Used 2012 Hyundai Elantra Sedan Consumer Reviews

This car is a beast

I bought this car (manual transmission!) in November of 2011 and don't think I could have made a better choice. Bought in Cincinnati and immediately put a towing package on it and pulled a loaded 4'x8' covered trailer down to Houston, where I worked. That job lasted 9 months, then I did the same thing back to Cincy. More than once I went about 20k before changing oil. Have taken it on rough dirt roads many times in the Red River Gorge, UP of Michigan in the middle of winter, and Appalachian mountains. Think I have changed the air filter 2-3 times (cleaned it a few more). I have pulled 6'x12' trailers loaded HIGH with tree brush and wood to the point where other drivers just laughed at me. I replaced the transmission around 200k miles probably due to the fact I used it like a truck, had the clutch master cylinder replaced, and done more minor repairs myself like rotors, hubs, and spark plugs. I am now at over 230k miles and the check engine light has NEVER come on. This is the Marshawn Lynch of sedans. BEAST MODE

Look in the trunk!

I really was a fan of my '12 Elantra since I purchased. No, I have not been able to get close to the mileage stated on sticker but I don't put a lot of mile on my car and they are mostly city miles. I liked the "extras" heated seats, XM, blue-tooth. Price was good compared to other cars in same class.("Get what you pay for") NOW this is why I am not a fan anymore...I recently got a flat tire (in Feb. in very cold NH) luckily I was close to enough to make it to work before it went completely flat!) well upon opening the trunk to get the spare and jack I found NEITHER!!! There is a small air pump. I called my auto dealer to find out the Elantra does not come with a spare tire or a jack!!!

Nice Looking Car But Poor Gas Mileage!

I purchased this car only because of all the reviews about the great gas mileage it was supposed to receive. I previously owned a Toyota Corolla and was able to get 32 mpg on average on the same route I am driving now with my new 2012 Hyundai. However, under the same driving conditions, I am only averaging 24 mpg with the Hyundai. I really wish I had just paid the extra money and purchased another Toyota. What I'm currently spending in additional gas monies probably will be more than the extra cost I would have paid for another Toyota. I will not purchase from Hyundai again.

It's OK!?!?!?!

I purchased my elantra on 9-3-11. My first impression was the car looked sharp and the price was reasonable. I test drove the elantra and it it seemed ok especially with the high gas mileage. However, after driving it for a long drive, the seats are uncomfortable and there is a lot of road noise. The mpg is 35 which seems to be accurate. If I could do it again, I would not have purchased the elantra. If anyone is looking to buy mine let me know!

Gas Mileage

Bought my Elantra in May 2012. I know they overestimated the mileage but I am getting about 18mpg in the city and less than 30mpg on the highway. Nowhere near what I expected. I do not drive fast or overly aggressive. I would not buy another Elantra or Hyundai for that matter. Considering reporting to the Consumer Protection Agency and the EPA.

Undercoating of the Chasis

Just bought the 2012 GL Elantra and I really love this car. But unknown to a lot of people who shared their excellent reviews is what lurks underneath the car. I discovered recently that some part of the chassis behind the tires have coating and some don't have any as you can see the painted metal part. SISSLEY DEALERSHIP called it gravel and sand protection and to my surprise not an undercoating to protect the cars chassis. Hyundai headoffice already gave them the GO signal to have it done but they did not bec of the following reasons: 1. They checked the Elantras in their dealership and have the same thing 2. Undercoating might affect the ABS & brake lining Check your Elantras

