Hyundai Elantra XD (2000-2006)

Still going and even more!!!? – Had this xd hvt for 5 yrs now only major repairs were CV joints radiator and new clutch apart from tyres batteries the norm this has never let me down! Has 210000kms no rust and looks new inside/out am giving this to my son as an ideal first car! As for Hyundai they are worth what you pay for them!!!!! Show details

Cheap but good – Bought as a cheap run-around car. Although it is ageing the trim, carpets, engine, seats are all like new. No engine faults at all and very reliable. Dash is cracking though, due to heat and it has/had some electrical issues such as the central locking and interior lighting failing but I'm not concerned about these as long as the reliability is there.  Show details

Unreliable – 11/11/2014 purchased with 153,633 k’s 7/3/2015 needs a new radiator. $380.00 17/11/2015 (173,192 k’s) Handbrake cable needs replacing $226.81 25/8/2016 Rocker cover gasket needs replacing $163.85 23/3/2017 Needs another radiator $340.00 Sold vehicle in April 2017 approx 187,000 k’s Top of radiator is plastic and it is crimped to the metal… Read more

radiator core. Radiator heats up and cools down and after a while plastic top can separate from core and allow coolant to run out. Performance was good and fuel wise it was cheap to run.

22/05/2025

Forgot to mention handbrake on this car is terrible. Be careful parking these cars on a steep hill as the handbrake is very poor. You need to pull the hand brake on really hard and make sure you are in park or in first gear (for a manual) to make sure car does not move. You will find that you have to apply the handbrake so hard that after a while the cables will snap and need to be replaced.

Never skipped a beat – I have had my Hyundai Elantra for about 14 years now, it has never had any issues, only minor general services, it's never broken down, its zippy, has excellent pick up and performance, reliable and still starts first go, even on cold mornings. This has honestly been the best car I've ever own. Built to last, I can not say anything negative about it.  Show details

Still going strong – Very easy car to handle had this one since 2003 with no major repairs and lots of mileage on Australian interstate freeways with really good fuel on premium unleaded. Regular servicing has picked up on one major computer issue 3 years ago, hope it lasts as long as my previous car Honda Accord I had for 20 years.  Show details

Better than expected – This is a used car review pertaining to a 2002 Elantra GL 1.8L hatchback, I bought this car from a private seller two months ago. The test drive showed it was basically sound with a few niggles that are common to these cars, but no service history for the last 80,000km. So I made a cheeky offer as money would need to be spent to get the car… Read more

back up to scratch.

First caution: if there's no (or missing) proof of timing belt change(s), walk away OR factor that expense into your negotiations. The engines (1.8 and 2.0) are interference design types, so if the timing belt fails, it's rebuild or reco engine time. That's several thousand dollars expense. Getting a workshop to replace the timing belt (do the water pump and accessory belts while they're at it) will cost $500-700 for parts and labor. Maybe a shade under or over depending if you supply your own parts etc.

So heeding my own advice, I had the timing belt, water pump and accessory belts changed a week after purchase. Hyundai timing belt intervals for these cars is every 90K, but I've been assured they'll last quite a bit longer. As my car had 210K and evidence of only one belt replaced, I didn't want to risk it.

On the test drive, I noticed the door actuators kept signalling the door locks. It would do it in spurts, so you'd have nothing for a minute or so, then they'd rapid-fire for several seconds. Maybe a few seconds of silence then off they'd go again. This is a fairly common problem, and 90% of the time it's not the actuators but the Body Control Module (sends signal to actuators) located behind the centre console.

It's not cheap for this OEM part.

If you have this problem, it will drive you nuts. You have four main options:

1. You can disable the power door locks by pulling fuse #15 or unplugging the drivers door actuator, but for that you have to remove the door trim. I did the latter.

2. Properly check continuity and grounding for the circuit. Could be a loose wire somewhere.

3. Get a new or refurb Body Control Module installed -- big $$$

4. Get an aftermarket central locking module/kit online. Use the whole kit or possibly just the receiver/lock control module if your actuators are okay.

If your actuators are triggering in a hatchback model, the biggest headache is the fact that it also unlocks the hatch. Yep, it's supposed to lock/unlock when you do the same to the drivers door.

