In November of 2001, my wife bought a 2002 Elantra...loaded with an automatic. We put 140k miles on it, using it as a 3rd car when it hit about 90k. This past summer, I sold it to a coworker when we got a new car.
That was without a doubt, the best car we have ever owned, in terms of being trouble free. The alternator and throttle position sensor went out at 60k, and the dealer replaced them under warranty. Besides that, we did nothing but maintenance. I could drive that car to work (city driving) and get 29 to 31 mpg. On the highway, it would consistently get 38-40 mpg.
All in all, not to bad for a car she paid @ $12k for back then.
I don't currently own a Hyundai, now that we sold that one, but I wouldn't be afraid to own another. My parents just bought a new Santa Fe, and they love it.