2012 Elantra GLS

2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS Black with gray interior and Automatic transmission, preferred package, carpeted floor mats, ipod cable, electrochromatic mirror with Homelink, and emergency roadside kit. This will be a long and detailed review. I must preface everything by saying that I have been driving a 2000 BMW 323ia for the past 11 years. It now becomes my sons. It is impossible for me to review any car without reflecting back on my experience with my BMW. If BMW’s weren’t so damn expensive I’d never buy another brand. I will try to point out the areas where my BMW experience has impacted my review of the Hyundai. My job requires that I carry a catalog case with about 35 pounds of paper in it and I am reluctant to toss it in for fear of breaking the floor, but I’ve never actually tested my theory. It would be nice if there were some trays in the floor on the side of the trunk to put things you don’t want sliding around (a la BMW). The doors are also light and easy to open. I am very impressed with how wide they open. Especially the front doors. It makes it very easy to enter and exit the vehicle. Compared to my BMW this is very impressive! When opening the doors from inside the car there is not a defined click or sound/feel when the door unlatches. I’m 53 so I like my AC/DC, Tull, and Zeppelin loud. The Ipod cable and connection work great. Once the system has “loaded” your Ipod you can control it from the radio stack or the steering wheel. Very nice! Seats: The drivers seat is easy to position and it alone has an up/down feature. For me the sides of the bottom cushion push in on my thighs too much even though I’m only 5’ 10” and 170lbs. After a while it begins to annoy me. I’m sure my legs will get accustomed to this, but for now I notice it. I am one of those people that can’t sit anywhere without my lower back being uncomfortable so my comments about the seats should be taken with that in mind. Air-conditioning: The controls are easy to see and easy to manipulate. The air is ice-cold, as it should be. One small issue is that if you use Max AC then you cannot have the air blowing anywhere but from the upper vents. The fan noise is minimal. Miscellaneous: The center armrest in the front slides forward which is nice. However, once you’ve done that it is not easy to push the latch to lift it up to reveal the storage area below it. The side pockets of the front doors have a tilted bottle holder. These will NOT work for cups or anything else that doesn’t have a lid that seals well. They will work well for baby bottles, but not for cups from a fast food restaurant. I haven’t had to put the brakes to any kind of test, but they have stopped me quickly when I just wanted to see what would happen. This car is light so any kind of brakes would do a good job. Fuel Economy As I’ve pointed out the Elantra was built with lightweight materials in an attempt to increase gas mileage. The lack of a spare tire is for weight savings as well as cost savings. You will notice the bumps and jolts in this car more than you would in an SUV or heavier car such as a BMW. That is the price you pay for better fuel economy. Unfortunately, you are NOT going to get the mileage you see posted on the window in my opinion.

Love the car

I've had my 2012 Elantra for a week now, have put almost 700 miles on it. I've done two fill-ups, first one included 65% highway and got 38.1, The second one today which included 75% in town and 25% highway, I got 33.1. This is actual mileage, miles divided by gallons. Taking it on a trip this weekend and expect 40 plus on highway. The front has as much room as our 2010 Malibu, back 3" less leg room. Trunk is .3 cubic ft less than Malibu. It has more than enough power and drives very nicely. First time I ever paid "sticker" for a car but it is worth it. Made in the USA by non union labor. Gas mileage, outstanding style, build quality, outstanding warranty drew me to the car.

Never again

I have never gotten the 40 MPG touted by Hyundai. Best mileage is 33. Also the cloth seats are impossible to clean and Hyundai dealer won't try to clean the seat, they say it will cause a stain. When parking you cannot see the front end in relationship to the parking spot and the same with the rear. It is hard to get into the front seats without hitting your head. I am only 5'2". The car did not come with a spare that had to be purchased fo $300.00. They include a pump for flats but if you have a side puncture, it won't work. This is my second Hyundai and I am planning on selling it as soon as possible. Bluetooth is not compatible with all phones.

Wow, no thanks to the Elantra

Wow So disappointed in the Elantra. I talked my wife into selling her 10 year old Honda and buying a used Elantra. I wanted her to have a car with low mileage and a warranty. sometimes I have to leave town for work and I wanted to make sure she had no problems. while I was at the Dealership. I looked at the new 2012 Elantra. I under stand that the car would not get the estimated mileage on the sticker. but the salesman talked me into trading my car in based on the money I would save buying the new Hyundai. Here is what I fount out. the Elantra only get gets 3 more miles to the gallon than my other car. it dose not get the mileage the sales person told us. what I gave up is handling. comfort, and more. I am saving about $20.00 a month. the car has so much road noise I have to crank up the stereo to here it. the stereo. is one of the worst I have had. I swear I can hear the wind blowing through my windshield right above the rear view mirror. the seats are not very comfortable, my last car was a better car, and only had 50,000 miles on it. this car is not comfortable especially for long road trips. my wife's Elantra wow. this car came with the Hyundai. certified used car warranty. all 4 tires were bald on the inside. so you couldn't see it. it was out of alignment. and we just found out the Transmission Had never been serviced.. and now it has a electrical problem. the Car only has 40,000 miles on it. that over $700.00 we had to put into a certified used car. this car gets less mileage that her 10 year old civic. and also has more road noise, ect. Now her interior is more comfortable than my new car and she cant ride in my car for long periods of time. she has a bad back. I only had 1 year left to pay off my other car. then I would have about 4 to five years of no payments. I would take that money and save it for my next. car. i figured to have my last car 8 to ten years, and then buy another new car. this way it keeps my payment down. Now I get a letter stating Hyundai will give me credit for the mileage the car doesn't get, great. that doesn't solve the the comfort, and other problems I have with this car. If I trade it in on sothing else I will take a loss. I cant see having this car for 10 years. Thanks Rick Pettry

