Used 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring Consumer Reviews
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Donated to offspring
I donated this car to one of my kids last year. She tells me it's still going strong with no major problems.
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A very pleasant surprise
We're a small family of 3 and we decided to upgrade from a subcompact after the arrival of #3. After 1 year of research - I was looking for more space and more safety - I stumbled upon this gem. There is more than enough space for road tripping and the cabin is quiet and well designed. I enjoy not seeing the car everywhere...In the past 4 weeks I've seen only 2!
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,995118 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,995118 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,997120 mi away
Fun to drive
This car is an excellent choice if you are looking for a car that is fun to drive and you need that extra cargo space behind the back seat. My large dog loves the room he has there behind the back seat. When you need even more room, just fold down the back seats and WOW you have a lot more space. Driving is fun, with quick steering response and peppy little engine will get you up to hwy speed quickly. I have almost 50,000 miles on mine, and I have had no problems. I just follow the routine maintenance suggestions and that is it. I am retired, and my drive each day usually is about 3 to 12 miles with stops or lights in-between. I average 24 mpg. When I do take a trip, I get about 32-33 mpg on Update 05/12/2016 car is still fun to drive. I have moved to Los Angeles and I also own a larger truck, gut the truck last year only got 450 miles put on it, because I love to drive the Hyundai so much. I can go to Home Depot and buy an 8 foot 2x4 and manage to put it in the car by sliding it up to the front dash board, and still close the rear hatch. The room behind the last seat is one of the largest I have seen for a small compact 4 door hatchback. In LA, i average about 15 miles an hour, (that includes some small sprints on the freeway, and i still average around 22 miles per gallon in the city. On a long, say 300 mile trip on the highway, i will average 30-32 miles per gallon. What can I say, I love it. Here it is 11/14-2016 and I still love my Hyundai Elantra Touring. Best Car I ever owned for driving in the City.
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3 years later!
After 3 years of driving this car I can say it still is a joy to drive. The out side of the finish still shines. The motor is just a little loud when you give it the gas. Better yet is the mileage for me in Connecticut, 33 city...45 highway. I found using Castrol edge or Quaker state ultimate pure synthetic oils produce better mileage. Inside of the car remain about the same. Satellite radio in car works well. All the gages have work and light up. Seats and floor still in good shape. Overall car works well.
Great for Commuting
Based on good CR ratings for the Elantra SE sedan, I bought the Touring model when it first came out. Not easy to find with the manual transmission - but I preferred the performance of the Hyundai 2.0 engine with 5 spd over the Toyota Matrix 1.8 engine. Some reviewers have found this car to ride a little rough, but personally I think other Hyundai models are a little too spongy. This car is very roomy for its size - I managed to get a 9 cu. ft. freezer in the back with room to spare. More than enough space for four adults - rear seats are another advantage over the Toyota Matrix or Mazda 3 hatchbacks. I'm averaging 29 MPG in commuting, 34 on long trips - would like to see a 6 spd manual.
Big Car for Small Price
My husband & I were having doubts about trading in our RAV4 because we didn't want to give up the cargo space. The ET is a great alternative. We haven't had any problems so far. The day after we bought it, the great storm of Feb 2010 arrived. The car did great, even on the hills that make up Pittsburgh. I love the large windshield, and there aren't any blindspots. So far, we love this car.
Good car for SUV withdrawal
Lots of interior room for SUV owners like me looking for better gas mileage. Steering is a little strange but getting used to it. Power to weight ratio is not very sporting but can keep up with traffic. Driver's leg room is shorter than specs suggest. I've never had a car that stopped as well. Styling is very Euro and to my liking but doesn't turn heads. Nice exterior finish and good quality materials on interior,(no mouse fur). Some sloppy workmanship in more hidden areas, i.e. messy chauking in door jams. Wiring looms hand wrapped with cloth electrical tape,(didn't know they still made that). Getting 23mpg in suburban driving. That's almost double my Hemi Durango!
