Compare the2023 Hyundai ElantraVS 2023 Nissan Versa

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Elantra has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Versa SV/SR offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Versa SV/SR has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Elantra SEL/Limited has a standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Versa doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Elantra and the Versa 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra is safer than the Nissan Versa:

	Elantra	Versa
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	142	364
Neck Injury Risk	21%	36%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	326 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	298 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	354/296 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	42%	57%
Neck Stress	177 lbs.	271 lbs.
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	137 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	236/194 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 is safer than the Nissan Versa:

	Elantra	Versa
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	145
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	461 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	184	232

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 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Versa has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

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 Versa’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Versa. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Versa ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Versa’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Versa.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Versa’s 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (147 vs. 122) and 18 lbs.-ft. more torque (132 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Elantra is faster than the Nissan Versa (automatics tested):

	Elantra	Versa
Zero to 60 MPH	8.1 sec	10.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	22.1 sec	33.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.5 sec	10.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.3 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88 MPH	79 MPH
Top Speed	124 MPH	115 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the Versa:

			MPG
Elantra
	Auto	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	33 city/42 hwy
Versa
	Manual	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	Auto	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/40 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Elantra SE’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 Versa doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Elantra has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Versa (12.4 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Hyundai Elantra comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Versa.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Elantra	Versa
Front Rotors	11 inches	10 inches
Rear Rotors	10.3 inches	8” drums

The Hyundai Elantra has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Versa. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Elantra stops shorter than the Versa:

	Elantra	Versa
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	143 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Versa (225/45R17 vs. 205/55R16).

The Elantra’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Versa SR’s 50 series tires.

The Hyundai Elantra’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Versa only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Versa’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the Versa (107.1 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Versa.

The Elantra Limited handles at .88 G’s, while the Versa SR pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Versa SR (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Hyundai Elantra amounts to more than styling. The Elantra has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Versa (.288 to .319) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Elantra get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Elantra a Mid-size car, while the Versa is rated a Compact.

The Elantra has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Versa (99.4 vs. 88.9).

The Elantra has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 7 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Versa.

Cargo Capacity

The Elantra’s available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Versa S Manual doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra SEL/Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Versa doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Elantra and the Versa have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Versa prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Elantra SEL/Limited’s driver’s power window opens or closes with one touch of the window control. The Versa’s driver’s power window switch has to be held the entire time to close it fully.

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Elantra’s standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light. The Versa’s standard uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights.

Consumer Reports rated the Elantra’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Versa’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Elantra Limited has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Versa doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Elantra SEL/Limited’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Versa doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Elantra has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Versa doesn’t offer rear vents.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is available on the Elantra (except SE). The Elantra’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Versa doesn’t offer a navigation system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra will cost $655 less than the Versa over a five-year period.

The Elantra will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Elantra will retain 47.7% to 49.37% of its original price after five years, while the Versa only retains 44.29% to 46.42%.

Recommendations

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Nissan Versa by almost 9 to one during 2022.

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