Car Model History

Second generation (J2/RD) · J2/RD ('Avante' in Korea) · 1996–2000

1998Hyundai Elantra

A rounder, more modern Elantra sold as the 'Avante' in South Korea; added a wagon body in some markets. US model years 1996–2000.

Second generation (J2/RD) · J2/RD ('Avante' in Korea)

1998 Hyundai Elantra — sedan, front three-quarter view

Photo: “1998-2000 Hyundai Elantra Sedan” by Bull-Doser / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.

The 1998 model year

Overview

Hyundai Motor America's exact-year archive documents 4 1998 Elantra configuration rows across 2 body and trim combinations. This J2/RD roster keeps body, engine, and transmission applicability explicit rather than copying a neighboring model year.

Specifications

Engines
  • 1.8L DOHC inline-four
Transmissions
5-speed Manual, 4-speed SHIFTRONIC Automatic
Body styles
Four-door sedan, Five-door wagon

Year over year

What changed

  • The 1998 research boundary includes only the trims, bodies, engines, and transmissions supported by Hyundai's model-year record; equipment packages are not promoted into unsupported models.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The documented lineup exposes 4 source-backed combinations while preserving the distinction between a configuration roster and every standalone factory option.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Confirm the VIN, engine, transmission, emissions label, and installed equipment before ordering service parts. On older cars, inspect corrosion, timing-drive history where applicable, cooling-system condition, suspension wear, and evidence of deferred fluid service.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 1998 Elantra on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 1998 Hyundai Elantra. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
4
Scheduled topics
2
Applicability stated
4
Exact references
3

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin catalog fitment is independent of the published service interval.

    Applies to: 1998 · 1.8L DOHC inline-four · United States · Cataloged engine application; confirm VIN and installed engine before ordering.

    Published interval: 7,500 mi / 12,000 km · Normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Hyundai — 1998 Elantra Sedan L4-1.8L factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Maintenance > Service Intervals > Normal Service — recurring 7,500-mile rows · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 1998 · 1.8L DOHC inline-four · United States · This recovered schedule is scoped to the cited engine/body configuration; other configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 30,000 mi / 48,000 km · Normal-service replacement interval.

    Source: Hyundai — 1998 Elantra Sedan L4-1.8L factory normal-service schedule (preserved service-manual database) · Maintenance > Service Intervals > Normal Service — 30,000-mile replacement row · checked

  • Engine air-cleaner filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine air-cleaner filter

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin catalog fitment only; it does not establish a service interval.

    Applies to: 1998 · 1.8L DOHC inline-four · United States · Cataloged engine application; confirm VIN and installed engine before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — 2017 Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 322, Hyundai 1998 Elantra row — Air — PA4138 · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Fuel filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel filter

    Exact reference available

    Baldwin catalog fitment only; it does not establish a service interval.

    Applies to: 1998 · 1.8L DOHC inline-four · United States · Cataloged engine application; confirm VIN and installed engine before ordering.

    Source: Baldwin Filters — 2017 Automotive Applications catalog · Printed catalog page 322, Hyundai 1998 Elantra row — Fuel — BF7945 · checked

    Verified ordering references

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Hyundai Motor America — 1998 Elantra archived model specifications

Other Second generation (J2/RD) years

All Second generation (J2/RD) · J2/RD ('Avante' in Korea) years →

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 1998 Elantra

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

4factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory trim, body, engine, and transmission combinations represented by the cited exact-year lineup records. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from Hyundai Motor America — 1998 Elantra archived model specifications.

4versions shown
Browse 4 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Four-door sedan

Elantra Elantra GLS Manual

Body
Four-door sedan
Engine
1.8L DOHC inline-four
Gearbox
5-speed Manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-door sedan

Elantra Elantra GLS Automatic

Body
Four-door sedan
Engine
1.8L DOHC inline-four
Gearbox
4-speed SHIFTRONIC Automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Five-door wagon

Elantra Elantra GLS Wagon Manual

Body
Five-door wagon
Engine
1.8L DOHC inline-four
Gearbox
5-speed Manual
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Five-door wagon

Elantra Elantra GLS Wagon Automatic

Body
Five-door wagon
Engine
1.8L DOHC inline-four
Gearbox
4-speed SHIFTRONIC Automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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