Compare the2024 Hyundai ElantraVS 2023 Subaru Impreza

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

Safety

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The Elantra has a standard blind spot warning system that 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and its not available on the Base and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Elantra and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, 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 Subaru Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	198
Neck Injury Risk	21%	39%
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	237/379 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 Subaru Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	165
Abdominal Force	239 lbs.	293 lbs.
Hip Force	327 lbs.	400 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	345	363
Spine Acceleration	68 G’s	79 G’s
Hip Force	355 lbs.	715 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	184	201
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	49 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Hyundai Elantra is much safer than the Impreza Sedan:

	Elantra	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	245
Head Peak Forces	no contact	55 G’s
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	0 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.89 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	2.01 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	167	231
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	825 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Hyundai Elantra achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Impreza is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 Impreza’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 Subaru covers the Impreza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Impreza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Impreza’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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Impreza.

There are over 31 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Elantra’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Elantra has a standard 760-amp battery. The Impreza’s 530-amp battery 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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 22nd.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Hyundai Elantra is faster than the Subaru Impreza (automatics tested):

	Elantra	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3.3 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	9.5 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.4 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.2 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	84 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the Impreza Sedan:

			MPG
Elantra
	Auto	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/40 hwy
Impreza Sedan
	Manual	2.0 DOHC flat-4	23 city/31 hwy
	Auto	2.0 DOHC flat-4	28 city/36 hwy
		Sport 2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/36 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 Impreza doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

The Elantra stops much shorter than the Impreza:

	Elantra	Impreza
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Elantra has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Impreza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Impreza.

The Elantra Limited handles at .85 G’s, while the Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Impreza 2.0i Premium Sedan (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Subaru Impreza.

Passenger Space

The Elantra has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Impreza Sedan.

Cargo Capacity

The Elantra has a much larger trunk than the Impreza Sedan (14.2 vs. 12.3 cubic feet).

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 Impreza 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 Impreza 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 Impreza prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Elantra’s driver power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Impreza’s power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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

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 headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Impreza’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Elantra has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Impreza has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the Premium/Sport/Limited.

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 Impreza doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Impreza doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Elantra and the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Elantra third among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Impreza isn’t in the top three.

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Subaru Impreza by almost four to one during 2023.