2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had become synonymous with its identity since its second-generation debut in 2004. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to embrace its unique styling, which some found unappealing, even in the trendy 2020 Edition with blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured an unconventional layout with a central strip of displays near the windshield, a dashboard-mounted toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. The interior's gloss-black trim was prone to attracting dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's quirky charm. The Prius was available in various trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with an optional AWD-e system for the LE and XLE trims. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid offered a different styling and trim options. As a five-door hatchback, the Prius provided utility similar to a crossover SUV, with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its 2021 redesign, shedding its previous rental-car looks for a striking new appearance. The seventh-generation Elantra boasted a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, resulting in a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette. While reminiscent of the midsize Sonata sedan, the Elantra's exterior had its own unique personality, with distinctive creases and folds creating a "Z" shape on the doors. Inside, the Elantra's interior quality improved, offering materials slightly above the norm for the compact car class. Despite some hard plastics, the Elantra's starting price of around $20,000 included advanced tech features, making it a compelling choice. The 2022 Elantra was available in SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims, with the Elantra Hybrid offered in Blue and Limited trims. The N Line trim added sporty styling elements, enhancing the car's overall appeal.

The 2021 Toyota Prius prioritized fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-drive Prius models earned a 52 mpg combined rating, while AWD-e versions managed 49 mpg. However, the Prius 2020 Edition fell short of expectations, averaging 47.5 mpg on the testing loop. The Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, resulting in a total system output of 121 horsepower. While not particularly powerful, the electric motor's 120 pound-feet of torque provided a lively feel during acceleration. The Prius offered various driving modes, including EV Mode for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph, and Eco, Normal, and Power modes to optimize efficiency or responsiveness. The Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform contributed to the Prius's handling, offering a lower center of gravity and a more athletic feel. Despite its focus on efficiency, the Prius could handle curvy roads with some enthusiasm, though hard acceleration resulted in powertrain noise.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, with the SE, SEL, and Limited trims featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and FWD. The Elantra Hybrid combined a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The Hybrid's six-speed DCT provided a more engaging driving experience. The N Line trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and revised powertrain mounts enhanced its ride and handling dynamics. The Elantra N Line's multi-link independent rear suspension and larger front brake rotors contributed to its confident handling. While the N Line's sport seats provided excellent support, they could be uncomfortable on long journeys. Overall, the Elantra N Line offered a compelling package with its peppy powertrain and sporty dynamics.

The 2021 Toyota Prius surprised many with its spacious interior, accommodating up to five passengers comfortably. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery tended to trap sweat. The rear seats provided adequate foot, leg, and headroom for adults, though the absence of air-conditioning vents was a drawback. Cargo space varied by trim, with the rear hatch offering between 24.6 and 27.4 cubic feet of storage, expandable to 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra excelled in practicality, offering a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces. The interior featured clear instrumentation and controls, with comfortable seating and excellent visibility. Despite its compact size, the Elantra provided ample space for passengers, with the rear seat accommodating three children comfortably. Taller adults might find the rear headroom limited due to the sloped roofline, but legroom was sufficient. The Elantra's cargo space measured 14.2 cubic feet, adequate for a weekend's worth of luggage. However, the trunk's narrow opening and trunk lid support arms posed challenges when loading items. The power tilt-and-slide moonroof produced a noticeable droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air conditioning vents was a source of irritation for back-seat passengers.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, as well as shortcut buttons for main-function menus. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota's Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard, with generous free trial subscriptions. However, the stereo speaker sound quality was lacking, and road noise often overwhelmed it on the highway. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. Unfortunately, this system did not support Android Auto.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, especially considering its price. The base SE trim included an 8-inch display audio touchscreen, rearview camera, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, Blue Link connected services, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation on Limited trims. The Limited also featured an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, dynamic voice recognition, and wireless device charging. Hyundai Digital Key was standard on N Line and Limited trims, allowing keyless access via an Android-compatible smartphone. The infotainment system was easy to pair with smartphones, and the Apple CarPlay integration was seamless. However, the six-speaker audio system's performance was only adequate.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, providing automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Prius received favorable marks from the IIHS but lacked a crashworthiness rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra featured the SmartSense suite of driver-assist technologies, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, and lane-centering assistance. Additional safety features included driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, rear-seat reminder, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims offered intersection turn assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist. The Elantra received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with the Limited trim's LED headlights earning a "Good" rating.