter and 1.6-liter four-cylinder engines with manual or dual-clutch automatic transmissions, depending on the application. Fuel economy ranges from 25 to 36 mpg in combined driving, depending on powertrain choice.

For daily commuting, CarGurus recommends the Elantra sedan in Value Edition trim. For driving enjoyment, look to the Elantra GT N-Line, which is like a Korean Volkswagen GTI. No matter which trim level you choose, the Elantra offers an outstanding warranty, a long free-trial period for Blue Link services, and a Top Safety Pick crash-test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

In 2017, CarGurus gave the Elantra sedan an overall rating of 8.8. A test of the refreshed 2019 Elantra sedan garnered a score of 8.2.

Hyundai Elantra Fifth Generation (2011 to 2016)

The dramatically styled fifth-generation Hyundai Elantra first turned heads for the 2011 model year. With its almost sensual body swells, flowing design, and attractive fastback silhouette, the Elantra made the automotive world stand at attention. Comparatively, its mechanical twin, the Kia Forte, was a wallflower in the compact car segment.

The Elantra sedan came out first, joined by a two-door coupe and a five-door hatchback for 2013. The Elantra Coupe was a dud; it was gone by 2015. The Elantra GT hatch remained available through 2017.

A 147-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine was standard, paired with a manual or automatic transmission. In 2014, Hyundai added a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder that made 173 hp. Fuel economy ranged from 27 to 31 mpg combined.

The fifth-generation Elantra proved reliable, with few recalls. The 2011-12 versions had a stability control issue, while the 2011 Elantra could suffer suspension corrosion in high-salt-use areas. The brake lights were problematic for the 2013-14 models, but this Elantra also boasted top safety ratings.

CarGurus gave the Elantra an 8.5 rating in 2015 but downgraded it io a 7.5 in 2016, in part due to testing of the simple Value Edition trim level.

Hyundai Elantra Fourth Generation (2007 to 2010)

Building on the success of the third generation, the fourth-generation model arrived for the 2007 model year.

At first, the Elantra was only available as a five-passenger sedan, but starting in 2009, a wagon called the Elantra Touring arrived. Based on the European Hyundai i30, it boasted more enjoyable driving dynamics and remained in production through the 2012 model year. The redesigned 2009 Kia Forte was based on the Elantra sedan’s platform, but the Kia had a much more stylish look than the Hyundai.

All fourth-generation Elantras had a 138-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a manual or automatic transmission. Fuel economy ranged from 26 to 32 mpg in combined driving. For 2010, Hyundai introduced a Blue trim level marketed as a more eco-friendly version of the sedan, but all it did was bump the highway fuel economy number from 34 to 35 mpg—and it only managed that with the manual transmission.

The fourth-generation Elantra proved to be fairly reliable. There was a fuel pump recall in 2008, and the 2008-10 models saw recalls for power steering.

Hyundai Elantra Third Generation (2001 to 2006)

It wasn’t until Hyundai introduced the third-generation Elantra that people started taking the company’s vehicles seriously. In part, that’s because Hyundai started offering its famous 10-year/100,000-mile warranty that year.

Admittedly, the third-generation Elantra wasn’t the best-looking compact car you could buy, but its workhorse nature was enough to turn Hyundai’s reputation around. First introduced as a sedan for 2001, the new Elantra lineup gained a five-door hatchback for 2002. Both had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a manual or automatic transmission and were, of course, front-wheel drive (FWD).

In spite of its impressive warranty, earlier versions of the third-generation Elantra were recalled several times for braking, suspension, and fuel tank issues pertaining to the 2001-2003 models. A few airbag problems popped up, too, but they were unrelated to the massive Takata airbag recall.