Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
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 N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Jetta GLI 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 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-20 MPH	-12 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-20 MPH	-18 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-27 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	No Warning

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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Elantra N and the Jetta GLI 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 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 Hyundai Elantra N is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
	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 N is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
	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 N is safer than the Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Elantra N, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 3% less likely to roll over than the Jetta GLI, which received a four-star rating.

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 Jetta GLI is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

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 Jetta GLI’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 Jetta GLI. 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 GLI 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 Jetta GLI 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 Jetta GLI (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.

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Volkswagen.

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 N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (276 vs. 228) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 258) than the Jetta GLI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Elantra N is faster than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI (manual transmissions tested):

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
Zero to 60 MPH	5.1 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.5 sec	14.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	105 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	155 MPH	126 MPH

Transmission

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 Jetta GLI.

The Elantra N’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Jetta GLI doesn’t offer launch control.

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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a downshift rev synchronizer.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	11.8 inches

The Elantra N stops much shorter than the Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N	Jetta GLI
100 to 0 MPH	305 feet	355 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	154 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the Jetta GLI (245/35R19 vs. 225/45R18).

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 Jetta GLI’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Jetta GLI.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the Jetta GLI (107.1 inches vs. 105.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Elantra N is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Jetta GLI.

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the Jetta GLI Autobahn pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

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

Passenger Space

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

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

The Elantra N 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 GLI.

Cargo Capacity

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 Jetta GLI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

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 Jetta GLI’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

Economic Advantages

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 Jetta GLI only retains 51.86% to 52.14%.

Recommendations

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its March 2022 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Elantra N first. They ranked the Volkswagen Jetta GLI Autobahn third.

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Volkswagen Jetta by almost three to one during 2023.

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