Compare the2023 Toyota CorollaVS 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Line

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Toyota Corolla has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps 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 Corolla has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, 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.

Both the Corolla and the Elantra N Line 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	Corolla	Elantra N Line
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	51 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	27%	42%
Neck Stress	165 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 Toyota Corolla is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	Corolla	Elantra N Line
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	239 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	345
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	68 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Elantra N Line has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 49 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corolla’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corolla second among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Elantra N Line isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Hyundai is ranked 13th.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla is faster than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	Corolla	Elantra N Line
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	8.6 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	16.4 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla gets better mileage than the Elantra N Line:

		MPG
Corolla
	LE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
	SE/XSE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
Elantra N Line
	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy

Transmission

The Corolla 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 Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a CVT.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Corolla’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the Elantra N Line’s (35.6 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The Corolla has .5 inches more front hip room and .8 inches more rear hip room than the Elantra N Line.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Corolla easier. The Corolla’s trunk lift-over height is 27.1 inches, while the Elantra N Line’s liftover is 28.6 inches.

Ergonomics

The Corolla’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 Corolla’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 Corolla the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Elantra N Line can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Elantra N Line’s projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corolla XLE/XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Corolla has a standard Dynamic Radar 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.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Hyundai Elantra N Line isn’t available as a four door hatchback or wagon.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Corolla, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Hyundai Elantra by over two to one during 2022.

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