2022 Lexus ES vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out in the compact sedan market with its Sensuous Sportiness design language and Parametric surfacing. Its sharp creases and dramatic angles created a distinctive and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the car’s doors, a controversial design cue, was intended to give the Elantra a unique character, breaking conventional automotive design rules. The Elantra's styling improved with higher trims, ranging from SE to Limited, with a hybrid powertrain option available for the SEL and Limited trims. Inside, the Elantra featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, with higher trims offering a more upscale and modern look, especially in the Limited or Hybrid Limited in Gray.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus ES, a mainstay in the Lexus lineup, evolved over seven generations into a sedan with elegant proportions and a sleek roofline. The prominent Lexus "spindle" grille and assertive headlamp shapes were a matter of taste. The ES came standard with 17-inch wheels, with 18-inch and 19-inch options available. Inside, the ES featured a layered dashboard with a cockpit feel for the driver, precisely assembled with crisp gaps. The F Sport model added bold two-tone leather seating, which contrasted with the rest of the car's more conservative design. An analog chronometer in the touchscreen housing added a touch of heritage but also cluttered the dash.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. It returned 35 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 31.4 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, produced 139 horsepower and achieved 50 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 42.2 mpg. The sporty Elantra N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, offering a fun driving experience with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, provided an exhilarating driving experience with an eight-speed wet DCT and advanced performance features.

The 2022 Lexus ES came in three models, each with distinct powertrains. The ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving 28 mpg combined. The ES 350, with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, produced 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, achieving 26 mpg combined. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a net 215 hp, achieving 44 mpg combined. The ES 250 AWD's performance was adequate for daily driving but felt underwhelming for a luxury sedan. The ES 350's V6 offered more engaging performance, while the ES 300h excelled in fuel economy.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious interior with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat provided ample legroom and foot space, though the backrest shape and angle lacked upper back support. The trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the Elantra lacked air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for rear-seat passengers, and the manual passenger’s seat height adjuster was removed for 2021.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered 13.9 cubic feet of trunk space, with a pass-through behind the center armrest and flat-folding second-row seats for additional cargo capacity. The ES had a lower center of gravity and ground clearance than its SUV counterpart, the Lexus RX, contributing to better handling and fuel economy. Inside, the ES featured ample storage and convenience features, including big bottle pockets, cupholders, and a large glove compartment. The dash layout was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, offering a dynamic natural voice recognition system and a Sounds of Nature function. The Limited Hybrid's voice recognition system performed inconsistently, but a Hyundai spokesperson demonstrated better results in a different car. A new Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key were also available.

The 2022 Lexus ES came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa+Lexus compatibility. Upper trim levels upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround sound audio, and navigation. The ES still used Lexus’ center console touchpad interface, which was challenging to use on rough roads. A 10-inch head-up display was available, providing critical information in the driver's line of sight. The ES also featured a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist and Lexus Enform connected services, including Safety Connect, Service Connect, Remote, and WiFi.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was built on a new platform with multiple structural collision energy pathways. It came standard with SmartSense, Hyundai’s suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. Upgrades included cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist.

The 2022 Lexus ES received top safety ratings from the IIHS (Top Safety Pick+) and NHTSA (five-star rating). It came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign assist, Enhanced Lane-Tracing Assist, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. Additional standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 10 airbags, and three years of Lexus Enform Safety Connect service.