2003 Hyundai Elantra GLS: Reliable, Great Features, Affordable and More

Not so long ago, Hyundai was producing some of the least reliable vehicles on the road. This is not true today, and the sales figures reflect this fact. This article reviews the Hyundai Elantra GLS, which I have owned for the last six months. This review is based on a 2003 GLS with a five-speed manual transmission. This model remains the same from 2001 to 2006. I have primarily used this vehicle for running errands, traveling from point A to point B, and one road trip.

The Elantra is classified as a subcompact, and this reflected in its curb weight of just over 2600 pounds, inline four cylinder engine and 33 MPG highway fuel economy. The Hyundai Elantra has one of the most powerful engine in its class, boasting about one hundred and forty horsepower at its peak. During mixed driving, I average 28 MPG in this vehicle. The Elantra also sports class leading standard features, such as air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, power steering, front and front side airbags. All of this adds up to make the Elantra a worth competitor in the subcompact car class.

The styling of the Elantra is contemporary, and is reminiscent of many other cars. The GT trim offers a four door hatchback that may remind you of some audis from some years back. The interior is well laid out, with controls placed intuitively. Interior space is acceptable, especially for a subcompact. The drivers seat has front and rear height adjustability, along with the usual tilt and forward/backward adjustability that is expected. The seats have proven to be comfortable even on long road trips. The trunk in the sedan is large enough for most peoples needs, and the rear seats fold down to provide great cargo capacity. The four door hatchback version offers excellent cargo capacity and versatility.

The Elantra offers good handling and a comfortable ride, though the model is known to shake slightly at about seventy miles per hour. This can be cured by having the tires balanced correctly. Road noise is fairly low, and visibility is excellent in front, and good in back. The vehicle seats four adults comfortably.

Acceleration is very good for a subcompact, and getting on freeways is a painless and effortless affair. This is very different from my past experience with subcompact vehicles, where high revs and lots of engine noise went hand in hand with entering the freeway. Even accelerating uphill, no more than 3500 RPMs are needed with the Elantra. The Elantra can accelerate from 0-60 in 8.4 seconds with the manual transmission. Manual transmission shift points are perfectly spaced in my opinion. Minimum shift speeds are 15,25,35 and 45 MPH.

My biggest complaints about this vehicle are the clutch and the engine management system- The clutch is a hydraulic clutch, which is nice, but it has a 'damper' that prevents it from closing as quickly as I'd like. This results in a clutch that feels mushy. Some Elantra owners have taken to boring out the damper to make the clutch feel more direct. The engine management system tends to keep the engine revving in the two thousand RPM range for an unusually long time, and the tachometer 'floats' when you shift. This is all designed to help novice drivers handle the standard transmission, and to provide a more civilized driving experience, but as a driver with a decade of experience with manual transmissions, I find these features to be more annoying than anything.

The stock radio leaves much to be desired, coming with an AM/FM radio and a cassette player of all things. There is a one hundred watt CD player available from the manufacturer, but I opted to replace the radio with a quality aftermarket radio, and I have found that the stock speakers are good, delivering decent bass, good midrange and acceptable treble response. The sound isn't too muddy or resonant, and I don't feel the need to upgrade the speakers.

My particular Elantra has just crossed the one hundred thousand mile threshold, and it still looks, feels and performs like a new vehicle. I've heard that you can expect to go beyond the two hundred thousand mile mark with these vehicles, and based on how my car is holding up, I believe it.

Overall, the Elantra offers an effective combination of reliability, features, power and fuel economy- all at an attractive price. I would highly recommend considering this vehicle if you are shopping for a small car.