A love and hate relation
It's a pratical roomy cheap too own car. But the confort is lacking. Sound detoning is innexistant and the ride is really arsh. Interior is cheap as hell. The engine is the best entry level engine in any compact car... ever and i try almost all car. It's really torquey and efficient plus easy too maintain. In the end the car does the job and for the price it's a good value
Just Got it
Although we only have a couple of hundred miles on it so far, I've driven many cars over the years and feel I am qualified to offer my thoughts on this car. While many wish for more HP, I feel it is satisfactory for what the car is designed to do, get you from point A-B as economically as possible with as much comfort as possible. This car achieves these goals. The steering is certainly lacking that "Hug the road" feel. The brakes work well with plenty of stopping power. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better bang for your buck. The best thing is that the S.O. loves it and when she's happy, the world is happy! Safe Travels.
Never Buy A Hyundai
My wife needed a car for her business with space. Read all the reviews and comparisons. Purchased the Elantra Touring. Radio never worked right, but would not act up at the dealership. Then the ignition switch started locking up (will not turn) no problems with the keys.My wife would not drive because she didn't want to be stranded. Dropped the vehicle off @ dealership, said 2 weeks for ignition switch. We have been waiting 4 weeks. They do not stock parts in the US for this car. Waiting for the part from Korea. Can you believe this? Can't wait to get this fixed so I can get rid of this thing. I have had to rent a car, no help from the dealership or from Hyundai.
Solid Compact Utility Vehicle
I'm "stepping down" from a decade of owning cars costing $10k more. I bought this for the high reliability (I'm expecting) and the value it represents. It may be hard to wrap your head around that fact that this is a compact car, with a midsize wheelbase and tremendous interior space. It IS fun to drive, though not sporty, but torquey, taut and surprisingly refined. It's not fast, but competent and capable around town and on the hiway. It has a "do anything" demeanor, but rides like a car, not an SUV. The biggest drawbacks being the 4 speed auto, oddly weighted steering and the 2L engine that makes only 140 Hp. But brakes are excellent, built quality high, and the interior well thought out.
3 prior accidents, 1 accident w/me , 3 yrs strong.
Let me first start off by saying if you want something slow, ugly, and you want it to die every day of it's life so you can make the decision to get something different, this is the car. Ive beaten and abused, pushed this car to it's limit. Since I bought it over 3 years ago, I've done brake pads, rotors, and guess what? That's it. I bought the car with 90k miles on it, it had been in 3 prior accidents, dents, chipping paint, cigarette burns on the seat. So I'd imagine the previous owner didn't care for it much either. Originally it was just meant to be a "point a to point b" daily commuter. You know, maybe just a year or two. No, it won't die. I'm viciously slamming gears and passing people like Mario andretti, sliding around corners, but it just won't quit. Major qualms; slow. So slow. When I bought the car it had some kinks, such as the e-brake not working. Which is just a minor inconvenience. I can say the 5 speed manual transmission can take a beating. Pretty great car for the money. Also I've fit so much stuff in the back of it. Grills, reclining chairs, are what come to mind. She's dead, wasn't worth fixing. Clutch issues amongst other small issues I ignored over time. Was a good little car. Sent her to the scrapyard @ around 175k.
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Love the "Black Turtle"
Our hatchback looks like a black turtle from outside. Provides great traction in slippery roads. ABS, side air bag, stability control are all standard. Interior build quality is impressive with nice-feeling foams and net-like cloth covers. The on-wheel audio control is handy, so is the rear window wiper. My family of 5 sit comfortably inside with plenty of space for extra bags. I've hauled a mattress foam in the back with no problem. Only problem is the noise at high RPM. It has great surround sound. Great car with plenty of utility and value-added items.
4k on my Elantra Touring...
Choose out of Vibe, Mazda3 5D, and another pickup. Very pleased with the car so far, the fuel economy is slightly disappointing for a small 4cyl car, but is passable after driving a pickup for 10 years. Handles great, comfortable on long drives, and have no major issues with the car so far.
