Compare the2024 Subaru WRXVS 2023 Hyundai Elantra N Line

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru WRX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Elantra N Line doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Subaru WRX 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 WRX has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The WRX Limited SPT/GT has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The WRX has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the WRX and the Elantra N Line have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Subaru WRX is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	WRX	Elantra N Line
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	314
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	34.4%	42%

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 Subaru WRX is safer than the Hyundai Elantra N Line:

	WRX	Elantra N Line
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	165 lbs.	239 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	66 G’s	68 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	819 lbs.	954 lbs.

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 5 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The WRX’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 70 more horsepower (271 vs. 201) and 63 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 195) than the Elantra N Line’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru WRX is faster than the Hyundai Elantra N Line (manual transmissions tested):

	WRX	Elantra N Line
Zero to 30 MPH	1.7 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	8.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	9.2 sec	12.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14.7 sec	20.1 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.2 sec	3.8 sec

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the WRX lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The WRX has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra N Line (16.6 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The WRX offers an optional 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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	WRX	WRX TR	Elantra N Line
Front Rotors	12.4 inches	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.4 inches	12.8 inches	10.3 inches

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

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the WRX Premium/Limited/GT’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Elantra N Line (245/40R18 vs. 235/40R18).

The WRX TR’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra N Line’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the WRX TR has standard 19-inch wheels. The Elantra N Line’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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

The WRX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Elantra N Line’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The WRX Limited handles at .96 G’s, while the Elantra N Line pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The WRX Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Elantra N Line (24.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the WRX’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Elantra N Line’s (36.74 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The WRX has .8 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the Elantra N Line.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the WRX’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. Its intrusive beam hinge reduces the Elantra N Line’s useful trunk space.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the WRX. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The WRX uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Elantra N Line uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the WRX is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Elantra N Line. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The WRX’s standard front power windows 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. The WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR’s exterior PIN entry system. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Blue Link can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The WRX’s power window switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Elantra N Line’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The WRX’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 WRX Premium/Limited/GT/TR has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Elantra N Line doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The WRX’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Elantra N Line offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the WRX has a standard Adaptive 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru WRX, based on reliability, safety and performance.