Compare the2023 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

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

Both the Elantra N and the Golf R have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra N its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Golf R is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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

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

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Golf R (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’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 Volkswagen vehicles. With 45 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Volkswagen.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 21st.

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.

The Elantra N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 280) than the Golf R Manual’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra N 6-speed Manual gets better fuel mileage than the Golf R Manual (22 city/31 hwy vs. 20 city/28 hwy).

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is optional on the Hyundai Elantra N, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Golf R.

The Hyundai Elantra N manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The Golf R doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the Golf R (245/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Golf R (107.1 inches vs. 103.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Golf R.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra N’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Golf R’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Volkswagen Golf R.

To minimize engine movement during hard acceleration and transmission shifts, the Elantra N has solid engine mounts. The Golf R uses conventional rubber.

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

The Elantra N has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Golf R (99.4 vs. 91.9).

The Elantra N has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, 4.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Golf R.

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

The Elantra N Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Golf R doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Elantra N’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Golf R’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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