2024 Hyundai Elantra vs 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra showcased Hyundai's bold design philosophy, characterized by its dramatic exterior styling. The Elantra's side profile was particularly striking, with no fewer than six hard creases cutting across the doors at seemingly random angles. While these lines aimed to create depth, they often resulted in a dented appearance, especially in lighter colors. The N Line trim, with its Exotic Green paint and dark gray wheels, added a touch of wildness to the design. The refreshed model featured a cleaner front end with a lower-positioned grille and stainless steel Hyundai badges, enhancing its premium feel. Despite its aggressive styling, the Elantra's proportions mimicked those of a more expensive sports sedan, with a low, elongated body and a fastback-like rear end.

Inside, the Elantra offered an inviting cabin with a driver-focused center stack and classy silver trim. While the interior materials leaned towards plastic, the design exuded a sense of movement and quality. The base SE trim impressed with its gray cloth upholstery, while the Limited trim's leatherette added a touch of luxury. However, the N Line's hex-patterned cloth was rough to the touch. Overall, the Elantra's interior design was well-executed, though a few more soft-touch points and improved upholstery could have elevated the experience further.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid received significant styling updates, enhancing its modern appeal. The front fascia featured a sleek lightbar, known as the "seamless horizon lamp," giving the sedan a contemporary look. The badge was repositioned above the grille, and the headlights were placed independently below it. The rear end retained its lightbar but adopted a wide "H" shape, reminiscent of the new Hyundai Santa Fe. The sporty black spoiler-esque trunk lid added a touch of dynamism. While the side profile remained largely unchanged from the 2023 model, the Limited-trim test car's fashionable enamel gray color, "Transmission Blue," stood out without adding to the cost.

Inside, the Sonata Hybrid's dash received updates, with vents flowing across the cabin and a redesigned steering wheel featuring a T-shape and a Morse code-inspired "H" logo. The gear shifter was moved to the steering column, and the interior offered three color schemes. The test car's basic black interior was complemented by heated and ventilated seats, while the tan and charcoal combo was a favorite. The Sonata Hybrid's interior design was both functional and stylish, with thoughtful touches like the trunk close button adding convenience.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrains, catering to different driving preferences. The most common trims (SE, SEL, Limited) featured a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While adequate for city driving, this setup struggled on highways, lacking power and refinement. The N Line trim, however, boasted a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This configuration delivered a spirited driving experience, though the gearbox occasionally exhibited laggy and clunky behavior.

The Elantra N took performance to another level with its 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, thanks to an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The manual version, with its six-speed transmission, provided an exhilarating driving experience, albeit with some quirks like turbo lag and torque steer. The Elantra Hybrid, on the other hand, combined a 1.6-liter inline-four engine with an electric motor, producing 139 hp and 125 lb-ft. Its six-speed dual-clutch transmission offered a unique alternative to the typical CVT found in hybrids, delivering impressive fuel economy of nearly 60 mpg on the highway.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid featured a 2.0-liter inline-four engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined 192 horsepower. Unlike many hybrids, the Sonata Hybrid utilized a true six-speed automatic transmission, providing a more engaging driving experience. The steering wheel-mounted paddles allowed for regenerative braking control in Eco mode and gear shifting in Sport mode. The Sonata Hybrid achieved an EPA-rated 47 mpg combined, offering excellent fuel efficiency without sacrificing driving dynamics.

The Sonata Hybrid's handling was commendable, with a configurable driver-information display that allowed simultaneous viewing of the tachometer and hybrid power flow. The novelty of accelerating at 0 RPM added to the driving experience, while the touchy brakes were a minor drawback. Overall, the Sonata Hybrid delivered a balanced blend of performance and efficiency, making it a compelling choice for eco-conscious drivers.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a well-thought-out interior with a mix of analog and digital controls. The mechanical parking brake and conventional PRNDL shifter provided a familiar feel, while shortcut buttons for navigation and audio functions were conveniently placed below the main touchscreen. The drive mode button, though awkwardly positioned, added another physical control option. Visibility from the front seats was excellent, and the sunroof, standard on N Line and Limited trims, enhanced the cabin's airy feel.

The Elantra's interior space was generous, with ample headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Rear-seat occupants benefited from two USB-C ports, though air vents were absent. The trunk offered 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with 60/40 folding rear seats for added versatility. However, the N trim's red X-brace limited the seat pass-through, impacting cargo flexibility.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid provided competitive interior space, with the Limited trim's panoramic moonroof offering 37.8 inches of front-seat headroom. Without the moonroof, headroom increased to 40 inches, surpassing rivals like the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Rear-seat headroom was equally competitive, and the front row prioritized legroom with 46.1 inches, while rear passengers received 34.8 inches.

The Sonata Hybrid's Limited trim featured heated and ventilated seats, along with a slimmer steering wheel rim for added comfort. The trunk close button, though not essential, added a touch of convenience. Overall, the Sonata Hybrid's interior design offered flexibility and comfort, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen on SEL-and-above trims, while the SE had an 8-inch screen with surrounding shortcut buttons and knobs. The digital instrument panel was standard, though the base SE lacked custom gauge layouts. Blind-spot cameras were available on the Limited trim, enhancing safety. The infotainment system, though lacking wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, was quick and customizable, with detailed setting descriptions.

A Wi-Fi hotspot and digital key function were new options for 2024, along with an eight-speaker Bose stereo on N Line and Limited trims. Highway Driving Assist was exclusive to the Limited trim, offering accurate steering assist on marked highways. Overall, the Elantra's technology offerings were robust, though some features were limited to higher trims.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid impressed with its selectable USB-C port functionality, allowing users to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes. This feature complemented the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available on all trims. The curved display, combining the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display, was a standout feature, offering a seamless and intuitive user experience.

The Sonata Hybrid's Limited trim included navigation, natural language voice-recognition, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. Standard features included HD Radio, Sirius XM, and two rear-seat USB charging ports. The wireless charging pad added convenience, making the Sonata Hybrid's technology offerings comprehensive and user-friendly.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with strong performance in side tests. The IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick, though some crash tests were not performed. The Elantra's safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added cyclist detection, front cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Limited trim offered rear emergency braking, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid came standard with blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist. The Limited trim added a turn-signal-activated blind-spot-view monitor and surround-view monitor. All trims featured lane-following and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim's Highway Driving Assist and Remote Smart Parking Assist enhanced safety and convenience.