Compare the2023 Audi A4VS 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Line

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Audi A4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Elantra N Line doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The A4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the A4 and Elantra N Line have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The A4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Elantra N Line’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi A4 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The A4 has a standard Audi Backguard System, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Audi Backguard System moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The A4 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The A4 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The A4 Premium Plus/Prestige has a standard Top and Corner View Cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Elantra N Line only offers a rear monitor.

Both the A4 and the Elantra N Line have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available blind spot warning systems 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 Audi A4 is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	A4	Elantra N Line
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	314
Neck Injury Risk	25%	42%
Neck Stress	119 lbs.	177 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi A4 is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	A4	Elantra N Line
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	219 lbs.	239 lbs.
Hip Force	308 lbs.	327 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	277	345
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	68 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	666 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

Warranty

The A4’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Elantra N Line’s (12 vs. 7 years).

Reliability

The Audi A4’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Elantra N Line’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The A4 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 41 lbs.-ft. more torque (236 vs. 195) than the Elantra N Line’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder. The A4 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (261 vs. 201) and 78 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 195) than the Elantra N Line’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the A4’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. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The A4 has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra N Line (15.3 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The A4’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the A4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Elantra N Line:

	A4 40 TFSI	A4 45 TFSI	Elantra N Line
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	13.3 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	13 inches	10.3 inches

The A4’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Elantra N Line are solid, not vented.

The A4 stops shorter than the Elantra N Line:

	A4	Elantra N Line
60 to 0 MPH	105 feet	111 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the A4’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Elantra N Line (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R18).

The A4’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra N Line’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the A4 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Elantra N Line’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The A4 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Elantra N Line’s suspension doesn’t offer front gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the A4’s wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than on the Elantra N Line (111 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

The A4 Premium Plus handles at .92 G’s, while the Elantra N Line pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The A4 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Elantra N Line (25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the A4 easier. The A4’s trunk lift-over height is 26.9 inches, while the Elantra N Line’s liftover is 28.6 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the A4 offers cargo security. The Elantra N Line’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the A4. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The A4 has a 3968 lbs. towing capacity. The Elantra N Line has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The A4 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Elantra N Line uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the A4 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Elantra N Line. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Hyundai. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 34% lower rating, Hyundai is ranked 29th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the A4, the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a memory system.

The A4 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The A4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Elantra N Line has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The A4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Elantra N Line’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the A4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Elantra N Line can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The A4’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Elantra N Line’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The A4’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Elantra N Line’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the A4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 A4’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Elantra N Line’s headlights are rated “Poor” to .”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The A4 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the A4 has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the A4 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the A4 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Elantra N Line’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The A4’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Elantra N Line offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the A4 and the Elantra N Line have standard heated front seats. The A4 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Elantra N Line.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the A4 (except Premium) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the A4’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the A4 and the Elantra N Line offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the A4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the A4 offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

With standard voice command, the A4 offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a voice control system.

The A4 Prestige’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi A4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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