The Snappy Silve Streak Named Elantra

Great "bang for the buck" in its class (included features for the price) --- high reliability in mechanics, electrical, electronics, computerization, etc. --- excellent fuel economy around town and on the road --- Hyundai's Warranty --- Company stands behind the vehicle and its dealers --- only disadvantage is for long legs cramped in the rear seat

This car is a beast

I bought this car (manual transmission!) in November of 2011 and don't think I could have made a better choice. Bought in Cincinnati and immediately put a towing package on it and pulled a loaded 4'x8' covered trailer down to Houston, where I worked. That job lasted 9 months, then I did the same thing back to Cincy. More than once I went about 20k before changing oil. Have taken it on rough dirt roads many times in the Red River Gorge, UP of Michigan in the middle of winter, and Appalachian mountains. Think I have changed the air filter 2-3 times (cleaned it a few more). I have pulled 6'x12' trailers loaded HIGH with tree brush and wood to the point where other drivers just laughed at me. I replaced the transmission around 200k miles probably due to the fact I used it like a truck, had the clutch master cylinder replaced, and done more minor repairs myself like rotors, hubs, and spark plugs. I am now at over 230k miles and the check engine light has NEVER come on. This is the Marshawn Lynch of sedans. BEAST MODE

Regretful

I purchased this car mainly for the fuel economy. My 60 miles per day of driving to and from work only get me 32 mpg. I did get 40 driving from Harrisburg, PA to Pittsburgh, though. My biggest disappointment about the car is the steering. I blow around on the highway when there are strong wind gusts. The handling is horrible and I feel like I can't even control my car. I feel unsafe. My tire also blew out while on the highway - and to my surprise there was no spare tire. I can't believe Hyundai doesn't make it standard to provide it's customers with a spare! I regret buying the car and I would rather pay more money for gas in a less efficient car than drive a car that is unsafe.

Awesome Over All

I bought my 2012 Elantra Limited at the end of Sept 2011 last year. Over all it's been a great car. I fell in love with the design as well as it's gas mileage. The gas mileage in my opinion is not what they say it is. I wish it where better to be honest. But, yes there is a but.... It's not bad like most cars built with what options I have. Hyundai is the old Toyota. Just a well built nice looking car.

Love this car, only one beef

I love everything about this car! The only beef I have is that I haven't come all that close to getting 40mpg. This car blows all others similar models of different brands out of the water. Number one reason was, of course, the price! Well designed and easy to handle. Even the man in my life likes it.

Great car

a good buy

Fun maneuverable little car

I acquired my Elantra in 2016 with 107K miles. It now has 168K I have really just done regular maintenance and things you would normally expect. At 147K the ball joints and stabilizer links were done. At 150K new brakes and struts and at 153K a new alternator and belt along with a crank sensor which was causing me to loose power. Finally, flushed and changed all the fluids, (brakes, tranny, and coolant) at 158K. I have thoroughly enjoyed this Elantra. It's the small four cylinder with a 6 speed manual and can be driven for enjoyment, even to the point of challenging more powerful cars from the light. The only difficulty I have had is that the shift gate is very close between 1st and 3rd. Really need to be sure you aren't in third when starting from a stop.. can be embarrassing.. but it can be fun on winding roads in the summer. Not the best car in the snow and definitely not in 5 or more inches of snow. It's not heavy enough to pull you through and can get hung up with out the weight for a good grip. This one will stay in the family as I will pass it down to the next family member in the spring. This winter, I'll be driving a car with greater ground clearance.

Well worth the $$$$

I can't say enough good things about this car. I purchased it with right at 20,000 miles and I'am the second owner. This car has been very dependable. As of today all equipment is original except brakes, battery, tires, fluids and filters. I drive roughly 135-200 miles daily. The odometer as of today has 280,301 miles. The ride is smooth and it handles better than expected. The interior is all it needs to be. If you are in the market for a dependable car you will not regret your purchase.

POOR GAS MILAGE!

This car does not live up to the 29/40 mpg it says it is ssuppose to get. We have been getting more like 22/32 mpg. Buyer beware!

Great car!

I (still have) a 1998 Jeep wrangler with big tires and a lift and needed a better vehicle to commute back and forth between Jacksonville, FL and Pensacola. Bought it new 4 years ago and there has never been a moment where I haven't been happy about my decision. Only 2 things I don't like: you literally have to slam the trunk to close it, and if you're going 40+ and hit bumps it has very unstable handling.