And would you believe, there's no cabin mounted hatch release lever in the GL hatch. It should be near the fuel release tab, but no! Thinking there must be a button somewhere, I checked the owners manual. It confirmed only the SEDAN has a remote boot release lever!

Madness.

Belt noise is fairly common at full steering lock. It's the alternator belt slipping on the pulley. Increasing the tension sorts it out.

As others have mentioned, the clutch takes some getting used to. It's a typical hydraulic unit that lacks feel and the biting point is early in pedal travel. My next to-do will be to flush the clutch fluid, as I occasionally have no resistance at the pedal, indicating air, water or debris in the line or the master/slave cylinders.

If you buy one of these with worn tyres, I'd suggest up-sizing to the GLS size. Standard (GL) is 185/65-15 but the car I bought was fitted with 195/60-15. It adds a little weight to the steering but it's still too light and feels over-assisted to me.

Standard kit like the rear demister, heated mirrors and HVAC systems are all great and get to work quickly. On the HVAC issue, another idiosyncrasy is when you select windscreen or footwell+windscreen, the AC is activated automatically. This isn't a fault but a design feature. If it bothers you and you want manual control, there are guides online to disable it (disconnection of just one wire).

I've also learned from research not to over-fill at the servo. Doing so will break down the charcoal canister which will make the car very hard to start. Just something to be aware of if you encounter this on a test drive.

So you might expect me to say it's a car to avoid, given these niggles. I'd concede the car lacks the depth of engineering of a Mazda, Honda or Toyota. It's a Korean facsimile of Japanese products. It's not quite as good as a first generation (FD) i30, but this car is from an earlier period when Hyundai were just turning a corner to better quality.

But it's genuinely pleasant to drive, in an A-to-B kinda way. If you test drive one with the expectation of basic transportation, you should fall somewhere between satisfied and mildly delighted. Personally it was the latter for me, as my previous car was a carby-fed mid 90s Lancer. The Elantra is a limo in comparison.

This impression was partly because of very good sound isolation -- the doors are double-sealed -- coupled with a relatively quiet, smooth-running twin cam engine. If you're considering a manual, the 1.8L is fine. It's only 7kW and 20Nm under the 2L. If you want the higher spec GLS/Elite, 2L is the only engine available.

I haven't driven enough to assess fuel economy, but the figures in other reviews are close to what I expect to achieve.

Interior comfort and space are very good for this age and class of car. By folding down the rear RHS seat, I was able to carry ten narrow aluminium extrusions, each 3 metres in length. They reached the front passenger footwell, but there was a gap to the hatch trim of about 8cm and I was able to fully lower the cargo cover to its closed position. Thus far, this is the Elantra memory that stands out for me, as the car is otherwise unremarkable.

And I think that trip to Bunnings sums it up for me: basic, spacious, quiet and comfortable.

Love it! – My parents bought the car in 2004, brand new. Since then, it's done 90,000 km with out a single fault. Since then I have learnt to drive in it (Manual) and it has been passed to me. Surprisingly punchy, with decent power coming from the 2.0L engine. Honestly, I couldn't survive without it.

So far so good – Bought with 120,000KMs on the clock. Had no issues. Great engine reasonable economy. Had a sluggish engine when purchased but found the timing belt was out by a tooth when it was changed (before I bought it) which was fixed under warranty The only complaint is the height of the clutch bite point and how light the clutch pedal is. There is no… Read more

feel which takes some getting used to but a great little car Roomy, reasonablty built clutch action took some getting used to

Great car, surprising power and good economy – Got the car earlier this year with about 125k on the clock (2006 model), only driven around 3k more but so far it's great. The engine has a surprising amount of power and toruque, can really pull hard even in higher gears. The space inside is great, seats are very supportive and comfortable, and the air con is ludicrously cold. Has cruise control… Read more

too, which (at the time) wasn't too common for a manual. Fuel economy is sitting at around 9.5l/100km, seen it lower but still not bad. The overall build quality is good too, the plastics are hard but durable, no rattles or sqeaks, only issue is the factory stero, which is a bit loose if poked and prodded. Rides well too.

