Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra N LineVS 2025 Subaru WRX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Elantra N Line 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. Only the WRX Limited/GT/tS offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Elantra N Line has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the WRX Limited/GT/tS offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the WRX’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Elantra N Line and the WRX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

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 Line is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Elantra N Line	WRX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	250
Neck Injury Risk	21%	24.5%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	65 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	284/524 lbs.

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

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 Elantra N Line is much safer than the WRX:

	Elantra N Line	WRX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Injury Chance	16%	24%
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	202/225 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	22/22 pounds	202/225 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	382/584 pounds	584/629 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	POOR

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 Line is safer than the Subaru WRX:

	Elantra N Line	WRX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	166
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	514 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	44 G’s

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

The Hyundai Elantra N Line (Built after October 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The WRX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Elantra N Line comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The WRX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N Line 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the WRX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the WRX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Elantra N Line’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the WRX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra N Line 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. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the WRX.

There are over 32 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N Line’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 12th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra N Line gets better mileage than the WRX:

			MPG
Elantra N Line
	Auto	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
WRX
	Manual	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
	Auto	2.4 turbo flat-4	18 city/25 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Elantra N Line uses regular unleaded gasoline. The WRX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Hyundai Elantra N Line higher (4 out of 10) than the Subaru WRX (2). This means the Elantra N Line produces up to 15.6 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the WRX every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Hyundai Elantra N Line comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the WRX.

The Elantra N Line offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The WRX doesn’t offer an SMG.

Brakes and Stopping

The Elantra N Line stops shorter than the WRX:

	Elantra N Line	WRX
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	112 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N Line’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the WRX (107.1 inches vs. 105.2 inches).

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra N Line may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Subaru WRX.

Passenger Space

The Elantra N Line has .8 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear hip room than the WRX.

Cargo Capacity

The Elantra N Line has a much larger trunk than the WRX (14.2 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

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

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Elantra N Line and the WRX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra N Line is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The WRX prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra N Line has standard extendable sun visors. The WRX doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra N Line has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The WRX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Subaru WRX by over seven to one during 2024.

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