Compare the2023 Volkswagen GTIVS 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Line

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen GTI 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 GTI’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The GTI has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GTI has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Reliability

The Volkswagen GTI’s engine uses 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 GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (241 vs. 201) and 78 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 195) than the Elantra N Line’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen GTI is faster than the Hyundai Elantra N Line (manual transmissions tested):

	GTI	Elantra N Line
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	16.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.8 MPH	89.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the GTI’s fuel efficiency. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the GTI Automatic’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.

Transmission

The GTI Automatic’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 GTI’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Elantra N Line:

	GTI	Elantra N Line
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	10.3 inches

The GTI’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 GTI stops shorter than the Elantra N Line:

	GTI	Elantra N Line
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	111 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The GTI Autobahn’s 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 GTI Autobahn has standard 19-inch wheels. The Elantra N Line’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The GTI offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Elantra N Line’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GTI handles at .96 G’s, while the Elantra N Line pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GTI executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Elantra N Line (25 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the GTI’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Elantra N Line’s (35.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The GTI is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the Elantra N Line, making the GTI easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the GTI easier. The GTI’s trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the Elantra N Line’s liftover is 28.6 inches.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the GTI’s hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Elantra N Line’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the GTI (except S), the optional memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. 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 GTI (except S)’s optional easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GTI’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Elantra N Line does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GTI Autobahn has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, 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 GTI’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 GTI’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.

The GTI’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 GTI’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 GTI 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GTI has a standard rear wiper. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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

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

When the GTI 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 GTI’s standard rear and 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 GTI and the Elantra N Line have standard heated front seats. The GTI Autobahn 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 GTI (except S) 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 GTI’s standard 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 GTI and the Elantra N Line offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GTI 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 GTI has a standard 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 GTI SE/Autobahn 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 GTI Autobahn’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

The GTI was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 16 of the last 16 years. The Elantra N Line has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

Motor Trend selected the GTI as their 2015 Car of the Year. The Elantra N Line has never been chosen.

The GTI was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” for 5 of the last 15 years. The Elantra N Line has never been an “All Star.”