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Our Favorite Movie Car MistakesToyota Corolla vs Hyundai Elantra
The Toyota Corolla and the Hyundai Elantra are popular choices for first-time car buyers and those who prefer something basic. Which one will win our showdown?
Simple and Reliable Just Got Better
Toyota wasn’t thinking about performance when they built the Corolla. The same goes for Hyundai’s Elantra. They are both excellent compact cars for first-time car buyers and drivers whose only concern is to get from Point A to Point B reliably.
There is nothing about either car that will get your pulse racing. The 2024 Toyota Corolla is available with the dark-themed Nightshade Edition. The Nightshade Edition is simply an appearance package that adds dark stylings and bronze-colored rims.
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra has been fitted with new wheels, a new front end, and newly designed exterior lighting. You can choose from several new color choices, and a rear-seat seatbelt reminder and rear side-impact airbags are now standard on all trims. Safety features such as lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring now alert the driver with pulsing vibrations felt in the steering wheel.
Specs
The 2024 Toyota Corolla comes standard with a 2.0L four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission pumping out 169 horsepower and 151 lbs.-ft. of torque. There is a hybrid powertrain available on the sedans. The hatchback models come only with a gas-only power train.
Corolla drivers will also save at the pump even if they choose the gas-only powertrain. Non-hybrid models can get up to 41 MPG on the highway. FWD hybrid models are rated at 50 MPG city and 43 MPG highway. Hatchback models are rated at 32 MPG city/42 MPG highway.
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra SE and SEL trims have a 2.0L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission making 147 horsepower and 132 lbs.-ft. of torque. The sporty N-Line trim gives you a turbocharged 1.6L engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This combination provides a spunky 201 horsepower and 195 lbs.-ft. of torque.
There is also a hybrid powertrain for the Elantra that puts a 1.6L engine under the hood sans turbo. It is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and generates only 139 horsepower and 195 lbs.-ft. of torque.
The Elantra gives drivers an EPA-rated 33 MPG city/42 MPG highway when equipped with the 2.0L four-cylinder. The turbocharged 1.6L gets 28 MPG city/36 MPG highway while the hybrid models are rated at 53 MPG city/56 highway.
So far, it’s a close race. Both models offer thrifty hybrid options and similar powertrains. Let’s see how they match up when it comes to driving and performance.
Driving and Performance
There isn’t much performance to offer; there is only meager power and acceleration on tap. You can expect the Toyota Corolla hatchback model to go from 0 to 60 MPH in 8.3 seconds. The AWD hybrid strolled casually from 0 to 60 in 9.0 seconds.
One of the great things about the Toyota Corolla is the quiet and comfortable ride that it provides. The suspension works well to smooth out moderate bumps and provide smooth, focused handling. Those who want a stiffer suspension should look at the SE and XSE trims. There are certainly sportier rivals though, and none of them are the Elantra.
For those who want more performance, the Toyota Corolla GR hatchback should scratch the itch. It features a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine, AWD, and a host of advanced driver aids. It is much more fun to drive than the “basic” Corolla and is built specifically for those who prefer a little excitement in their daily drive.
Hyundai’s Elantra hybrid delivered a 0 to 60 MPH time of 8.4 seconds while the gas-only 2.0L model came in at 8.1 seconds. Drivers who want more pep and sportier handling should consider the N-Line trim. It was much more agile while still delivering a great ride. The ride is comparable to that of the Corolla; it is quiet and comfortable.
We’re still pretty much tied at this point. This one will come down to the finer details. Let’s check out the interiors and compare them.
Comfort and Interior
The interior of the Toyota Corolla offers drivers a well-organized dashboard and easy-to-reach controls. The materials aren’t luxury, but there are a lot of soft-touch surfaces which we found satisfactory. The interior can be upgraded with features such as a dual-zone climate control system, heated front seats, and ambient lighting.
If you’re going to be hauling passengers in the backseat, you might want to consider the sedan over the hatchback. The sedan offers more legroom for rear-seated passengers. The hatchback versions offer 18 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with the option to expand it to 23 cubic feet. This will remove and replace the spare tire with a tire repair kit. The sedan offers 13 cubic feet of trunk space. Interior storage is lacking, however, as there are not any cubbies – only a tray and a bin in the center console. There is a standard 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Spring for the wireless charging option and the premium JBL sound system for even more convenience and enjoyment.
