2009 Hyundai Elantra

The 2007-2010 Hyundai Elantra is the HD generation and represented a clear step up in build quality and refinement over the car it replaced. It is powered by a 2.0-liter Beta II four-cylinder paired with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic, driving the front wheels. The body is a four-door sedan, joined for 2009 by the Elantra Touring, a five-door wagon that was a separate design imported from Europe.

This generation brought standard electronic stability control and a full complement of airbags relatively early for the segment, along with a notably spacious interior that the EPA classified as mid-size. Interior materials and noise isolation improved markedly over the XD. The MD generation that followed in 2011 brought dramatic styling changes and a new engine family.

For used buyers, the HD Elantra is a sensible and inexpensive used compact with few systemic faults. The 2.0-liter engine remains a timing belt design requiring scheduled service. The four-speed automatic is dated but durable. The Elantra Touring wagon is the more practical and increasingly sought-after variant. As with any car of this age and price, service history and corrosion are the deciding factors rather than any specific mechanical weakness.