Compare the2025 Honda AccordVS 2025 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Honda Accord 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Honda Accord has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Accord Touring has a standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Accord EX-L/Touring has standard Parking Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Accord and the Elantra Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Accord is much safer than the Elantra Hybrid:

	Accord	Elantra Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	POOR

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 Honda Accord is safer than the Elantra Hybrid Sedan:

	Accord	Elantra Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	424 lbs.
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1026 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	150	167
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.46 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Honda Accord has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Elantra Hybrid is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

There are over 27 percent more Honda dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Accord’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Honda Accord Hybrid’s reliability 12 points higher than the Elantra Hybrid.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 6 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The Accord’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (192 vs. 139) than the Elantra Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Accord Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 65 more horsepower (204 vs. 139) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (247 vs. 195) than the Elantra Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Accord is faster than the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid:

	Accord turbo 4 cyl.	Accord Hybrid	Elantra Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.9 sec	6.6 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.1 sec	15.2 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.9 MPH	91.1 MPH	83.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Accord Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra Hybrid (12.8 vs. 11 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Accord’s standard fuel tank has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Elantra Hybrid (14.8 vs. 11 gallons).

The Accord has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

The Accord has a standard 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Accord	Accord Hybrid	Elantra Hybrid
Front Rotors	11.5 inches	12.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	11.1 inches	10.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Accord has larger standard tires than the Elantra Hybrid (225/50R17 vs. 205/55R16). The Accord Sport/Touring’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Elantra Hybrid (235/40R19 vs. 225/45R17).

The Accord LX/SE/EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan’s standard 55 series tires. The Accord Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Elantra Hybrid SEL Sport/Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Accord LX/SE/EX-L has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra Hybrid Blue Sedan. The Accord Sport/Touring’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Elantra Hybrid SEL Sport/Limited.

The Accord has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Elantra Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Accord’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Elantra Hybrid (111.4 inches vs. 107.1 inches).

The Accord Touring Hybrid handles at .87 G’s, while the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Accord Touring Hybrid executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan (27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Accord uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Accord uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

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

The Accord has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Elantra Hybrid (105.7 vs. 99.4).

The Accord has 2 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Elantra Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Accord has a much larger trunk than the Elantra Hybrid Sedan (16.7 vs. 14.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Accord easier. The Accord’s trunk lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Elantra Hybrid’s liftover is 28.4 inches.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Accord offers cargo security. The Elantra Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Accord SE/Sport/EX-L/Touring. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Accord Touring has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Accord’s 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 Hybrid’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Accord’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Elantra Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Accord’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Elantra Hybrid’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Accord’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Elantra Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Accord Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

Consumer Reports rated the Accord’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Elantra Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the Accord Touring is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Elantra Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Accord and the Elantra Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Accord Touring also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Elantra Hybrid.

On extremely cold winter days, the Accord Touring’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Elantra Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Accord was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 25 more times in the last 26 years. The Elantra Hybrid has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Accord outsold the Hyundai Elantra by 48% during 2023.

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