Hyundai Elantra Hybrid vs Toyota Corolla

Armed with a deserved reputation for reliability, equipped with modern infotainment and safety technologies, and engineered to be surreptitiously enjoyable to drive, there is a 2025 Corolla for almost anyone. You can choose between a sedan or a hatchback, a gas or a hybrid powertrain, and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The performance-tuned GR Corolla is a legitimate hot hatch, while the Corolla Cross, a small crossover SUV, adds extra utility, but this review focuses on the Corolla sedan.

Verdict: The Toyota Corolla rightfully has a reputation for being boring. However, the current 12th-generation model is also more stylish, technologically advanced, and rewarding to drive than previous Corollas. The new-for-2025 Corolla FX sedan demonstrates that with exclusive design details and sport-tuned steering and suspension.

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is a stylish outlier among fuel-efficient sedans. It also holds an advantage with its accessible pricing and generous warranty, but unfortunately, it's not very appealing to drive. Power and acceleration are on the weak side—even among other hybrids—while inconsistent power surges make it feel as though it's a few generations behind the rest of the class.

Verdict: The Elantra Hybrid is a great value, but its unrefined hybrid powertrain and cheap-feeling interior have it following, rather than leading the class.