Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra N LineVS 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI

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

Safety

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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.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Hyundai Elantra N Line is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Elantra N Line	Jetta GLI
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-20 MPH	-12 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-20 MPH	-18 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-27 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	No Warning

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:

	Elantra N Line	Jetta GLI
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	142	278
Neck Injury Risk	21%	29.8%
Neck Stress	268 lbs.	272 lbs.
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	57 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	66/48 lbs.	118/101 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Compression	6 lbs.	136 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	135/61 lbs.	430/149 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 Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N Line	Jetta GLI
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

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:

	Elantra N Line	Jetta GLI
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	83	101
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	355 lbs.	554 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	184	239

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

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 Hyundai Elantra N Line is safer than the Jetta GLI:

	Elantra N Line	Jetta GLI
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	226
Neck Compression	-134 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.85 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	1093 lbs.	1182 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	167	274
Neck Compression	-156 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.18 in	1.97 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.5 in	1.69 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Elantra N Line, with its five-star roll-over rating, is 2.9% less likely to roll over than the Jetta GLI, which received a four-star rating.

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 Jetta GLI 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 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 34 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.

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 Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 79 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 69 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 8 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Elantra N Line
	Auto	1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/35 hwy
Jetta GLI
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/35 hwy

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 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

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.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Hyundai Elantra N Line, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Jetta GLI.

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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 1.1 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Jetta GLI.

Chassis

The Hyundai Elantra N Line may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI.

Passenger Space

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 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Jetta GLI (99.4 vs. 94.7).

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.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Ergonomics

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.”

Recommendations

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 two to one during 2024.

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