Great looking car!

Nice looking sporty car at a reasonable price!

No Regrets at 5200 miles

Fun to drive, actually accelerates well esp. in manual mode; Hyundai gets a lot out of a tiny engine. Excellent gas mileage in Eco mode; I'm getting 37-38 mpg right now on mostly highways w/ mild traffic. Looks great, recommended maintenance is cheap even at the dealership. Also, much better in the snow with some good traction control features than my previous compact car with no abs even. And there's a lot of room in the car; very spacious.

Love it

Has been a very economical and reliable and practical car as well as fun to drive.

Deplorable Gas Mileage

I am getting horrible gas mileage on my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. It is under 30 MPG while doing 55 MPH using cruise control on an open highway. The dealership treats me like a moron and promises me the moon and then thinks I will just disappear and somehow magically become a satisfied customer if they do nothing. The mileage rebate program is woefully insufficient. People need to know that these cars are not good on mileage to say the least.

Good car but gas mileage disappointing

I used to test auto manufacturers prototypes, so I understand how to drive for best MPG. No matter how I drive the Elantra, I never get over 28 MPG highway or city. Gas mileage was biggest selling point for me. My Infiniti G20 I traded got better MPG

2012 Elantra Limited

I took deliver of my 2012 Titanium Gray Metallic Elantra (my fourth Elantra) and have received many compliments on the color and style of the car. The interior is modern and has some upscale flair to it. The leather seats are comfortable on short and long trips with little to no fatigue. Love being in this car. The only thing, to date, that I am a bit disappointed is the fuel rating is not as good as I hoped (averaging 31 in mixed driving). Overall, I am happy with the car and I highly recommend the Limited as a great car at a great price.

Bad Mileage. Check out the lawsuits.

I bought the 2012 Elantra. The most mileage I got was 24MPG on highway 18MPG on the street I do not drive fast. Steering wheel peels. Awful car. I fill up every 3-4days on 66 miles per day do not buy this car read the real reviews first. Hyundai lawsuit gave $89.00 for gas compensation for 25000 miles. that not even three weeks worth of gas.

White exl sweet car

Low miles 43000

some issues and sounds

i got this 2012 elantra brand new. since the first time caught my eye , nice exterior and interior design..the right window pasanger side make noise, driver seat is peeling off (5250)miles on it. every morning when i start it the lifters sound like old car but the dealer say its ok ...well i asume that is fine ...who knows???. i onw this car since february 2012 its very nice presentation compare with the ugly honda civic and corolla ...but sometimes i think its too delicated and doesnt run x ever like toyota or honda . im afraid to close the doors cause if i close hard seem like im gonna destroyed hahahaha. and the other hand i own before a strong gmc sierra but gas prices kill me

Hyundai Elantra GLS

I purchase an Elantra on June 2. When I bought it, I had three criteria. I wanted really good gas mileage. I wanted a car that was drivable. And I wanted some cargo capacity. I had a 2008 Honda Fit. The Fit got 32 miles to the gallon overall and had a lot of cargo capacity as a hatchback. The Elantra is very drivable and can accelerate better than the Fit and doesn't have the problems maintaining highway speed. And the Elantra has really good EPA mpg ratings. So I thought I could forego the cargo capacity. Unfortunately the Elantra gets just over 30 mpg on gas with no ethanol. So I only got one of my three requirements. I wish I had not purchased the Elantra.

Dianes Delite

Huge Disappointment

I bought this car for one reason: fuel economy. I wanted a car that actually delivers 40 mpg on the highway. Imagine my disappointment that this car actually got 30.45 miles per gallon on a recent 200-mile trip. Tell me I'm a bad driver or whatever, but 30.45 is a far cry from 40. Oh, I'm right around 3,000 miles. This car replaced a 2003 Saturn L200 that was getting 30-32 mpg mostly in town with some highway mileage. I'm extremely disappointed in this car. Wish I'd read the reviews before buying.

Windshield & Bluetooh

I have read a number of the reviews and while my issue is not gas mileage (I get it, though), my issue is visibility. I have felt that the design/sleekness of this model makes the windshield posts more of a detriment to seeing left/right and I have to physically move more to ensure I don't hit anything when I am making a turn. I'm 5'10 so it's not like I cannot see but I have found this very disconcerting. For a year, my HTC paired on incoming calls & now it won't. Outgoing is fine, incoming - dead. No idea why.

Elantra - an excellent compact car option.

