Compare the2023 Hyundai ElantraVS 2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

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 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Elantra and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, 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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe’s 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 BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Elantra higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (3 to 7). This means the Elantra produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 2 Series Gran Coupe every 15,000 miles.

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 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Elantra stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (107.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 750 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Elantra Limited is quieter than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe:

The Elantra has .8 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

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’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’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 SEL/Limited has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe 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 $1230 to $6400 less than the 2 Series Gran Coupe over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra will be $17472 to $23789 less than for the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The 2 Series Gran Coupe has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the BMW 2 Series by over 10 to one during 2022.