Which year models of used Hyundai Elantra are the best deals?

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And which year models should you avoid?

Photo of 2019 Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai Elantra by Kevauto - CC BY-SA 4.0

The Hyundai Elantra has a long history of being an incredibly well built small car that packs in more features for less coin than many of its rivals. The very first Hyundai rolled on to our shores way back in 1986 and since then, Hyundai has been on a consistent upward trajectory. Today it competes with stalwarts like Toyota and Honda for top marks on brand loyalty, initial quality and overall customer satisfaction.

The Elantra was introduced in 1991 to compete with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and a host of other compact cars here in North America. Today it’s a top pick among consumers, as it should be, for offering an incredible amount of technology and features for much less than the competition. Used Hyundai vehicles are particularly awesome due to their higher depreciation rates. While this may sound like a bad thing, it’s actually great for a used car shopper!

We’ll dive into the average prices, mileage and features from year to year and show you why buying a used Hyundai Elantra just makes more sense than buying new.

2020 Hyundai Elantra Quick Look:

Photo of 2020 Hyundai Elantra interior & features

Hyundai Elantra Interior by Damian B Oh - CC BY-SA 4.0

The 2020 Elantra is chock full of features and technology for the 2020 model year. With a starting price of only $19,900, the 2020 Elantra offers up 30 MPG City and 40 MPG Hwy, making it one of the most fuel efficient vehicles in the compact class. One of the biggest draws of purchasing a new Hyundai is a 10 Year/ 100k Warranty and for 2020, 2 Years of complimentary maintenance. As always the Elantra is loaded with features in it’s base trim and offers some very high end options as you move up the trims.

Here are the highlights:

  • Active Safety
  • * Automatic Emergency Brake
    • Blind Spot Monitoring (Optional)
    • Lane Departure Warning
    • Rear Cross Traffic Alerts (Optional)
    • Rear Automatic Braking (Optional)
    • Lane Departure Warning
  • Power Windows and Door Locks
  • Bluetooth Phone and Audio
  • Touch Screen Audio System (5 Inch Standard, 8 Inch Available)
  • Infinity Audio System (Optional)
  • Heated Seats (Optional)
  • Cooled Seats (Optional)
  • Android Auto
  • Apple Car Play

2015 Hyundai Elantra vs. New

Photo of 2015 Hyundai Elantra

2015 Hyundai Elantra by Eurovision Nim - CC BY-SA 4.0

2015 Hyundai Elantra MSRP when new: $18,000

2015 Hyundai Elantra Used Price: $8,607

Savings: $9,939 or 55%

Mileage Average: 58,300

How much you save by buying a used 2015 Hyundai Elantra

You can save a remarkable amount of money by going with a used Hyundai Elantra. The total savings adds up to over $9,000 dollars, which is more than half the cost of a brand new Elantra. This is a fantastic deal vs new, especially when you consider the equipment you got in a 2015 model.

Newer features the 2015 Hyundai Elantra Lacks

The main things you miss out on from a new Elantra to a 2015 model are the full safety suite and the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple Car play. While those are significant features, you’ll need to ask yourself if these features are worth over $9,000 to you.

Is buying a used 2015 Hyundai Elantra A Good Deal?

The 2015 Elantra represents an incredibly good deal! There are plenty of options on the market that allow you to pick up a low mileage Elantra that is loaded up with features. For just a bit more, you can even pick up a top of the line Elantra that comes with a rocking stereo, heated seats and a swanky leather interior.


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2016 Hyundai Elantra vs. New

Photo of 2016 Hyundai Elantra

2016 Hyundai Elantra MSRP when new: $20,140

2016 Hyundai Elantra Used Price: $15,024

Savings: $11,634 or 44%

Mileage Average: 47,654

How much you save by buying a used 2016 Hyundai Elantra

Savings are quite substantial if you choose to roll with a used Hyundai Elantra vs. a brand new one. There are 11,634 reasons to go with a used Elantra vs. a new model. It’s hard to fathom that waiting a few years to buy a used car can save you over half but this is a great example of being able to take advantage of depreciation.

Newer features the 2016 Hyundai Elantra Lacks

The story for the 2016 model is quite similar to the 2016 model but comes with some caveats. Hyundai introduced a Hatchback model in the 2016 model year, which could constitute as a substantial additional feature. Beyond that, you’ll still be missing out on active safety features and the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Is buying a used 2016 Hyundai Elantra A Good Deal?

