Used Hyundai Elantra Saloon 2001 - 2006 review

The Elantra sheds value quickly over its first three years, but after that, depreciation is pretty average. So the Elantra adds up as a used buy, financially at least.

Servicing won't be cheap. Routine maintenance at a franchised dealer will set you back more than, say, for a Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Vectra. Independent garages will be cheaper, but remember that they must carry out work to the manufacturer's standards if you want to keep that five-year warranty valid.

If your Elantra is still under warranty, that should take care of unscheduled repairs, although Hyundais rarely go wrong so you shouldn't have too much of a problem there.

Or at the fuel pumps: the petrols give mid- to high-30s to the gallon and the diesel mid-40s. Insurance, too, is reasonable, with group eight for the 1.6 and group 13 for the 2.0 petrol and diesel.