Negatives? The steering wheel is a bit big, and the steering itself can feel light and vague at times and can't really feel the road, especially at lower speeds, and lock to lock it needs a lot of arm work. Better a higher speeds. Overall though, a great and severly underrated car. Power, space, build quality, ride, cruise, economy Vague steering at times, big steering wheel

Best car ever!! – Purchased my 2001 elantra hatch back in 2008. best car i have ever owned!!!! only had 41xxx km on clock, i have since got it upto 92xxx km. i have it serviced regularly. have only had a couple minor probs with it, 1 being the fuel pressure reg went on me while on the open road :( and had the slave cylinder let go on me. is a very reliable car with… Read more

brilliant fuel economy, running in town i get 550-600km to the tank and open road i get 800-850km to the tank. have just finshed getting timing service done and has more power then ever before. i will definitely own this car til the day it dies.... and then i will happily go out and buy another one without hesitation :) Fuel economy, reliability

A diamond in the rough – I've had one of these cars since 2007 (2004 model) and i must say that once having it i haven't had any problems whatsoever. Nearly everything about the car is great. The engine has enough pep off the lights to make people who have done up POS cars with tinted windows blush (i'd assume, i can't see in the tinted windows). The car can hold a… Read more

hell-of-a-lot of things. I once packed in a 10 piece drum kit, a bass amp, head and guitar, 2 guitar amps with 2 cabs a piece (all professional sizes as well, none of this small stuff) as well as myself and a guitarist.

The car has no issues driving down the road or driving on the freeway to god knows where. if you're after a good car that doesn't stand out (and seriously, don't do up these cars, they just aren't built for it), one that is reliable in any circumstance, do not look past these cars.

THat said, every rose has a thorn or two, and this car is no different. THe automatic transmission isn't the best i've driven with (not the worst either) but it does give away a lot of power due to early changes. This car tends to chew through brakepads as well, but it's better than chewing through transmissions i suppose. THe interior will also start to crumble and fade with time. Basicly it's a cheap car made really well - so all the cheap things tend to go.

That said though, it's been an awesome car! Very Reliable, smart car wth storage, can drive really well on long distances. The perfect car for under 10K Automatic didn't handle the engine properly. Would just look for a manual. Tends to eat brakepads. Interior doesn't stand the test of time

Great Car – Holy Molly why didn't someone tell me how good these cars are! I bought a 2004 Elantra for $500.00 out of reg. I spent about $500 on RWC and then reg of course. Car has 136000km and runs so sweet. It seriously purs and I am use to driving a Golf. I really rate this car and am going to check our a newer model for the wife It's quiet, fuel effiecient and runs like a dream middle console is a bit small Show details

Love it! – I love this car (GLS trim), I bought it new in 2001, and had the factory spoiler, an electric sunroof, and 16" wheels fitted before I picked it up. I still get comments on how good it looks, and people can't believe it is 11 years old! It still looks like a modern car! The Stock speakers are crisp (upgraded the head unit to a kenwood touch screen… Read more

for iPod capabilitys) The silver paintwork has held up extremely well, and still shines. The boot is massive, the legroom in the back is very generous for a car of its size, I'm 6"4 and I can sit in the back comfortably if I need to, room in the front is also very generous.

Mechanically the car has never missed a beat, it currently has 228,000 Km on the clock and still drives the same as it did the day I got it, never had to spend anything on it except for general maintenance. The car also has plenty of power coming from the 2.0 liter engine (104kw, 182Nm) and is comfortable on the freeway. It is also enjoyable through the bends. It is also not too thirsty at the pump which is a nice bonus! Good looking, good on fuel, plenty of power, well equipped, good build quality, reliable Poor resale

Excellent – I borrowed this car from a mate for the day while my car was being serviced and I thought I would give it a little test drive. I ended up finding that the ride was probably smoother than my car and a little quieter as well when on poor quality bitumen. Fuel consumption is good as well so no complaints there and the overall drive was quite… Read more

impressive as well. I could be looking at one of these when I get my own car soon. Nice design, interior quality is good and driving ride is smooth. When turning it's not as tight as my Ford Focus, but it's still good.

