Compare the2024 Hyundai Elantra HybridVS 2024 Volkswagen Jetta

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
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 Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Jetta doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Elantra Hybrid Limited has standard Reverse Parking Collision Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Jetta doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Elantra Hybrid’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra Hybrid and the Jetta 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning 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 Hybrid is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	Elantra Hybrid	Jetta
	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 Hybrid is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta:

	Elantra Hybrid	Jetta
	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.

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 Hybrid Sedan is safer than the Jetta:

	Elantra Hybrid	Jetta
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	226
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.85 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	167	274
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	1.97 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.69 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Jetta last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Elantra Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Jetta’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra Hybrid 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Jetta. 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 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Elantra Hybrid’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Jetta runs out after 100,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra Hybrid for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Jetta (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 Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Elantra Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Jetta’s camshafts. If the Jetta’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 Elantra Hybrid’s reliability 29 points higher than the Jetta.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 16 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Elantra Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 184) than the Jetta’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Elantra Hybrid
	Auto	Blue 1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	51 city/58 hwy
		Limited 1.6 4-cyl. Hybrid	49 city/52 hwy
Jetta
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/42 hwy
	Auto	S 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/41 hwy
		SE/SEL 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/40 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Elantra Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Jetta doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission

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

The Elantra Hybrid offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Jetta doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

The Elantra Hybrid stops shorter than the Jetta:

	Elantra Hybrid	Jetta
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Jetta (225/45R17 vs. 205/60R16).

The Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta S’ standard 60 series tires. The Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Jetta Sport/SE/SEL’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Jetta has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra Hybrid’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Jetta (107.1 inches vs. 105.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra Hybrid is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Jetta.

The Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan handles at .85 G’s, while the Jetta SEL pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

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

The Elantra Hybrid has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta (99.4 vs. 94.7).

The Elantra Hybrid has 2.1 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.

Cargo Capacity

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

Ergonomics

The Elantra Hybrid Limited’s standard Seat Easy Access glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Jetta doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Jetta’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

The Elantra Hybrid has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Jetta SE/SEL.

Recommendations

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

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Volkswagen Jetta by over three to one during 2022.

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