2008 Hyundai Elantra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Written by Clifford Atiyeh

Published March 30, 2023

6.3/10

CarGurus expert score

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The CarGurus verdict

The Hyundai Elantra is the automaker's best-selling car, and it's offered at a great price.

The Elantra was just introduced for 2007, and Hyundai's small car enters 2008 with more safety features. It has fresh styling and is worth a look against established competitors like the Honda Civic, the Toyota Corolla, and the Ford Focus.

6.3

out of 10 expert review

Look & feel

6/10

Compared to the bargain-basement Accent, the Elantra is large enough to look like a finished car, and it won't embarrass its driver. It's still not the futuristic aero showpiece that is the Honda Civic; it's bland, like the inside of a Costco. From the front or rear, there are more than a few hints of Toyota Corolla. From the side, you couldn't pick the Elantra from a lineup of suspects. At least give it a neat tattoo on its grille or something.

The interior retains the good design found in the Hyundai Accent, only there are now more quality materials lining the doors and dash, some of which are softly padded. Silver accents on the steering wheel, climate control knobs, and centre console brighten up the place. It's far more comparable to a Corolla in presentation and construction, which is a good thing.

Trims in Canada are the Hyundai Elantra L, GL, GLS, and Limited.

Performance

6/10

A 2.0-litre inline-four makes power specs of 138 horsepower and 136 pound-feet of torque, and this powertrain sends it exclusively to front-wheel drive (FWD) with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration is good, and both transmissions respond well. A new electric power-steering rack is light on feel, and the suspension is too soft; it rolls hard in corners and can't absorb bumps at higher speeds. The engine is reasonably quiet, as is the ride. The brakes are good.

Form & function

7/10

Visibility, headroom, and legroom are generous in the Elantra. You can pack three friends in this compact car for medium-range trips and they won't complain, even in the rear seats. Storage bins are plentiful, too. Two covered bins (one atop the dash, the other behind the shifter), four cupholders, bottle holders on the doors, and a sunglasses case join the usual centre cubby/armrest. The trunk is a large 402 litres, and the seats fold down in a 60/40 split. All controls are easy to operate and most are backlit by a pleasant blue glow at night.

Technology

4/10

Power front-row windows, power locks, a sound system with a CD player and an MP3 player, plus cloth seats and 15-inch steel wheels all come standard on the Elantra. For four power windows, keyless entry, heated side mirrors, heated front seats, cruise control, or air conditioning, you’ll need to upgrade to the GL trim. A steering wheel with audio controls is added on the 2008 Hyundai Elantra GLS.

Adding the Sport package to GLS or opting for the Limited will replace the 15-inch steel wheels with 16-inch alloy wheels and will also get you a sunroof. Leather seats and illuminated vanity mirrors are included with the Limited trim as well.

Safety

7/10

Dual front airbags and dual front side-impact airbags are standard in the 2008 Elantra. Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, anti-whiplash front headrests, and front and rear curtain airbags are added at the GLS grade.

In crash tests, the Elantra earned the top "Good" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the moderate overlap front, but only a "Marginal" for the side test and a higher "Acceptable" for the head restraints and seats. The Elantra scored four out of five stars in side-crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for driver and rear passenger, and five stars for both passengers in the frontal tests.

Cost-effectiveness

8/10

The model year 2008 Elantra's new car MSRP starts at $15,845 for the L trim and goes up to $23,195 for the Limited. Fuel economy is estimated at 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.0 on the highway for the automatic and 8.2 L/100 km city, 6.0 highway for the manual. From a design and performance perspective, the Elantra falls behind the competition. But it's very competitive at these prices.

Note: Images show a US model.

What owners say

AI Summary · 16 reviews

"Overall, owners of the 2008 Hyundai Elantra appreciate its affordability, fuel efficiency, and user-friendly features. Many enjoy its comfortable interior and good performance, although some find the acceleration a bit sluggish and note minor fit and finish issues. Overall, it's seen as a reliable choice for a family car."

4.5

16 reviews

Write a review

by Steve B

Hyundai came to america as a cheap car manufacturer and most of the general population knew they weren't the best cars ever mostly because of mediocre at best styling and a very cheap materials feel on the inside. However, we see now that Hyundai is a very serious competitor in the market these days ever since they started putting out some very good cars. The new elantra is no exception to their new image. It is a very well made car with a lot going for it. The styling is pretty, something that women will go for more than men i would think, but the interior is just something great for a car in the under $20k bracket. The hefty steering wheel is a good start for this car, and the rest of the interior follows suit along with it. Everything seems durable and built to last. Easy to use and ergonomic, it is a very user friendly car. It drives well too, the steering could be sharper (we're not looking at a sports car or European built sedan here) but its crisp and easy. Acceleration is adequate and the brakes feel balanced, there's no travel in the pedals before you get anything out of it. The ride is very comfortable, even in the back despite the fact that there is not a very advanced suspension here. It goes around corners quite well and the seats hold you in place while you whip around. This is a very good car for commuting, and has enough space for all your shopping as well.

March 22, 2008

by Hans C

It is a very spacious sedan, especially in its class. You feel like you are riding in a larger class of cars such as the Accord or Camry. The interior materials are generally good, and the cars driving performance is competent. There are only minor fit and finish issues. The ride is generally supple and handling is generally good.

March 17, 2008

by Daniel G

I love everything about this car, especially its fuel efficiency while still being very peppy and sporty! It's got huge potential for modding, even though it requires $$ to do it. There are many out there who think it can't be done/that it's not designed that way, but they are very wrong!

January 21, 2010