Compare the2024 Hyundai Elantra N LineVS 2024 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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 Line 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.

The Elantra N Line’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 Line 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 Line is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI:

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 Line is safer than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI:

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

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 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 Line 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 Line’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 Line 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 Line’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.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Hyundai Elantra N Line uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Jetta GLI requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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

For better traction, the Elantra N Line has larger tires than the Jetta GLI (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R18).

The Elantra N Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Jetta GLI’s standard 45 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N Line’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 Line is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Jetta GLI.

The Hyundai Elantra N Line may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

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

The Elantra N Line has 5.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta GLI (99.4 vs. 93.9).

The Elantra N Line 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.

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

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 Line’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Jetta GLI’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Elantra N Line will be $2948 to $3848 less than for the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

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.