Compare the2023 Hyundai ElantraVS 2022 Mercedes A-Class

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Elantra are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes A-Class doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 A-Class 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 A-Class doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Elantra’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the A-Class.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The A-Class doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Elantra and the A-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

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 “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The A-Class has not been tested, yet.

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 A-Class’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

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

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the A-Class’ (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. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the A-Class.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 11 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the A-Class:

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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Hyundai Elantra as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Mercedes A-Class is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

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 A-Class doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Elantra stops shorter than the A-Class:

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 A-Class; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the A-Class don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A-Class.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the A-Class’ (35.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 pounds less than the Mercedes A-Class.

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

The Elantra has 6.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A-Class (99.4 vs. 93).

The Elantra has .3 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A-Class.

The Elantra has a much larger trunk than the A-Class (14.2 vs. 8.6 cubic feet).

Consumer Reports rated the Elantra’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the A-Class’ headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra SEL/Limited has standard extendable sun visors. The A-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra will cost $895 to $2500 less than the A-Class over a five-year period.

The Elantra will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Elantra will retain 47.7% to 49.37% of its original price after five years, while the A-Class only retains 40.18% to 40.36%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra will be $15058 to $19196 less than for the Mercedes A-Class.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The A-Class has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Mercedes A-Class by over 20 to one during 2022.