2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta presented a more upscale presence compared to its predecessor, with a slightly longer and wider body, maintaining the same height. Its design was inspired by the VW Arteon sport sedan, featuring a wide, angular grille that added a dramatic flair to its appearance. Inside, the Jetta continued this angular design language, creating a cabin that was both spacious and functional, with a premium feel thanks to a mix of soft-touch surfaces and comfortable seating. The Jetta was available in Comfortline, Highline, and Execline trims, each offering a range of features from heated seats and mirrors to a digital instrument cluster and a premium audio system.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant redesign, transforming it into a striking compact sedan with a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, giving it a four-door-coupe silhouette. The Elantra's exterior was unique, with distinctive creases and folds creating a "Z" shape on the doors. Inside, the Elantra's cabin was improved with materials slightly above the norm for its class, despite some hard plastics. The Elantra was available in Essential, Preferred, Ultimate, and N Line trims, with the N Line offering sporty styling elements and a more engaging driving experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta was powered by a 1.4-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine, producing 147 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Despite having slightly less horsepower than its predecessor, the engine felt more responsive, thanks to its tuning and the new 8-speed automatic transmission. The Jetta offered a smooth and sporty driving experience, with well-weighted steering and minimal body roll. It handled both city and highway driving with ease, and its fuel efficiency was impressive, with a combined consumption of 6.9 L/100 km for the manual and 7.1 L/100 km for the automatic.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, including a standard 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-litre engine combined with an electric motor, delivering 139 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension provided a more dynamic driving experience, although the DCT could be clunky at low speeds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta offered comfortable front seats and adequate rear-seat legroom and headroom. Its trunk space was 399 litres, average for the class. The interior layout was practical, with a touchscreen positioned for easy access and a blend of real buttons and dials for controls, making it user-friendly.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was easy to live with, offering excellent visibility and a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces. The Elantra's rear seat could accommodate three children comfortably, although taller adults might find the sloped roof limiting headroom. The trunk offered 402 litres of cargo space, although the narrow opening could make loading challenging. The Elantra's moonroof produced a droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air vents was a minor inconvenience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display featuring Volkswagen’s Car-Net App-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Execline trim offered a Digital Cockpit, replacing the conventional instrument panel with a customizable digital display.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the base Essential trim. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a Bose premium audio system, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The N Line trim in Canada included a six-speaker audio system, which was adequate but not as impressive as the Bose system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Jetta included front and side airbags, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features like blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Jetta received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA but fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to its headlights.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning on most trims. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist. The Elantra received a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with some variations in headlight ratings.