Good – My 2000 (2001MY) Elantra hatch has 136,000km, and in my ownership has not missed a beat. Prior to my ownership it had been regularly maintained by its two owners, by the book, and had been reasonably well looked after cosmetically. The hatch's loading area is massive, putting to shame many small wagons, making the Elantra versatile and stylish. … Read more

I do my own routine servicing (aside from the timing belt and fuel filter, which I leave to the professionals) and I've not encountered problems in that regard, and the pricing of genuine parts is on par with comparable manufacturers. The interior is nice, if not conservative, with hard wearing cloth fabric seating. The black surfaces on the upper and lower centre consoles are easily marked, however.

Performance wise, the Elantra seems to have a flat spot off the mark, which is a bit frustrating, but once moving it seems to move along rather well. The gearbox will take some getting used to, with notchy, sometimes crunching, upshifts and downshifts.

The paintwork (in this case, Parrot Blue, a teal metallic) is shiny but seems to be particularly susceptable to damage from bat droppings and alike.

All in all, though its a car built to a price - as many cheaper cars are - on the used-car market, they're a steal if you do your homework (I bought mine privately when it had 127000km, in June 2010, for $4800). Check for regular servicing and good general condition and its bound to give you plenty of years of faithful service. Load area space, reliability, ease of servicing, good parts availability and pricing, good performance once moving, nice interior & hard wearing interior fabrics Slow off the mark, notchy gearbox, quality of paintwork

Good – Our Elantra was the first car we had ever bought new and as such I still have very fond memories of it. We have since traded it in as our family expanded but I would definitely buy it again if it was just the two of us. I'm only taking off one star because the resale or trade in value is so low. A lot better built than earlier Hyundais. Best red… Read more

I've ever seen.

Great 2.0L engine with VVT - as much power as a BMW 318i without the price. Devastating re-sale value.

Gear change is a bit notchy.

Clutch and throttle are both very light and don't have much feedback.

Excellent – I bought my Elantra Elite brand new back in 2005. I have looked after the car in every single way. Serviced every 7,500km and using synthetic oil. Engine runs like a dream and is very smooth. Currently have 52,000km on the clock and is going strong. I bought a camper and found the Elantra did very well towing, even going through mountain areas and… Read more

maintained speeds of 70km + uphill without having to rev past 4,000rpm. If your looking for an all round practical car with attractive styling with a list of well appointed features then the Elantra is for you! Powerful 2.0litre motor, very smooth and well appointed to the 5speed manual transmission. Quiet interior, bold and attractive stlying, presentation inside and out. Excellent pulling power when towing. Air conditioning takes too much of a hit on the Elantra's performance when in operation.

Excellent – Bought it new in 2004,(HVT Auto Sedan). Has done 75000km.Replaced RH Sunvisor and Air Conditioning tensioner bearing under warranty. Replaced Cd with Pioneer unit at own expense. This car consistently uses about 8.5l/100Km(25% short trip/75% 80km/h zone).I just use 91 unleaded. I find this car very stable at 110km/h, even with crosswinds.It… Read more

appears to be durable, even the battery has lasted 5 years.The interior trim is still not showing any signs of wear. I find it comfortable on long trips of 500km+. The warranty service on the two items mentioned was excellent. This one is definately a keeper as it still feels tight after 75000km, and that's mostly on poor quality bitumen roads.I have found over the years that people who are negative towards Hyundai have never owned or driven one any great distance.That leads me to believe that they are pompus and generally blowing it out their a.... Good interior room and boot. better than average standard features.It's comfortable for its size and weight. Cd/radio is low grade, like most cars in this price range.

Good – I bought this car new in 2005 because it was excellently priced for its size and features. It gives a smooth ride and had a good warranty length for major repairs. I have had no real problems with the car and it's still functioning well 5 years later, the only annoying thing is that the CD player has stopped working but it was a cheap one anyway… Read more

and can easily be replaced. It has everything you need for a family - I have plenty of space for 2 baby seats in the back, pram in the boot and it has child door locks and a window lock feature. It has still done low km's (only 40,000) and I keep it in the city mainly but so far it has served me very well and I would recommend it as a reliable vehicle. Price, good size, smooth ride, no big problems with my 2005 model Seat belts have started not to go back into their holders easily, CD player has stopped working (radio still ok), no cruise control

