Compare the2024 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2024 Volkswagen GTI

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 GTI doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Elantra N and the GTI 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, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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 GTI 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 GTI’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 Volkswagen covers the GTI. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GTI ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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

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.

The Elantra N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 35 more horsepower (276 vs. 241) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 273) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

In a Car and Driver race course test, the Hyundai Elantra N was clocked 4.1 seconds faster than the Volkswagen GTI S (187.3 sec. vs. 191.4 sec.).

The Elantra N has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The GTI’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

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 GTI.

The Hyundai Elantra N manual has a downshift rev synchronizer that automatically raises engine speed to make downshifts perfectly smooth. This keeps the car from lurching during downshifts, preventing loss of control during cornering. The GTI doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

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

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the GTI (245/35R19 vs. 225/40R18). The Elantra N’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GTI (245/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GTI.

The Elantra N has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GTI’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 GTI (107.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the GTI.

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the GTI pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Elantra N is quieter than the GTI Autobahn (79 vs. 82 dB).

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

The Elantra N has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GTI (99.4 vs. 91.9).

The Elantra N has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, 4.2 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the GTI.

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

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 GTI doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Elantra N’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push-button Start standard on the GTI only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car. Push-button Start is not available on the GTI SE/Autobahn.

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 N’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the GTI’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The Elantra N 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 GTI Autobahn.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Golf was last chosen in 2015.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Volkswagen Golf/GTI by almost 13 to one during 2023.