Love the Touring
I have had this car for a week and am loving it. I traded in my 2008 Veracruz and don't miss it at all.
Finally bought a Hyundai
A family member has had 6 Hyundais, never having a serious issue with any of them, even in some of their early models. With a track history like that, I knew someday we'd buy one too. I'm over 6' and am very comfortable in this car, and find the seats very supportive too. Handling is great, ride may be a bit firm for some though. Car is very quiet on the highway, a big change from our last Saturn. Fit an finish are great, even impressed my neighbor who owns 2 Mercedes. I'll be looking at Hyundai when it's time to replace my ride; this one is for my wife.
Duly Impressed
Got this towards the very end of the clunker deal. I settled on getting the Touring after looking at a variety of hatchbacks, from a Nissan Versa at the low-end to a Subaru Impreza at the high end. Unfortunately for me, these things are extremely popular and after looking for one for nearly 2 weeks, I got the color I wanted (Vivid Blue) but I didn't get the premium package I wanted in time(sun roof, etc.) Immediately noticed is the quality of the interior and how pleasing it is to look at. I'd say only the Mazda3speed is more sporty looking. Got the Automatic & drives like a breeze. Not real sporty but way more so than my old Pathfinder. All in all, a great car! Highly recommend it!
Great Small Hatchback
Wanted something smaller that my Camry, without giving up comfort or rear seat space. This car has both, along with a big cargo capacity due to hatchback instead of a trunk. Compared to the Toyota Matrix, the Elantra Touring has more standard safety and convenience features, and slightly more space. The 2.0l engine with manual transmission is a great combination - very good acceleration when I need it, but the gas mileage is much better than EPA rating of 26 overall (more like 30 but haven't been running the A/C). Haven't had it out for a long trip yet, but for commuting and light hauling, this is a great size and a comfortable ride.
6 years, no major problems
We just traded our touring after 6 years of ownership. Overall a great car. Mechanically perfect until the dealer incorrectly serviced the transmission allowing it to leave the lot with no fluid. After that it would shift poorly at times. That's not the cars fault. Otherwise it needed a new battery a couple times and that's it. Other small issues where a lift gate that would rattle at times and a brake pedal that creaked.
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Fantastic little wagon :)
Have had the Touring for a few months now and am very happy with it. Fuel efficiency with 60/40 hwy/city miles sits on 29.9 mpg. On 2-3 hr. trips the average has bumped up to about 31 mpg. I have never cleared it completely out to measure efficiency on only a long trip. The back is huge, both in terms of seating room and storage. Loading and unloading is a breeze as the cargo area is wide, flat, and at a good height. The hatch door is not too tall to reach when I need to close it and I am short (5'2"). Visibility is amazing out the front and the rear is okay--the d-pillars create a bit of a blind spot, but it is well compensated for with the mirrors. Lots of cubbies. Comfortable.
8 years in and I am still happy with my purchase
Roomy, responsive with good fuel economy. I am happy with how little this car has needed in terms of repairs and maintenance. The hatch back version for me has been so handy. I looked at purchasing Subaru or Mazda but the reviews on Edmunds indicated that I'd be better off with the Elantra touring. 8 years later I am still happy with my choice.
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First time Hyundai Owner
It is my first time to own a Hyundai car but so far after having driven 3k miles, I am more than convinced that I made a right choice. ET (Elantra Touring) has more features than any other cars in its class for less $$$. Better gas mileage than my previous 2.0 Mazda Protege 2002 and city/highway combined getting average 30 mpg. My 2 kids have more than enough space in the back. Good cargo space and well thought out dashboard design. I just had a trip of 400 miles but didn't even feel fatigue. USB connection (I don't even have iPOD) gives me more than I need, that 8GB flash drive can store plenty songs that I can control from my steering wheel.
