Compare the2024 Volkswagen JettaVS 2023 Hyundai Elantra

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

Safety

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The Jetta 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 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 Jetta and the Elantra 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 Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Jetta	Elantra
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	41.6%	42%
Neck Stress	152 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 Volkswagen Jetta is safer than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Jetta	Elantra
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	188 lbs.	239 lbs.
Hip Force	317 lbs.	327 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	306	345
Spine Acceleration	56 G’s	68 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	627 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Jetta’s reliability 11 points higher than the Elantra.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Jetta third among compact cars in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Elantra isn’t in the top three.

Engine

The Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (158 vs. 147) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Jetta
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/42 hwy
	Auto	S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
Elantra
	Auto	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/40 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Jetta higher (7 out of 10) than the Hyundai Elantra (5 to 7). This means the Jetta produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Elantra every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Jetta	Elantra
Front Rotors	11.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.7 inches	10.3 inches

The Jetta’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The front discs on the Elantra are solid, not vented.

The Jetta stops shorter than the Elantra:

	Jetta	Elantra
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Jetta has larger tires than the Elantra (205/60R16 vs. 195/65R15).

The Jetta S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra SE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Jetta S has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra SE.

Suspension and Handling

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

The Jetta has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Jetta flat and controlled during cornering. The Elantra’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Jetta’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (59% to 41%) than the Elantra’s (61.2% to 38.8%). This gives the Jetta more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The front grille of the Jetta uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Elantra doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Jetta Sport is quieter than the Elantra Limited (75 vs. 79 dB).

Cargo Capacity

The Jetta’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Elantra’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

Ergonomics

When different drivers share the Jetta SEL, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Elantra doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Jetta’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Elantra 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 Jetta’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’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Jetta SE/R-Line/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Elantra can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Jetta’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’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Jetta’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’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Jetta SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Elantra doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Jetta’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Elantra’s standard 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 Jetta SEL has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Elantra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Jetta’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Elantra and aren’t offered on the Elantra SE.

Both the Jetta and the Elantra offer available heated front seats. The Jetta SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Elantra.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Jetta SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Elantra doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Jetta SEL’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Elantra doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Jetta, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Hyundai Elantra isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2021 issue and they ranked the Volkswagen Jetta SEL higher than the Hyundai Elantra Limited.