Covering a million miles on a vehicle is not a new feat. This is especially so with cars of a higher caliber. They get to do this as they are built tougher than your average sedan. But have you heard about an economy car reaching 1 million miles in just five years?
Farrah Haines, a delivery driver, reached the 1 million mile mark on her 2013 Elantra in just five years. She is now part of the 1 million mile club, earning a unique emblem for her odometer and a 2019 Elantra courtesy of Hyundai.
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra
The 2013 Elantra is the fifth generation created from the first iteration in the late nineties. Korean automobile manufacturer Hyundai designed this vehicle to cater to consumers looking for a small sedan on a budget. (Source: Motor Trend)
The Elantra is fitted with a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine capable of delivering 148 horsepower on a six-speed stock transmission. This vehicle can go from a complete standstill to 60 miles per hour in 9.4 seconds, significantly slower than other sedans in its market segment. But to make up for this, the Elantra’s fuel economy is superb, boasting 29 miles per gallon on city driving and 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
The fifth-generation Elantra ranks at number 13 in the 2013 Compact cars category. However, this generation was considered the worst Elantra Hyundai delivered in the automobile world. A company that provides reports on consumer complaints called Car Complaints was surprised to receive many complaints such as engine problems for this version. (Source: Motor Biscuit)
The company recorded 508 complaints about the 2013 Elantra, and more than 100 of those were engine issues. Another company, JD Power, rated this vehicle 2.5 out of 5 for reliability, stating it just wasn’t reliable at all.
Despite its negative reviews, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the 2013 Elantra sedan and hatchback overall safety scores of five out of five. The car earned five stars for side-impact tests and four stars for frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2013 Elantra a rating of Acceptable, which is the second-highest rating offered. (Source: US News)
The car is expected to last 13 to 17 years, given that it is driven an average of 15,000 miles per year and is well maintained. Most car reviewers expect that once past 200,000 to 250,000 miles, Elantra owners should be expecting major and expensive maintenance repairs. (Source: Engine Patrol)
Farrah Haines and Her 2013 Elantra
Farrah Haines, an auto-parts delivery driver from Olathe, Kansas, purchased a brand new 2013 Hyundai Elantra for work. On average, a regular delivery driver can rack up around 12,000 miles per year on their vehicle, but Haines’ average was 200,000 miles. (Source: Motor 1)
In just five years, Haines hit the one million-mile mark but was bummed when her odometer only read 999,999. After hearing her story, Hyundai reached out and awarded Haines the 1 million mile emblem, reserved for only those who have reached 1 million miles on their odometer. The car company also inspected Haines’ Elantra and was delighted by the surprise that it was in stock and well-maintained. Hyundai also gifted Haines a brand-new 2019 Elantra for her achievement. (Source: Car and Driver)