Nice vehicle for the price
I like every thing about this vehicle except the the way the steering wheel is built. With one of the three connecting post right at the bottom of the steering wheel, it makes it difficult to place your hand in a comfortable position without reaching for the top of the steering wheel. Gas mileage could be better. 24 is the best i can get. Of course, most of my driving is city..stop and go.
Wonderful Change
My wife and I decided to buy a smaller, fuel efficient car but wanted room to haul purchases, etc. We downgraded from a big car sedan. WE are so happy that we made the switch. We get great gas mileage and the car handles well and is fun to drive. The ride is a bit stiff - especially after driving a large car. Love this car! The only problem is that we fight over who's going to drive!
Eighteen Months Later
At 58,300 miles and 18 months of very reliable ownership, it was time to trade this one in on something bigger and more comfortable. I now have a bone spur on my heel, so this very reliable car suddenly did not meet my needs. I had to trade up to a small crossover SUV, which wound up not being another Hyundai. Like Honda, the Hyundai seats seem to be made for durability rather than comfort. Big people like me may find them a bit uncomfortable. Also, it seems that most other drivers on the road hate the way this car looks, so they are constantly trying to push this underpowered car out the way. It also looked like each driver behind me was sitting in my cargo area. A bit unnerving!
Please Think Twice Before Buying
I have had the 09 Elantra for a year, Have problems with the XM radio. Dealership will have to replace the whole radio. Have a big problem with the switch. It wont turn when key is inserted. No problem with the key itself. Dealer cant locate the part. Haven t driven the car in 2 weeks. Having to rent a car while we wait. Never buying another Hyundai, NEVER, EVER.
Elantra Touring great buy
I traded in my 2000 Elantra for this new Touring. You will like the new improved model. Outside the car it comes with a euro-style which is a much better upgraded than the old Pontiac nose. Inside plenty of room. Seats are very comfortable front and back. Plenty of hiding place for stuff. AC glove box to keep a can of soda cold or medications cool in summer. Radio is great for what you get, it gets the job done. The motor has good pick up for a Wagon, that's what it is. Would like to see a 2.3 or 2.4 liter motor though. Getting 30.7 mi. per gal. Over all good price and ride for a under 20,000 dollar car. Warranty can't be beat.
Move Over Toyota and Honda
I've had this car for 3 months and finally saw another one on the road, but not in Vivid Blue like mine. I already have 10K miles on it, and have only had one problem, that being the CD player. It handles like a BMW and almost drives itself. Fuel economy is as expected 27-32 MPG, averaging 29 MPG in mostly highway commuting. It is very comfortable and easy to climb in and out of. Luggage space rivals an SUV. The open air feel with four windows and a sunroof has my Harley sitting in the driveway and forgotten about. The dash lights are also attractive as everyone else says. When you open the door after refueling, the odometer lights up for you to jot down the mileage. It's the details!!!!
$15998 for 5-speed basic
This is the first "small" car I've owned. Previous three cars were Mercury Sable wagons all of which I put over 200K on. At the top of my list of car priorities is driver comfort as I put over 37K annually on a vehicle! I'm 6'3", 270 and the Touring is VERY comfy!
my second Elantra
It's been only one week, but I love it! Great improvement over the old one I was driving- much more comfortable. I never had any problems in six years which is why we bought another one. I can't believe all the standard equipment it comes with. Very fun to drive and sporty looking in the silver. Got right on 26 mpg city on the first tank. Can't wait for a road trip!
An excellent car
We wanted to downsize from a Ford Escape, without giving up too much room, and the Elantra touring has turned out to be an excellent choice. Looks like they took all of the good features of all the other look alikes on the market and put into this model. Its got just enough more room in it than the competition to be noticeable, and comes standard with all the features we wanted. So far we're getting about 30 mpg in mixed driving. We bought a Mazda 3 5dr last year and between the two, the Mazda's a little more fun to drive - better handling and power, but the Hyundai is more comfortable on a long trip.
Buy this car!
