2013 Hyundai Elantra

2013 Hyundai Elantra Overview

Is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra a Good Used Car?

A used 2013 Hyundai Elantra is a good pick in the crowded compact car class . Available as a four-door sedan, a two-door coupe, or a five-door hatchback, the Elantra offers good cargo space and a roomy passenger cabin. It also earns high fuel economy numbers, and its total cost of ownership is lower than some rivals.

Used 2013 Hyundai Elantra Performance and Interior

A 148-horsepower four-cylinder engine powers all 2013 Elantra models. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission are standard. A six-speed automatic is available. Elantras with automatic transmissions have an Active Eco fuel system that smooths out shift points for better fuel efficiency. The engine works well in most driving situations, but it can struggle when passing slower vehicles on the highway.

All Elantras have a composed, smooth ride. Both the coupe and hatchback have sportier driving dynamics than the sedan. Fuel economy ranges from 26 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway for the hatchback to 28/38 mpg city/highway for the sedan.

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All Elantras seat five occupants across two rows and provide good front-seat legroom. Rear-seat legroom is tight for taller passengers in the coupe and sedan models. The hatchback has the best second-row headroom. Some models offer heated front seats, leather seats, and a power six-way-adjustable driver’s seat. The Elantra has complete sets of LATCH child-seat connectors in the rear outboard seats, plus a middle-seat tether anchor.

A six-speaker stereo system is standard across the lineup. The base coupe and hatchback models have Bluetooth. Some models have a 360-watt stereo system and a navigation system with a 7-inch touch screen. At 14.8 cubic feet, the coupe and sedan have good sized trunks for the compact car segment . However, the trunk’s opening is small, and the hinges encroach on storage space. The hatchback has 23 cubic feet of room with the rear seats up, which increases to 51 cubic feet with the seats folded. These are good numbers for a hatchback.

Read more about Elantra interior »

Pricing

How Much is a 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

The price of a used 2013 Hyundai Elantra ranges from about $7,800 for the base GLS trim with a manual transmission to around $8,900 for the Limited PZEV trim with an automatic transmission. Prices vary depending on the vehicle's condition, mileage, features, and location.

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We Did the Research for You: 62 Reviews Analyzed

We do not base our used car rankings and reviews on our personal opinions. Instead, we collect information like safety and reliability reports, total cost of ownership estimates, and the views of the automotive press. We analyzed 62 professional evaluations for this 2013 Hyundai Elantra review to help you make an informed buying decision.

Why You Can Trust Us

Our experienced team of writers, editors, and analysts has been ranking and reviewing the best cars, trucks, crossovers, and SUVs since 2007. We remain unbiased by refusing pricey gifts and trips from auto manufacturers and employing an independent agency to manage the advertising on our site.

How Reliable Is the 2013 Hyundai Elantra?

The 2013 Elantra has a reliability score of 2.5 out of five from J.D. Power, which is below average for the auto industry.

See Elantra reliability scores »

2013 Hyundai Elantra Safety

Score: 9/10

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the 2013 Elantra sedan and hatchback overall safety scores of five out of five. Each model earned five stars for the side impact test and four stars for the frontal and rollover tests. The coupe model was not tested. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested only the Elantra sedan, naming it a Top Safety Pick+. It scored the highest rating of Good in the moderate overlap front, roof, side, and rear crash tests. It earned a rating of Acceptable, the second-highest score offered, in the small overlap front crash test on the driver’s side. A rearview camera is available in some models.

Is the 2013 Elantra the Best Model Year to Buy?

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra is part of a generation that was launched in 2011 and refreshed in 2014. The Elantra GT and coupe were new for 2013. If you are looking to save money, one of the earlier sedan models may suffice. Just note that the 2012 Elantra lacks standard air conditioning and cruise control, and the 2011 Elantra is missing the Active Eco fuel-saving system for the automatic transmission.

Compare the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Elantra »

Which Used Hyundai Elantra Is Right for Me?

The base GLS sedan has a six-speaker stereo system with auxiliary jacks and keyless entry. The Limited trim adds heated front seats, Bluetooth with voice recognition, leather seats, and a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

In the base GS coupe, you get Bluetooth, fog lights, and heated front seats. The Elantra coupe SE has a sport-tuned suspension, leather seats, and aluminum sport pedals. The base GT hatchback adds Bluetooth to features found in the base GLS sedan.

There’s a hatchback Touch & Go trim with a sports suspension and push-button start. The hatchback’s Style trim matches the coupe’s SE trim. The hatchback GT’s Technology trim is similar to the available tech package found in the coupe and sedan. It includes a 360-watt stereo system, a navigation system with a 7-inch touch screen, a rearview camera, and dual-zone automatic temperature control with an automatic defogging system. The sedan’s Limited trim and the coupe and hatchback base trims are well-equipped and should meet most needs.

Even with the Elantra’s above-average reliability, you may want to consider a certified pre-owned model. Certified pre-owned Hyundai vehicles receive the balance of the original new-car 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Hyundai CPO vehicles must pass a 150-point inspection. Additional benefits like towing and roadside assistance may be available, so read Hyundai’s warranty page carefully. The model's original sale date determines whether or not it is eligible for the CPO program.

Read more about certified pre-owned vehicles »

Read more about the Hyundai certified pre-owned program »

2013 Hyundai Elantra and Other Cars to Consider

Which Is Better: 2013 Hyundai Elantra or 2013 Honda Civic?

If you want a great interior, a used Hyundai Elantra will probably suit your needs. It has spacious front legroom and an attractive design. In almost every other way, the 2013 Honda Civic is the better car. Its steering is excellent and its ride is stable. It also comes with more standard features and earns above-average reliability. In this head-to-head matchup, the Civic is the clear winner.

Which Is Better: 2013 Hyundai Elantra or 2013 Toyota Corolla?

The 2013 Toyota Corolla is the more practical vehicle. It offers a perfect reliability score, but also a drab interior and less-than-exciting handling. In contrast, the Elantra provides a much more engaging drive, a stronger four-cylinder engine, better fuel economy, and crisper handling. However, it’s a far less reliable vehicle.

Compare the Elantra, Civic, and Corolla »