Compare the2022 Hyundai ElantraVS 2021 Acura ILX

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 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ILX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Elantra Limited has standard Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The ILX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the ILX.

The Elantra’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 ILX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra and the ILX 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, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

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

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Acura covers the ILX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ILX ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the ILX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the ILX.

There are over 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd, 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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 22 places higher in reliability than Acura.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra SE CVT gets better fuel mileage than the ILX Auto (33 city/43 hwy vs. 24 city/34 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Elantra SE’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The ILX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Elantra higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Acura ILX (3). This means the Elantra produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ILX every 15,000 miles.

The Elantra has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The ILX doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Elantra has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the ILX; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the ILX (107.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the ILX.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the ILX’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Acura ILX.

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

The Elantra has 10.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ILX (99.4 vs. 89.3).

The Elantra has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the ILX.

The Elantra has a much larger trunk than the ILX (14.2 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The Elantra Limited’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The ILX’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

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

The power windows standard on both the Elantra and the ILX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ILX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Elantra detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The ILX doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The ILX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Hyundai Elantra comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Acura ILX isn’t available as a station wagon.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Elantra, based on reliability, safety and performance.