2003 Hyundai Elantra

DESCRIPTION
The Hyundai Elantra GLS is a small car powered by a 2.0 liter 134 hp engine. It delivers adequate acceleration. Being the lowest priced car here ($13,000) and scoring a very good 3rd place, the Elantra is an excellent value. A standard feature is side air bags- only standard in the Elantra and Jetta. Although the Elantra isn't as well rounded as the Honda Civic or as fun to drive as the Volkswagen Jetta, it's still a good vehicle overall.

In my opinion, the Elantra looked like a cheap car offering just basic transportation. I was pleasantly surprised with its ride and roomy interior, but I was unimpressed with its handling. The Elantra is a very good performer and at such a low price is very good if you're short on cash or as a first car.

PERFORMANCE
The Elantra's acceleration is good. The 4 speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. Handling, though, is unimpressive. While ultimately secure, it is far from agile. Emergency handling is safe but not as quick nor nimble as the Honda Civic's or Volkswagen Jetta's. Braking performance is decent with ABS, but a car with ABS may be hard to find. Without ABS, the Elantra's braking is only fair.

COMFORT
The Elantra's front row seats are very comfortable, firm, and supportive. The back bench is fairly roomy and well-shaped. Almost anyone should be able to find a comfortable driving position. The ride is fairly good and the interior stays very quiet. The Elantra seems more focused on comfort than performance.

CONVENIENCE
The spacious truck can swallow a fair amount of luggage. The controls and displays are easy to read. Access is easy in front and rear. The Elantra achieved an unimpressive though not terrible 25 mpg.

INTERIOR
The interior is nicely set up and is made of high-quality materials. The seat fabrics are comfortable and good looking. The interior makes you feel like you're driving in a higher priced car than you really are.

SAFETY
The Elantra has its ups and downs in safety. There are 4 and 5 star crash test results but it got a 'Poor' rating for a frontal offset crash test result. There are 4 adequate head restraints. The Elantra comes standard with side air bags, but head protection is not available and a car with ABS brakes may be hard to find. Due to its so-so handling and mediocre brakes without ABS, avoiding an accident is difficult.

OVERALL
Overall, the Elantra is a very good low-priced choice for a small sedan. Although there are better small cars out there, the Elantra is the best value. Even though it performed very well, I do not recommend the Elantra due to a poor offset crash test result.

RELIABILITY
Reliability records have said the Elantra to have average reliability.

Although it didn't beat the VW Jetta or Honda Civic, the Elantra beat the Mazda Protege, Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla. I don't recommend it, though, due to its poor offset crash result.