Excellent – If youre looking at one, go for it and get it, you wont be sorry. Every thing. We bought this car five months ago and it is absolutely fantastic. It has performed beyond all our expectations. Handles well, and fuel economy cant be beaten. Nothing at all

Good – I loved this car. It was always reliable, good on fuel consumption, far better appointed than some of its competitors in the same class. Ok the radio is a bit rubbish, could have done with a stacker CD player! Cant really fault it on any other level though, in fact wish i still had ours as a second car. Love the look of the Elantra. Quite spacious… Read more

interior and boot space is really great (if you dont have child seats!). Child Safety straps cant attach to the seat, they have to attach at the edge of the boot. Makes it difficult to put the pram in. Also resale is a bit disappointing. Lost alot on ours. Had to upsize due to our expanding family, and unfortunately didnt get much for resale.

OK – My vehicle is a 2005 FX auto hatch, which was first registered in April 2006. I purchased it in January 2007 with 13400 kilometres on the clock at an auction in Perth. It has now done just over 21000 kilometres. On the advice of a work colleague who used to sell tyres I had the wheels rotated at 20000 k’s and will do so every 10000 k’s. Before… Read more

purchasing this vehicle I did my own research to find out which vehicle best suited MY needs – a late 50’s single male who required a reliable, fuel efficient mode of transport that wasn’t going to cost the earth. This vehicle had to have the ability to occasionally take me (and maybe a companion) on trips into the country regions of WA whilst being economical enough to complete 60k round trips to work each day without breaking the bank.

Bottom line. It’s still just another car, probably not a great deal better or worse than many others on the road, with the probable exception of the Proton, but it suits me and my lifestyle.

Bruce W. It's reasonably economical with 8.9 litres per 100 k’s around town and even less on country trips. It drives smoothly and the motor has enough power to get me out of any tight spots (nothing unique here, the same could probably be said about many modern cars). Compared to others I test drove during my lengthy research it appears to be good value for the dollars outlaid. It does have a full size spare which is a BIG consideration for someone who likes to get away from the big smoke occasionally (try asking a Suzuki salesman to see the spare tyre on the Swift!!!)

Cons. Limited rear view capacity and the front seats aren’t as comfortable as the car it replaced (a 1983 Volvo 240 GLE would you believe?). Limited rear view capacity and the front seats aren’t as comfortable as the car it replaced (a 1983 Volvo 240 GLE would you believe?).

OK – Love the Car, my first car and its fantastic!! Quiet, love the dashboard lights Loses power when you turn the aircon on.

Excellent – I love it. Zippy little car that feels like I'm driving a family version of a sports car. Steering wheel is superb. Great fuel efficiency. I take a 4 hour run to my mum's and it costs me less than $50 in fuel for the return trip. I get about 650km to the tank on long t rips and around town about 550km to the tank. Great cup holders. Aircon… Read more

works too well! lol Seats are comfy and the right height. Boot is HUMUNGOUS.. I was surprised. I love my new little car! Well, I bought it 2nd hand but it's still only 18 months old. Perfect in every way. Runs on the smell of an oily rag, great pick up, loads of extras. Absolutely nothing.

Excellent – Lovely car recommended buy Its extremely quite smooth ride handles well great accesories and a desent price

Excellent – I recently bought a 2002 GL XD 1.8L @ 110,000kms and it was a huge improvement over the Ford Falcon ED 1994 I used to own (but it had done 1 million Ks). The heater is absolutely incredibly fabulous (probably because the Falcon's heater didn't work well at all). The de-mister with the air-con is also fantastic and clears up the windshield at… Read more

amazingly fast speeds.

I would probably prefer the performance of the 2.0L engine but then I would be sacrificing fuel economy, though it wouldn't really bother me.

The lady owner before me never had anything go wrong in the 110,000kms she had it which seems too good to be true, and probably isn't but she is my aunt.

I am a straight engaged 22 yr old male and it gets me from A to B staying in a happy mood. Power windows, heater, sound system, looks, fuel consumption (best I have got was 41.86L = 550Km = 7.611L/100Km driving around the town/city and using the freeway in Perth) Lower gears tend to bounce, lacking power, the clock seems to reset sometimes - surely I can fix this myself