2014 Hyundai Elantra SE 1.8L 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

I love the style of the car, but the issues I've had show how cheaply made it really is

Faults:

Within the first few weeks of purchasing this car, I had issues with the A/C condenser. It took multiple trips to the dealership (and two Hyundai dealers, first one was horrible) to get this repaired. It ended up being the condenser behind the glove box.

Another issue that I have with this car has to do with cosmetics. The door handles already are starting to look horrible. The clear coat is coming off, I think. The rear passenger door is the worst one. I have a family member that had the same issue on his slightly older Santa Fe. I have a 2017 Tucson too so I'm hoping it doesn't do the same thing.

General Comments:

I like the style of this car. I really like Hyundai and I've enjoyed what they do. However, the issues I've had with my car, the dealership issues I've had (not their fault completely), and now issues with my 2017 Tucson are making me seriously regret buying a Hyundai and I can't purchase another one next time just because I've been burned. My car has 84,000 miles now and I'm hoping to milk it until I have the money saved for a truck. But I would like to get at least 150,000 miles before I start having major engine and transmission issues. *crosses fingers*

This car was super cheap to buy brand new ($18,000), but it was also super baseline and did not have a lot of "features". I'm starting to think you get what you pay for and they made it with really cheap parts, as well.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 18th June, 2019

18th Jun 2019, 18:52

Hyundai and Kia are about 10-15 years away from building great cars. But they are not there yet. And if you do buy a brand new Hyundai or Kia, be prepared to fight it out with the dealership over problems you might have. Only had a Hyundai once, and dealing with the dealership was a battle every time I went there, and not for the faint of heart. My choice now is to buy used Hondas or Toyotas; they might not be as pretty, but are just more reliable.

18th May 2021, 11:44

I have a 2015 Sonata full equipped. I can tell the interior is nice and the engine bay looks very well done with most components of good quality, at least on the surface. However, the moment when you look underneath the car, you realize quickly where Hyundai is cutting costs to offer these cars for a few thousands less than the competition.

First, there are two large plastic 'skid' plates under the radiator and engine. These are fragile and secured with horrible cheap hardware store screws that not only rust and seize, but also are a road hazard for tire punctures. Now the fun part is the price for these large cheap plastic covers: H sells them into several hundreds each! Unbelievable, these must cost under $5 to produce.

But there is more. When you look at the subframe metal, it's all hand welded in many areas and badly rusted after only a few years. The suspension parts are also all badly rusted already. The brakes calipers look like they sat at the bottom of the sea for 50 years, unbelievable rust on them. So this is where H is cutting costs, in metal quality and craftsmanship of parts that are not readily visible to the owner.