After reviewing and test driving a lot of 4 door hatchbacks, I decided to test drive the Touring model. It took me about 30 seconds for me to make up my mind and buy the car. The cargo space, dash controls, satellite radio, gas mileage, and most of all the safety features won me over.
elantra touring is great value for money
What a great little car. There are very few options you can add on to this car as it comes very well equipped. The elantra touring is the same model as one they sell over seas and it shows in the handling, the car handles like a sport car. It comes with eltronic stability control which also helps in this department. I got 30 mpg second tank and the driving consisted of about 45% city and 55% highway driving. I love the bluetooth which will dial your cell phone with voice commands. The only dislikes are the dinky horn, come on Hyundai with todays quite cars it likely won't even be hear if someone has their Windows up and the radio on, also the key and remote should be combined.
great car
got it for invoice dealer great as of now 30miles per gallon handles great rides nice seats good lots of interior room get sport package much better tires and sharp mags
2009 Hyundai Touring 4auto
Driven a Civic, Corolla, Matrix,Vibe, Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Touring came out on top. The Mazda was fun to drive, but it is smaller and cost more. The others did not compare in quality and safety features. In 2weeks I have driven 80% in city and a 200 mile trip on the interstate and winding roads and the touring handled great. Quite cabin, cruising at 65MpH with plenty of zip (ok it is not a sports car but it has enough for every day commutes and highway use. Great cargo space. Fit and finish excellent and safety features sold me. Some complain about steering feel, but in my case the wagon handled better than my 2003 Honda Accord.
OK, not great
Good fuel economy. Comfortable seating. Plenty of back seat room. Poor ride. Feel every bump with the Sports package tires. I wanted a small hatchback type vehicle to take the place of my mid sized SUV. My other car is a Toyota Camry and the ride in the Touring is nowhere near that. I should of spent the extra money and gotten the Rav 4
Chili Pepper Red Elantra
When the Cash for clunkers was announced I headed for the Hyundai dealership and there it was. A Chili Pepper red Elantra Touring just begging to be bought. Took a quick test drive and told the salesman to put a sold sign on it. Easiest decision I ever made. I absolutely love this car. Quick, precise steering, peppy enough and, to my eyes, a beauty to behold (love the color). Throw in great brakes, XM radio, handling that makes Ozark mountain curves a blast to drive and lots of room to haul stuff in and you have one happy owner. I'm getting 29.7 MPG combined. The stiff suspension (which I like)is the price you pay for good handling.
try it, you'll like it
smooth, comfortable, quiet, great price to add to the competition. Test drove Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit (owned), NO comparison. Display layout easy use and read, radio great. Very stable feeling on the road. When doors get shut, they sound solid. Not a cheap feel. Easy to get in and out of. Completely sold on first test drive. Very enjoyable, looking forward to driving every day. Been getting very good gas mileage--avg. 33-34 breaking in miles, driving hills and town.
Update on my 7/28/09 review
I absolutely LOVE this car! I have yet to find something I really don't like about it. Best mpg to date is 37 mpg on a long cruise-controlled drive to New York state and back! Someone else, here, noted an issue with the cd player: cracks and pops from a brand new cd. But I don't care, really. Who even WANTS to listen to cds what with the fabulous XM radio music selection?! Contrary to my earlier request for more horsepower, it really doesn't need it. The Touring has ample get-up-and-go for this 55 y.o. And I'm still discovering neat design features that Hyundai engineering deserves great kudos for.
Good car
I bought this car for my wife a couple months ago, and she absolutely loves it. After driving the manual version, I can say that the automatic version feels much slower, but acceleration is still adequate. The brakes are very good. I've been averaging 30mpg between city and highway driving, which is a few mpg better than advertised. Overall we are very pleased with the car, and I would have no hesitation picking this car over the competition again.
Love my Touring!!
