Compare the2023 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2021 Volkswagen GTI

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 GTI doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Elantra N’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 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 is safer than the Volkswagen GTI:

	Elantra N	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 is safer than the Volkswagen GTI:

	Elantra N	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 “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra N the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 141 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GTI last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

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 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 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’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 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’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The Elantra N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (276 vs. 228) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 258) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Elantra N is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (manual transmissions tested):

	Elantra N	GTI
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	5.8 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.5 sec	14.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	14.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	105 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	124 MPH

Transmission

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 GTI.

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 GTI doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Elantra N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GTI:

	Elantra N	GTI
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	12.2 inches

The Elantra N stops shorter than the GTI:

	Elantra N	GTI
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the GTI (245/35R19 vs. 225/40R18).

The Elantra N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GTI’s standard 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the GTI.

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra N 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’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 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the GTI.

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the GTI SE pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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

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

The Elantra N 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’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

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 GTI 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 GTI’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

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

The Elantra N 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 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.

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