2018 Hyundai Elantra MPG
EPA ratings for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra run from 22–32 mpg in town to 30–40 on the highway, or 25–35 combined, depending on which of its 6 versions you look at.
The most efficient pairs the 1.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 35 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive and is rated 25 mpg combined. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2017 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elantra | 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 32 | 40 | 35 | Regular · 256 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra SE | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 38 | 33 | Regular · 272 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 37 | 32 | Regular · 281 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 36 | 29 | Regular · 301 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | Regular · 305 g CO₂/mi |
| Elantra | 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 30 | 25 | Regular · 356 g CO₂/mi |
2018 Hyundai Elantra fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2018 Hyundai Elantra costs about $1,870 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (35 mpg combined), or roughly 12 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (25 mpg combined) comes to about $2,610 a year, $750 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2018 Hyundai Elantra specs
2018 Hyundai Elantra buyers could choose between 3 engines, according to EPA records: 2.0 L 4-cyl, 1.6 L 4-cyl turbo and 1.4 L 4-cyl turbo. It came with automatic and manual transmissions, with front-wheel drive. The EPA classes it as a midsize car.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L | 4 | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 1.6 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (AM7); Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 1.4 L turbo | 4 | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | 1 |
2018 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners have filed 284 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Engine is the most-reported area (35% of component mentions), followed by electrical system (10%) and power train (6%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 31 complaints a year: fewer than the 2017 (76 a year) and about as many as the 2019 (31 a year).
That ranks 7th of 17 Hyundai Elantra model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 284, 12 mention a crash, 7 a fire and 6 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 142 | 35% |
| Unknown or other | 54 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 43 | 10% |
| Power train | 24 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 4% |
| Steering | 16 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 4% |
| Structure | 15 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 3% |
| Air bags | 12 | 3% |
| Wheels | 10 | 2% |
| Suspension | 6 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | <1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 4 | <1% |
| Lane departure | 4 | <1% |
| Seat belts | 4 | <1% |
| Seats | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Visibility | 2 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | <1% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
While driving the engine light came off and car shut down instantly. I see there is issues with the 2018 Hyundai Elantra but I’m coming ot if picket. $7678.50 I purchased the vehicle I. …
Alarming rate of oil consumption causes sudden loss of power / acceleration which definitely increases probably of causing an accident. …
I have been having transmission issues with my car since before July 2024. The transmission would stutter or not engage when I put my foot on the accelerator. …
2018 Hyundai Elantra recalls
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2018 Hyundai Elantra as of October 2026.
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 1 version of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra; the best overall score is 4 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-door FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Hyundai Elantras can be compared fairly. Among other 2018 models in the EPA's midsize cars class, the 2018 Honda Civic (36 mpg), 2018 Toyota Camry (34 mpg) and 2018 Toyota Corolla (34 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 31 | 262 | 22 | 3 |
| 2016 | 31 | 293 | 26 | 2 |
| 2017 | 35 | 769 | 76 | 4 |
| 2018 | 35 | 284 | 31 | 0 |
| 2019 | 35 | 252 | 31 | 1 |
| 2020 | 36 | 254 | 36 | 3 |
| 2021 | 54 | 162 | 27 | 7 |
Every Hyundai Elantra model year compared →
Similar 2018 models
FAQ
Is the 2018 Elantra a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has 31 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (7th most of 17 model years), no recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 4 stars and up to 35 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2018 Elantra problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are engine (142), electrical system (43) and power train (24). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2018 Elantra have?
None as of October 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Elantra get?
The EPA rates the versions at 25–35 mpg combined (22–32 city, 30–40 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Elantra per year?
About $1,870 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $2,610 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).