The Hyundai Elantra lacks a lot of the soft-touch surfaces that the Corolla provides and hard plastic is found in abundance. The dash is attractive and modern with conveniently placed controls and plenty of LED lighting. Rear passengers have plenty of room, but there is only 14.2 cubic feet of trunk space available.
The Elantra features an optional 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster while having an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard equipment. The easy-to-use infotainment system provides features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, Wi-Fi, and voice recognition controls. The standard sound system is a six-speaker stereo while the Limited and N-Line trims come with an upgraded eight-speaker Bose system.
Trims and Features
The 2024 Toyota Corolla sedan is available in 4 trims: LE, SE, Nightshade, and XSE. There are also 2 hatchback trims: SE Hatchback and XSE Hatchback. There are 3 hybrid trims: Hybrid LE sedan, Hybrid SE, and Hybrid XLE sedan.
The LE trim is the base model and comes with features such as 16-inch steel wheels, automatic climate control, dynamic-shift continuously variable transmission, remote keyless entry, 8-inch infotainment display, 2.0L four-cylinder engine that nets 169 horsepower and 151 lbs.-ft. torque, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, adaptive cruise control, lane departure mitigation, and lane-keeping assist.
The SE is a sportier version of the LE and includes features such as sport-tuned suspension, sport driving mode, sportier exterior accents, heated mirrors, 18-inch dark gray alloy wheels, leather-trimmed steering wheel, paddle shifters, sport-style front seats, and push-button start.
The Nightshade trim puts a dark spin on the SE trim by adding black exterior trim and badges, a trunk-mounted spoiler, and 18-inch bronze-painted wheels.
The XSE trim adds more features to the SE including a sunroof, digital instrument panel, heated front seats, body-colored exterior mirrors, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, and a wireless charging pad.
A JBL sound system is available as an option on the Nightshade and XSE trims. Some features on the XSE can be ordered as options on the LE and SE trims.
The Toyota Corolla GR is available in three trims: Core, Premium, and Circuit. These feature a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine, six-speed manual transmission, high-performance brakes and suspension, and sportier trim stylings.
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra is available in five main trims: SE, SEL, N Line, Limited, and N. There are two Elantra Hybrid models: Blue and Limited.
The SE is the base trim and has features such as cloth upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration, a six-speaker sound system, a 147-hp 2.0L engine with a continuously variable transmission, blind-spot collision avoidance, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist, rear automatic braking, and a safe exit warning.
The SEL builds on the SE trim by adding features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, keyless entry, push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. An optional convenience package adds enhanced forward collision mitigation, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad, heated front seats, and adaptive cruise control.
The Limited trim adds even more to the SEL including a Bose premium sound system, a surround-view camera, enhanced voice recognition, leather trimmed seats, and rear parking sensors.
The Elantra Hybrid Blue is similar to the SEL in terms of equipment but cannot have packages added on. It delivers features like a 1.6L hybrid powertrain with 139 hp, six-speed automatic transmission, heated mirrors, and heated front seats.
The Elantra Hybrid Limited gives you all of the Limited trim’s features with the 1.6L hybrid powertrain and memory settings for the mirrors and driver’s seat.
The N-Line is equipped much like the SEL but with features like 18-inch alloy wheels, special exterior styling, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, 201-hp turbocharged 1.6L engine, sport-tuned springs and shocks, more sophisticated rear suspension, and combination leather and cloth seats.
The Elantra N trim is even more performance-driven and boasts a 276-hp turbocharged 2.0L engine, bigger brakes, unique exterior stylings, electronically-controlled limited-slip differential, 19-inch alloy wheels, a six-speed manual transmission or eight-speed automatic transmission, variable sport exhaust, upgraded rear suspension, and sport front seats.
The Verdict
These guys finished close! They are both excellent compact cars that offer drivers a great ride along with awesome features to keep them happy and make their lives easier. They are great for going to work, getting groceries, or even taking a small family on a weekend trip. You probably won’t catch many speeding tickets because they just don’t have it in them!
After considering all the information, we crowned the winner the Hyundai Elantra. The Elantra has several things over the Corolla that we like: a bigger available display, a more modern and aggressive look thanks to the redesign, and a better powertrain variety.
The Toyota Corolla is a great car too, and you can’t go wrong with it. The Hyundai Elantra scratches the itch for a compact car that gets great gas mileage and looks cool too. Getting from Point A to Point B can’t get much simpler.
