Compare the2024 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2024 Audi RS 3

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 N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Elantra N is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi RS 3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Elantra N 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 RS 3’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra N has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the RS 3.

The Elantra N’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 RS 3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra N and the RS 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and rearview cameras.

The Hyundai Elantra N 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 RS 3 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The Elantra N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The RS 3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Audi covers the RS 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the RS 3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N 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. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the RS 3.

There are almost 3 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Elantra N has a standard 150-amp alternator. The RS 3’s 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi 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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 84 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 8 places higher in reliability than Audi.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is optional on the Hyundai Elantra N, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the RS 3.

The Elantra N stops much shorter than the RS 3:

The Elantra N has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RS 3’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the RS 3 (107.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N is 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the RS 3.

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the RS 3 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra N’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the RS 3’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Audi RS 3.

To minimize engine movement during hard acceleration and transmission shifts, the Elantra N has solid engine mounts. The RS 3 uses conventional rubber.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Elantra N a Mid-size car, while the RS 3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Elantra N has 12.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 3 (99.4 vs. 87).

The Elantra N has 3.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 3.

The Elantra N has a much larger trunk than the RS 3 (14.2 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

The Elantra N Auto has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The RS 3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Elantra N’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The RS 3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra N owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra N will cost $780 to $1325 less than the RS 3 over a five-year period.

The Elantra N will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Elantra N will retain 52.19% to 53.5% of its original price after five years, while the RS 3 only retains 51.36%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra N will be $26469 to $29343 less than for the Audi RS 3.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The RS 3 has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Audi A3/S3/RS 3 by almost 10 to one during 2023.