This is a great car for the money. It is a sporty hatchback that is quite roomy inside and big enough to haul all my "stuff". Didn't want an SUV but did want the convenience of a hatchback. I test drove all cars in this class and this one won hands down. I averaged 32 on the highway recently and in the city around 28. The Touring also has great safety features.
Very Happy Touring
This is an ideal car for a small family. I have also owned VW GTI S I can't say that this even compares but my dollar bought one sweet ride. The real deal would have much more needed power and some quite tires they are really loud on some roads. Its a poor man sports wagon I hope I have similar luck with this Hyundai as others have with the Sonatas it seems like every body likes them even when they have hundreds of thousand's of miles. So as of now I only have a few thousand I would recommend this wagon to a friend or even my brother that I did. Good luck on your future purchase other cars to check would be Mazda 3 but will cost you a few more dollars and they don't have a warranty as good.
Fuel Economy not what I expected
Great looking vehicle. Good get up and go. Fuel economy is not what I expected. I am getting 23.1 MPG in town. Took one long trip so far, and did manage to get little over 26 MPG on that trip. That was in the rolling hills of CA. I would question why AC in the glove box. My bigest complaint is the position of the steering wheel post on the lower part of the steering wheel. It is right where you would put your hands. I assume they had to put it there to support the air bag? It is unconfortable to hold the steering wheel on the lower part. Drivers seat could be fore confortable!
This is NOT a boring car!
After a couple of very happy years driving my 2007 Elantra GLS, I was fairly certain I'd be just as pleased with the Elantra Touring. To tell the truth, I'm more than happy ... I LOVE my red, chili pepper Touring! It's sporty-looking, vibrant and fun to drive. All that plus the roomy interior, ample cargo space, and zippy engine I'd learned to love in my original Elantra.
perfect commuter car
Needed a fuel efficient third vehicle for 52 mile round trip work commute. Looked at several small sedans but lacked space needed to haul horse feed and other farm items. Drove the automatic hyundai touring but seemed a little sluggish. Finally found a manual transmission and the drive was very spirited. Gas mileage in mixed driving around 31 MPG and just over 33 MPG on the highway. Wish it had a six speed transmission always feels as if you need to shift one more time. Plenty of torque nice and quiet below 4000 RPM. Good list of standard features for the price opted for the sports package with 17 inch wheels and sunroof.
Lots of bang for your buck
We've owned it for over a month and had one long road trip. We've loaded it with 3 passengers and 18 2"x10" four foot long boards along with a roll of fencing. We love the capacity and functionality of it. It was comfortable on the trip. Gas mileage was decent, but a 5 speed auto would be great. We've been getting ~26mpg and that's mostly around town including a carpool line. Considering it is a compact car, it's a great car for a small family. We got the premium package and the ride isn't very bumpy. We also haven't found the steering to be vague as mentioned in some reviews.
Awesome Car
Purchased this car for commuting to work and have not been disappointed. Handles great, comfortable ride, unbelievable interior room. Best of all, great value, the list of features that come with the car is amazing. Completely satisfied. Look out Honda and Toyota...here comes Hyundai!!!
Great Car
This is our 3rd Hyundai Elantra and we couldn't be happier. This car is great for young families and people who need the extra cargo room but don't want a large vehicle. Recently carried two full size interior doors with ease. Also packed a crib and rocker with minimal trouble. XM radio is great and 17-inch rims turn heads. Recently had someone stop us in traffic to ask us where we got it. Great car for the money, would buy it again.
better than you'd expect - by far
I bought an 09 elantra touring on Monday. Got $500 of sticker, and $1000 rebate. Prices will go down more, since this is a brand new model, but its a great car. Peppy acceleration, tons of room and legitimate 30+ mpg highway/26 in town. 100,000 mile warranty too
love it
This is my 3rd Hyundai, and the largest one I bought. I love this car, it is easy to drive, maneuver, and I haven't found any negative features. Still haven't figured out if it's a car, crossover or what, but who cares, it is a pleasure to drive. I saw this car, searched for an automatic, and bought it at once.