The Hyundai Elantra is a midsize car built from 1992 to 2026 over 7 generations. Most were assembled in South Korea — 65.5% of those on record. Between 1992 and 2026 it grew 35 cm longer and gained 146 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Elantra is
The Hyundai Elantra is a midsize car that Hyundai built from 1992 to 2026 — 35 model years. Our measurements put it at 7 generations, the current one starting in 2024. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Hyundai range: Venue, Ioniq 6, Elantra N.
Where the Elantra is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 7,656 Elantras on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | KMH, KM8, KNH | 1992-2025 | |
| the United States | 5NP | 2001-2023 |
Check your own: the first three characters of its VIN decide which line above it belongs to. What every character in a Elantra VIN means →
Elantra generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-1995 | 436 cm | 250 cm | 1145 kg | - | - |
| 1996-2000 | 444 cm | 255 cm | 1115 kg | +8 cm | -30 kg |
| 2001-2006 | 450 cm | 261 cm | 1217 kg | +6 cm | +102 kg |
| 2007-2010 | 451 cm | 265 cm | - | +1 cm | - |
| 2011-2018 | 453 cm | 270 cm | 1236 kg | +2 cm | - |
| 2019-2023 | 462 cm | 270 cm | 1280 kg | +9 cm | +44 kg |
| 2024-2026 | 471 cm | 272 cm | 1291 kg | +9 cm | +11 kg |
Between 1992 and 2026 the Elantra gained 35 cm in length (+8.0%) and 146 kg in weight (+12.8%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced. Full dimensions by year →
Hyundai Elantra tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Hyundai Elantra have? Power & range
The Hyundai Elantra is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 1.6L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S6) | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Elantra by the numbers
What the federal and market records say. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Elantra | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 116 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 8,986 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,964/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 1,938 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Hyundai Elantra?
The Elantra is a midsize car, built from 1992 to 2026 across 7 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid.
Where is the Hyundai Elantra made?
Across 7,656 cars in our records the split is: South Korea (65.5%), the United States (34.5%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Elantra have?
7 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2024. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Elantra grew 35 cm longer and gained 146 kg.
What is the Hyundai Elantra warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Elantra reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Elantra?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.