In the 15,000 miles that I have driven it in the year that I have owned it, nothing has broken or gone wrong. I bought the car from my in-law who is an Engineer. He maintained it and the records very well, with no faults or breaks during any of the miles. This in itself impressed me very much. It literally has never been in the shop for any sort of repair. Routine maintenance (which for Hyundai is actually pretty sparse compared to other manufacturers) is the the only time he took it to the dealer/shop. No gasket issues, no belt, brake, electrical, engine light issues whatsoever. These were issues for my last car within the initial 50,000 miles.
Performance marks are a 10/10> I was initially used to the 42 mpg I was getting with a diesel. But this car is getting me around 32 mpg and at $.55 cheaper/gallon it equals out pretty well. At much fewer visits to the shop it definitely has paid off!
My real test came when using the car for work. I load my car with gear and must travel over some mountains to get to the work site. These are steep desert mountains with elevation and can get very hot. I was very skeptical that the 4 cylinder gasoline engine and automatic transmission would perform for me as I did my travels. I was fearing that I would be puttering up the mountain in the slowlane, regretting my purchase. Much to my pleasure, fully loaded with heavy gear and liquid, the 4 cylinder and the automatic performed very well. The engine hummed nicely at 3.5k when needed and would not lurch between 3rd and 4th gear, but was efficient at staying in the proper gear. I was easily able to maintain my speed and position in the fast lane the entire way up the interstate. The car handles the desert dirt roads very well, too. I have yet to need an alignment even over miles of rough desert roads. It has certainly passed my "first year" test with flying colors.
Reliability- Outstanding. What anyone would hope from a car. Never have it break down on you or give you issues. We all have enough of those in our lives! We don't need them from inanimate objects as well!
Comfort- No problems, just like the "heavier" feel of European design better than other designs.
Dealer- Haven't used them, but they get a mark down since they won't transfer the warranty from my in-law to me.
I am the author of the above post here for a follow up.
My 2005 Elantra is now at 72,000 miles and still in virtually the same condition. The only thing different is the cosmetic dings and scratches that come from where I must drive my car.
I continue to use it and drive it quite more like a work car than a commuter. I still am using it as a gear transporter across the desert roads and over the mountain passes. On trips to Colorado, the cruise control is the only thing that keeps me from getting numerous speeding tickets in Utah. They are notorious for handing out speeding tickets and the 2005 4 cylinder in the Elantra is very capable of effortlessly cruising at well above 80 or even 90 if you ask it to. It is easy to go faster than you think you are. The factory tires that I had were loud. I have replace them with some Good Year Assurance treads and the tires and ride have improved. Smoother ride and quieter.
I have followed the maintenance schedule and use synthetic oils. The car has yet to be in the shop for any sort of mechanical failure.
I am sure some have had a bad experience, as reported, on this site, but I am not convinced that those experiences are totally the fault of the vehicle or of Hyundai. My car has performed exceptionally well in all sorts of temperatures and climates, in all types of driving conditions. Sub zero, the heater works well and the traction is excellent. 115 plus and the A/C works wonders. The interior holds up very well, even with my Belgian Malinois (75 lb. dog) and 3 boys.
Happy driving.
Good review, I got the 2002 GT and the engine is still running strong at 160 000 km.
I am just checking out the 2005 reviews as I have a friend looking for one...
Civic = $11000... without power windows or anything.
Elantra GT = $8000
Mine however needs lots of repairs with little suspension parts... struts, baring and other things...
(Living in Montreal 7 months of winter -20`s salted roads...
Also, the trucks that clean the roads rip HOLES thru them so... suspension issues are explained... so is my unfortunate rust.
However, after 4 years, I have had no trouble that can be blamed on the car.
To the owner, I don't recommend using a Hyundai dealership... I hear they are horrible.
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