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Elantra Facts and History

Hyundai of South Korea introduced the Elantra in 1991. Rated as a compact car, the vehicle was known as the Avante and Lantra in Europe and Australia until 2001. In that year, Hyundai applied the Elantra name to all of its cars of this make.

First Generation (1991 to 1995)
Launched to compete with the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, the Elantra of 1991/92 replaced the upper-end Hyundai Excel. Its Mitsubishi-designed 1.6 liter straight-four cylinder engine had a double overhead camshaft, which supplied 113 horsepower at 6000 rpms. Tests revealed the car could go from 0-60 mph in 9.5 seconds. Transmission was either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Nineteen ninety-three improvements included a 1.8 liter Mitsubishi-designed straight-four that produced 124 horsepower at 6000 rpms.

Second Generation (1996 to 2000)
Hyundai introduced the second generation Elantra in 1995. It was available either as a sedan or station wagon. Original vehicles had a 1.5 liter Alpha DOHC engine that produced 107 horsepower or a 1.8 liter Beta DOHC powerplant that produced 137 horsepower. A 1.5 liter lean-burn motor based on an Alpha DOHC engine also was available. Some European markets and the Philippine version Elantra had a 1.6 liter Beta powerplant rated at 116 hp.

Third Generation (2001 to 2006) In 2001, Hyundai dropped the station wagon and issued a five-door hatchback instead. In an effort to enhance the Elantra's image as a "value" vehicle, all American cars came with standard front and front side airbags; power locks, windows and steering; and air conditioning. The GT trim package included stiffer suspension, fog lights, leather seats, lip spoiler, blue-lit instrument cluster, and alloy wheels. Engines available were a 1.6 liter or 2.0 liter gasoline engine, and a 2.0 liter turbodiesel motor. Note: The North American Elantras are available only with the 2.0 liter gas engine.

Fourth Generation (2007)
The re-designed fourth generation Elantra features four-wheel, four-channel ABS disk brakes, with four-sensor electronic brake force distribution (EBD) standard on all vehicles. The vehicle features "America's best warranty" according to Hyundai. The warranty includes a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, which covers most engine and transaxle components; a five-year/60,000 mile vehicle warranty, which covers almost every new vehicle component; a seven-year/unlimited miles anti-perforation warranty that covers rust-related corrosion of sheet metal used in body construction; a five-year/unlimited miles 24-hour roadside assistance program, including accident-related assistance, flat tires, battery failure and lock-outs; a 12-month/12,000 mile parts and accessories limited warranty; and an eight-year/80,000 federal emission and performance warranty (a seven-year/70,000 mile California emission control warranty). The Elantra is rated a midsized car because of its roomy interior, even though it is technically considered a compact.

The Future
It is hoped that the 2008 Elantra will feature the new jointly-developed world engine called the Theta.