Compare the2022 Hyundai Elantra N LineVS 2021 Volkswagen GTI

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/05/02

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Elantra N Line are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GTI doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Elantra N Line’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The GTI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra N Line and the GTI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra N Line is safer than the Volkswagen GTI:

	Elantra N Line	GTI
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	454
Neck Injury Risk	21%	33%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	352 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	53 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	108/102 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	62 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	305/150 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra N Line is safer than the Volkswagen GTI:

	Elantra N Line	GTI
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	184	247
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	45 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra N Line the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GTI last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

The Elantra N Line comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GTI’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N Line 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the GTI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GTI ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Elantra N Line’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the GTI runs out after 100,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N Line for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the GTI (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 29 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N Line’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 64 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 62 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 18 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra N Line gets better mileage than the GTI:

			MPG
Elantra N Line
	Manual	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/34 hwy
	Auto	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
GTI
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Elantra N Line uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GTI requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra N Line has larger tires than the GTI (235/40R18 vs. 225/40R18).

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra N Line has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GTI’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N Line’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the GTI (107.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N Line is 1.1 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the GTI.

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Elantra N Line amounts to more than styling. The Elantra N Line has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is lower than the GTI (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Elantra N Line get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Elantra N Line a Mid-size car, while the GTI is rated a Compact.

The Elantra N Line has 5.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GTI (99.4 vs. 93.5).

The Elantra N Line has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear legroom and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the GTI.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra N Line’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The GTI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra N Line has standard extendable sun visors. The GTI doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Elantra N Line has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the GTI Autobahn.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra N Line has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GTI doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by over 10 to one during the 2021 model year.