Compare the2023 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra N and the Jetta GLI 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, lane departure warning systems, 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 Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	142	247
Neck Injury Risk	21%	31.7%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	354 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	58 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	46/106 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	314	315
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	141 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	308/63 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 Hyundai Elantra N is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	101
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	554 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	184	239

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 164 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Jetta GLI does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

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 Jetta GLI’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 Jetta GLI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI (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 Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.5 sec	14.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	105 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	126 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 Jetta GLI.

The Elantra N’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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer launch control.

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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

The Elantra N stops much shorter than the Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the Jetta GLI (245/35R19 vs. 225/45R18).

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 Jetta GLI’s standard 45 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 Jetta GLI.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Jetta GLI (107.1 inches vs. 105.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Jetta GLI.

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the Jetta GLI Autobahn pulls only .86 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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI is rated a Compact.

The Elantra N has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta GLI (99.4 vs. 93.9).

The Elantra N has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Jetta GLI.

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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

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 Jetta GLI’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its March 2022 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Elantra N first. They ranked the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn third.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Volkswagen Jetta by over two to one during the 2022 model year.

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