The Elantra continues to show that it is a fantastic deal, although the hatchback model really takes the cake for being a great bargain. You’ll get much of the same equipment as the sedan but get the benefit of substantially more cargo room and even more standard horsepower. This is a great bargain if you don’t mind the sporty look.

2017 Hyundai Elantra vs. New

Photo of 2017 Hyundai Elantra

2017 Hyundai Elantra by Chu - CC BY-SA 3.0

2017 Hyundai Elantra MSRP when new: $21,574

2017 Hyundai Elantra Used Price: $14,811

Savings: $6,763 or 33%

Mileage Average: 41,211

How much you save by buying a used 2017 Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra remains a fantastic bargain for 2017 and you can save over $6000 dollars by choosing a used model vs. a brand new one. There’s no denying that a 33% price cut is nothing to sneeze at.

Newer features the 2017 Hyundai Elantra Lacks

The Elantra was completely redesigned for 2017 and now comes with even more standard equipment and the availability of features previously missing in the Elantra. You can now get all Elantra models with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as advanced safety equipment like Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Keep Assist. In fact, the 2020 Elantra and the 2017 model have a remarkably similar list of features.

Is buying a used 2017 Hyundai Elantra A Good Deal?

For 33% less than new, you can pick up an Elantra that looks modern, has completely up to date safety features and even advanced smartphone capability. All this with a car that continues to impress owners with its reliability and quality. The 2017 is indeed an awesome deal.


SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS WITH CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES

Buying nearly-new and off-lease models can save you a ton of money. With low mileage and CPO offers available, reliability isn’t an issue. Learn how much you can save by buying certified pre-owned vehicles models with CoPilot Compare.


2018 Hyundai Elantra vs. New

Photo of 2018 Hyundai Elantra

2018 Hyundai Elantra by Kevauto - CC BY-SA 4.0

2018 Hyundai Elantra MSRP when new: $20,146

2018 Hyundai Elantra Used Price: $14,869

Savings: $5277 or 26%

Mileage Average: 37,543

How much you save by buying a used 2018 Hyundai Elantra

You can save 26% or $5277 by going with a used 2018 Elantra vs. new. For a vehicle that’s only a few years old, saving over ¼ of the original price shows that you can take advantage of depreciation and get a smoking deal.

Newer features the 2018 Hyundai Elantra Lacks

There really aren’t any features that the 2020 model has that the 2018 either doesn’t have standard or that can’t be had in the various trim levels. For 2018, Hyundai also redesigned the GT hatchback model and began to offer a Sport model that boosted horsepower significantly and offered a downright sporty driving demeanor. You can still get the Sport model for 2020 but the availability of a used model makes the deals even sweeter.

Is buying a used 2018 Hyundai Elantra A Good Deal?

The 2018 is an incredible deal because you can get very low mileage examples, often within the manufacturer’s warranty period. Add in the available luxury models and ultra sporty models for around the same price and you can see that the 2018 is shaping up to be an incredible bargain for those in the know.

2019 Hyundai Elantra vs. New

Photo of 2019 Hyundai Elantra

2019 Hyundai Elantra by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0

2019 Hyundai Elantra MSRP when new: $20,201

2019 Hyundai Elantra Used Price: $15,623

Savings: $4578 or 23%

Mileage Average: 37,100

How much you save by buying a used 2019 Hyundai Elantra

You can save $4578 or 23% by going with a gently used 2019 Elantra vs. a new model. Right away, even one year in, the depreciation is showing a great deal. Hyundai vehicles (like most cars) tend to depreciate the fastest in their first year.

Newer features the 2019 Hyundai Elantra Lacks

The 2019 and 2020 Elantra have the same feature set and share remarkably similar equipment levels to boot. There is nothing available on the 2020 Elantra that could not get on a 2019 model as well.

Is buying a used 2019 Hyundai Elantra A Good Deal?

The 2019 model is a great deal because you can get the updated styling of the 2020 for substantially less cash. All the trims and variations of the sedan/hatchback are at your disposal and ready to save you a ton of cash and serve your needs for years to come.


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What’s The Best Used Elantra Deal?

The best deal for a used Elantra is the 2017 model. You can save over 30% by going with this model year, which benefited from a comprehensive redesign on both the exterior and interior. Advanced safety equipment is available, as well as the inclusion of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay into the mix. There are tons of low mileage examples available on the market and you can even slide into a higher trim level then you thought you afford.