2005 Hyundai Elantra Review: The Best Budget Compact in its Model Year

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is simply the best budget compact released in its model year. The Ford Focus comes close, but generally prices a little higher than the Elantra, while the Sentra runs at about the same price but doesn’t even include an AM/FM radio. The Elantra is the best choice available if you want a cheap car that punches above its weight.

Is the 2005 Hyundai Elantra a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – It’s a budget compact, so you have to curb your expectations, but it’s the best budget compact released in 2005.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – The cabin is quiet and comfortable and the back seat is spacious for a compact, but the car loses a point for wimpy suspension in the base model, and gets it back for the fold-flat seating in the hatchback.
• Reliability 8/10 – A well-maintained Hyundai can last as long as any Honda or Toyota. The Elantra won’t have you making many minor repairs along the way, either.
• Safety 7/10 – The Elantra doesn’t have any glaring safety issues, but onboard safety tech is underwhelming. It’s hard to find a model that even has anti-lock brakes equipped.
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – At 27/34 miles to the gallon, city/highway, the Elantra is more efficient than some cars that just came out last year.
• Value 9/10 – Between the low sticker prices, low cost of ownership, and long-lasting engine and powertrain, the 2005 Hyundai Elantra is the best deal you’ll find on a budget compact in this model year.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?

Consumer Reports found the 2005 Hyundai Elantra comfortable, quiet, and easy to handle. They also found it underwhelming in its overall power, and less fuel-efficient than you expect in this size class, ultimately deeming it an adequate if unimpressive budget compact.

Kelley Blue Book users give the Elantra a strong 88% recommendation, praising the low-maintenance compact’s long lifespan, good fuel economy, and sound handling. Low ground clearance and a lack of some basic features like cruise control in the GLS earned the car a few red marks.

Edmunds liked the solid build and found the engine to be more powerful than they were expecting in a budget compact. They liked the long list of standard features, the cozy cabin, and the dirt-cheap pricing. The “floaty” base suspension and lack of standard anti-lock brakes cost the car a few points with the review site.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra Have?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra has just 132 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but more than half of these are for airbag complaints, despite a pair of recalls in 2005 for occupant classification errors. Drivers report the airbag warning light blinking erratically with passengers.

Vehicle speed control complaints take a distant second place with just 14 complaints on file. Drivers report the car continuing to accelerate after they take their foot off the pedal. There may not be enough data available for a diagnosis, but this has all the hallmarks of pedals being trapped in aftermarket floor mats.

Engine and powertrain complaints combined number just 10 in total, which is a remarkably low number for a car of this age. The most worrying issue sees the car hesitating to shift, and then jerking into gear at under 100,000 miles. This can usually be avoided with regular transmission fluid changes.

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra has just 4 recalls on file with the NHTSA, 2 for airbags, and one each for exterior lighting and steering rod assembly. Given the car’s age and its status as a budget car, the 2005 Elantra has proven remarkably reliable over the years.

How Long Will the 2005 Hyundai Elantra Last?

Drivers have reported mileage as low as 150,000 in a Hyundai Elantra, but bear in mind that the car’s low price attracts a lot of first-time drivers who may be skipping oil changes and tire rotations. With adequate care, 200,000 to 250,000 miles is a reasonable expectation for a used Elantra.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $452. The most expensive common fixes include new fuel evaporative canisters starting at around $672, and new exhaust mufflers at $1,602.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2005 Hyundai Elantra is basic, even for 2005. CD players are about as fancy as it gets, and the GLS model only has a tape player.

Safety technology in the 2005 Hyundai Elantra is, likewise, basic. Advanced airbags with occupant sensors are standard, but anti-lock brakes are only available as an option, and, since you’re buying used, you’re going to just have to cross your fingers and hope to find one with ABS equipped.

Is the 2005 Hyundai Elantra a Good Value?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is probably the best deal you’re going to find on a budget compact for this model year. The entry-level GLS typically lists at around $3,424, and the high-end GT goes for just a few hundred more, at about $3,731 for a hatchback.

Compared to other budget compacts released in 2005, the Elantra, for the price, offers more standard features, it’s more reliable, and it’s more powerful than almost any of the car’s competitors.

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is offered in just two trim levels, the base GLS and the high-end GT. Both are available in sedan or hatchback body types.

With the entry-level GLS you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• AM/FM stereo with cassette player and 4 speakers
• Remote keyless entry
• Power windows and door locks

The top-of-the-line GT adds:

• CD player and 2 extra speakers
• Leather seating
• Cruise control
• Leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob

What Engines Come In the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?

• The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is powered by a 2.0L inline-four delivering 138 horsepower and 136 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is configured in front wheel drive and paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission, and it averages 27/34 miles to the gallon, city/highway.

What Colors Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is fairly comfortable. The ride is smooth, though some drivers report that the suspension feels a bit wimpy in the base model. You’ve got 55 inches of hip room in the back, which is spacious enough for a compact.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra Have?

Trunk space in the sedan model is a bit tight at just 13 cubic feet, but the back seats in the hatchback fold down giving you up to 37 cubic feet of space, which competes with some of the smaller SUVs out there.

You could fit four medium sized suitcases in the trunk. The hatchback offers just enough space to haul a typical bicycle laid flat, or even some smaller furniture items like nightstands and coffee tables.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra was the second to last model year for the car’s 3rd Generation, running from 2001 to 2006.

2002: No significant changes were made to the Elantra for 2002, although the GT model had been introduced in the second half of the 2001’s market run, making 2002 the first model year to launch with the high-end trim.

2003: Hyundai limited the GLS to sedan models in 2003, and added a hatchback option to the GT.

2004: 2004 was a facelift year for the Elantra with new headlights and grilles, modernizing the appearance of the car.

2005: No major changes for 2005.

2006: Hyundai added an upscale Limited model for 2006, with woodgrain accents and leather trim.

2007: The 2007 relaunch saw the Hyundai Elantra standing two inches taller and wider than the 3rd Generation model, and dropping the hatchback option. Everything under the hood is pretty much the same.

How Does the 2005 Hyundai Elantra Compare to the Competition?

The 2005 Hyundai Elantra is simply the best budget compact in its model year. A 2005 Nissan Sentra can be had for around the same price, but the entry-level Sentra offers less interior space, and it doesn’t even come with an AM/FM

Ford offers the closest competition with the 2005 Focus, offering comparable features, comfort, and reliability, but generally pricing a few hundred dollars higher from trim level to trim level, and costing you another hundred extra in annual maintenance costs.

After nearly twenty years on the road, the 2005 Hyundai Elantra stands as the king of the budget compact market for its model year. That being said, the differences between the Elantra and the Focus are marginal, and if you can find the Ford at a better price, or if you just prefer the feel of a Focus, you might as well go for it.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Hyundai Elantra?