Sits too low to the ground for easy entry and exit for older people. Auto door locking feature can be an irritation. Overall, a very reliable, efficient and economical car to own.

GREAT CAR

Trouble free car but gas mileage not what stated

Recalled

Had this car for 8 years now. Looking forward to moving on to something else soon. Bottom line, the 1.8L 'Nu' engine was the subject of a nation-wide recall (piston slap) and had major overhaul work not just once, but TWICE in that time, because the first time they repaired it, they replaced it with the same defective parts. Fortunately, when it went AGAIN almost two years later, it was still covered,....but that will be it. Feel like I am driving on borrowed time now with no sense of security. Upholstery on the seats is bizarre, stains easily, even by water.... I should have immediately put seat covers on it had I known. Trunk/Gas lid cover is poorly placed and rusts out in winter climates. Suspension components have also been frequently replaced and the interior plastic is also hard and cheap feeling. There also seems to be a drainage issue with the rocker panels and many on the road have gradually began to rust out. It is a spacious car however, well featured and drives decently, fuel economy is quite good as well. I could not recommend this car however to anyone, primarily because of the engine. Three years later from the previous review, more off the beaten path repairs needed. The third engine has, to this point, held up, experienced a few suspected transmission slips and clunking sounds in the winter. Did another transmission fluid flush, replaced an inhibitor switch and the shifter cable, due to gritty shifting and inaccurate gear selection. Car at the moment, running fine at 190K after a series of repairs the past 6 months. Ordered a Toyota back in April and waiting for that to come in. Not a great experience with Hyundai, with fuel economy being the only real shining factor from this vehicle.

If it wasn't for piston slap it would have been ok

I don't love the Elantra but I did like it. My old car had a built in mp3 player and you can do the same thing with the USB port although this car made it difficult to select specific audio books where my old car didn't. Driving was okay nothing too notable didn't have a lot of power but I wanted fuel economy not power and it was decent in that area. There was a lawsuit about piston slap but I didn't have that issue at the time and a year later it happened after a super cold day. I was scarred about replacing the engine because it would have the same defect so I got a new car.

Great car, good price

I love my compact car, the sunroof and the heated seats in front and in back. I've never had any problems with my car in over 10 years and only replaced the tires once and got yearly oil changes!

Best car I've ever owned!

I have had my 2012 Elantra for a couple of years now. I bought it at a Honda dealership for 7 grand with 1445 miles. Now I'm currently at 2295 miles and I have had zero issues with it and I can't put enough emphasis on the zero. It has been so reliable to me! I just had to buy a Chrysler 200 today so I'm having to sell my Hyundai not because I want to buy that's a lot of miles to me. It had a backup camera, Bluetooth, heated seats to a sunroof. I wish I could stay in the Hyundai family.. but I'll be back!!

Hyundai Elantra 2012 Limited Edition

The exterior top coatings of the car doesn’t last long, started peeling off after 5 years. Rear bumper get easily dented.

678,754 miles and still going

Replaced transmission at 612,000.

Reliable

Overall a good reliable vehicle. Not too many repairs. Biggest expense was replacing front struts ($1k), ignition coil assembly ($730), coolant leakage repairs. Great SC, good mileage.

Hyundai Recalls Are at Snails Pace

In October 2023, I received a recall notice about my 2012 Hyundai Elantra that said it may catch fire and I shouldn't park it in my garage. Of course it didn't address what to do if it caught fire while I was driving on a busy highway. The problem involves a potential internal fluid leak in the Anti-Lock Brake System which could cause an electrical short. I have contacted Hyundai multiple times to inquire about the remedy and they keep saying they don't have one but they'll let me know when they do. It's now February 22, 2024, and I still can't park my car in the garage. I live in the snow belt and haven't voluntarily parked my car outside for over 30 years. The notice included 13 different models and multiplying by the number of years for each, it covers 42 models of Hyundai cars. At first, I was able to talk to a representative on their customer service phone line but now there's an automated system that won't give an option to talk to a person. Do you suppose they're trying to dodge disgruntled owners? I asked for a loaner while they were taking their time looking for a remedy but, of course, there's nothing available.

Reliable compact car with lots of cabin space

We have put 160k on our 2012 Elantra. It has been maintained regularly and has be dependable. The gas mileage took a dip at 120k. I replaced the suspension and steering coupler on it.

a very nice car

just purchased this 2012 elantra gls a few days ago and my initial impressions of the car thus far is wow!!!!!!!!!great exterior design and the interior looks something like a lexus with the 3 tone color combo of beige,silver,and black.