2007 Hyundai Elantra Review: A Stellar Relaunch for the Leading Budget Compact

The 2007 Hyundai Elantra was the first edition in the iconic budget car’s 4th Generation, standing a bit taller than the previous model and dropping the hatchback body style entirely. With prices below five grand and expected mileage of a quarter million, the 2007 Elantra is a hard deal to beat.

Is the 2007 Hyundai Elantra a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – Objectively speaking, the Elantra is a solid B+ across the board, even without taking the low price into consideration.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – Comfortable and spacious. From top to bottom the interior feels more expensive than it is.
• Reliability 8/10 – Major breakdowns are few and far between and regular maintenance is dirt cheap.
• Safety 8/10 – The Elantra earned solid crash test ratings on release, and anti-lock brakes are included as a standard feature. What more can you ask of a 2007 compact?
• Gas Mileage 8/10 – At 28/36 the car is not quite as efficient as a comparable Honda Civic, but you won’t even notice the difference at the pump.
• Value 9/10 – The Elantra isn’t just a good car for the price, it’s the best car for the price.

What Do Critics Say About the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

Consumer Reports found the 2007 Elantra to be an improvement over earlier models, with special praise for the intuitive control layout and solid build quality. They found the handling “safe, if not agile,” and they noted the car’s decent fuel economy.

Kelley Blue Book had strong praise for the Elantra’s estimated 28/36, city/highway fuel economy, and they liked the inclusion of anti-lock brakes as a safety feature. They weren’t so hot on the feel of the manual transmission, noting that it can be a chore to use if you have a lot of stop-start on your daily commute.

Edmunds liked the 2007 Elantra’s “smooth, secure” ride, they liked the roomy backseat, the solid build quality, the long list of standard safety features, and, of course, the low price. They weren’t so excited about the noisy engine (particularly at high RPMs) or the low-grade interior plastics.

What Common Problems Does the 2007 Hyundai Elantra Have?

The 2007 Hyundai Elantra has just 255 complaints on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of these, 45 are for problems with the airbags. Drivers report the airbag warning lights staing on even after a pair of recalls issued in 2011.

Brake lights have been recalled three times for faulty switch assemblies, but a handful of complaints regarding brake light failure have persisted as late as 2021. Rate of incidence is low, but bring someone along for the test drive so you can check the brake lights.

There are 34 steering complaints on file with drivers reporting that the power steering may suddenly fail. There have been a few technical service bulletins on the matter, but no recalls have been issued as yet.

The 2007 Hyundai Elantra has been recalled 6 times in total, which is within the median for a vehicle of this age.

How Long Will the 2007 Hyundai Elantra Last?

The Hyundai Elantra is known to be one of the more dependable cars in its price range, with drivers typically reporting mileage as high as 250,000 before the expensive repairs start to add up. Expect 200,000 miles if you find one in rough shape, 250,000 if it’s well-kept.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $349, with the most expensive common repair, by far, being a new AC evaporator, which can cost you anywhere from $1,045 to $1,325.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2007 Hyundai Elantra is pretty basic. This is one area where it shows its status as a budget car. The entry-level model doesn’t even have a stereo. The higher-end models do feature steering wheel mounted controls for the CD player, though.

Safety technology in the 2007 Elantra is more generous than you might expect of a budget car. Anti-lock brakes are standard, as are occupant-sensing airbags and electronic brake force distribution.

Is the 2007 Hyundai Elantra a Good Value?

The 2007 Hyundai Elantra is a very good value. An entry level model typically lists at just $4,446, while a high-end Limited is just a few hundred dollars extra, at $4,736. Rock-bottom sticker prices combined with low maintenance and refueling costs make the Elantra one of the best values on the market.

Prices noted here are averages based on cars with fewer than 140,000 miles on the odometer. With Elantras regularly hitting a quarter million on the original transmission, that comes out to less than a nickel a mile.

What are the Different Models of the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2007 Elantra is offered in just three trim levels from the base GLS to the high-end Limited.

With the entry-level GLS you’re getting:

• Heated mirrors
• Cloth seating
• Remote keyless entry
• Anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution

The mid-range SE adds:

• Fog lights
• CD player with 6 speakers
• Manual air conditioning
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Steering wheel mounted cruise and audio controls

Finally, the top-of-the-line Limited edition features:

• Heated front seats
• Leather seating
• Limited badging

What Engines Come In the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

• The 2007 Hyundai Elantra packs a 2.0L inline-four engine delivering 138 horsepower and 136 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission in front wheel drive and it averages 28/36 miles to the gallon, city/highway.

What Colors Does the 2007 Hyundai Elantra Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2007 Elantra is more comfortable than you might expect a budget compact to be. The back seats stretch 54 inches across and they offer plenty of leg room for most adults. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, the suspension rides smooth, and the overall build quality is rock solid.

If there’s one common complaint regarding the interior, it comes down to some of the cheap plastic materials used throughout. But, even with some cheap plastic bits here and there, the Elantra feels a lot more expensive than it is.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2007 Hyundai Elantra Have?

The 2007 Elantra offers a firm 14 cubic feet of storage space in the trunk. That should be enough for five medium sized suitcases. You won’t find anything like folding seats to expand the trunk space. What you see when you pop the trunk is what you get. It’s about what you expect of an affordable compact.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

The 2007 Hyundai Elantra was the inaugural edition of the car’s 4th Generation, retiring with the 2010 model year, although it remained in production for China all the way up to 2020.

2003: GLS sedan and GT hatchback models were added for 2003.

2004: 2004 was a facelift year, with modernized headlights and grilles creating a sleeker front-end for the car.

2005: There were no big changes for the car in 2005.

2006: The Limited model debuted in 2006, featuring leather trim and woodgrain accents.

2007: A relaunch year, the 2007 Elantra retired the 3rd Generation and launched the 4th, standing two inches taller than the previous edition, and dropping the hatchback body style.

2008: Tire pressure monitors were made standard for 2008, and stability and traction control were added to the SE model.

How Does the 2007 Hyundai Elantra Compare to the Competition?

With few exceptions, the Hyundai Elantra is the best all-around budget compact you’re going to find, year after year, new or used. But, if you’re not necessarily looking for a budget compact, the Honda Civic is sportier and has a more tactile feel on the road, and typically sells for about two thousand dollars more.

If you’re looking for something cheap, the 2007 Chevrolet HHR sells in the same price range as the Elantra. It’s not as efficient as the Hyundai and it’s not as much fun to drive, but the wagon-style design offers a lot of interior space if you want a family car, and it’s more reliable than most cars at this price.

To be blunt: If you’re after a budget car, the only reason not to buy an Elantra is because you want a truck or an SUV. If you’re after an affordable sedan, you’re not going to find a better deal than this.

Do Owners Recommend the 2007 Hyundai Elantra?