2025 Hyundai Elantra vs 2025 Lexus ES
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 90.1 to 81.3, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and safety.
2025 Hyundai Elantra
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid B…
2025 Lexus ES
The 2025 Lexus ES is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the ES 300h, is EPA-rated a…
2025 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 90.1 to 81.3, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and safety.
| Category · weight | 2025 Lexus ESoverall 81.3 | 2025 Hyundai Elantraoverall 90.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 51.2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 82.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 86.5 | 81 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 98.6 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 48.9 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 88.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 81.3 | 90.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Lexus ES: base trim Standard FWD · Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It lists 20 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It starts $21,090 lower ($22,125 against $43,215 base MSRP).
- It is rated 54 combined against 44 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2025 Lexus ES answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 35 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 302 hp against 147.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
52 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $43,215 | $22,125 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 3,456 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 6-cylinders, V type | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | EFI, D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 302 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 22 mpg | 32 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 25 mpg | 36 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 32 mpg | 41 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.561 | 4.892 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 73.4 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 113 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 13.9 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 99.9 cu-ft | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 37.5 in | 40.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.4 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Third-row legroom | 39.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,740 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut-type | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Trailing wishbone independent | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | EPS | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Mechanical Cable |
| Rear brake diameter | 282 mm | 262 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.9 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Lexus | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 120 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 55.6 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 54.3 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
93 features · differences first, then sharedSafety22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | — | std |
| Advanced dual front airbags w/ Occupant Classification System (OCS) | — | std |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact airbags | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Rearview camera w/ dynamic guidelines | — | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA) | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | — | std |
Infotainment21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-fi Hotspot (tied to Navigation) | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen, AM/FM/HD, Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | — | std |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluetooth and USB smartphone connectivity | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Drive Connect with Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant and Destination Assist available by subscription | std | — |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| Lexus 10-speaker Premium Sound System | std | — |
| Lexus app | std | — |
| Lexus Interface with 8-inch touchscreen display | std | — |
| Remote Connect 3-year trial | std | — |
| Safety Connect with up to 10-year trial | std | — |
| Service Connect with up to 10-year trial | std | — |
| SHIFTRONIC™ manual shift mode w/ Paddle Shifters | std | — |
| SiriusXM 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription | std | — |
| Six USB ports | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® integration | std | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt Outlet (below HVAC controls) | — | std |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| Premium Package: Wood trim, Lexus Memory System for driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel, Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column, Heated and ventilated front seats, Wireless phone charger, Heated leather steering wheel, Power-folding-outside mirrors with auto title-down in reverse, Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Rain-sensing windshield wipers, Windshield wiper de-icer | opt | — |
| SmartAccess card key | opt | — |
| Technology Package: Lexus Interface w/ 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Drive Connect w/ Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant and Destination Assist 3-year trial, Head-Up Display and SmartAccess card key | opt | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone climate control with interior air filters, smog sensor and automatic recirculation mode | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 10-way power-adjustable front seats | std | — |
| Perforated NuLuxe® interior trim | std | — |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| Seating capacity: 5 | — | std |
| Seating for five | std | — |
Interior8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| Door scuff: Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Steering wheel: Urethane | — | std |
| Wood trim with ambient lighting | opt | — |
| Inside Rearview Mirror – Manual Day/Night | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering column | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | — | opt |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | — | std |
Exterior14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof power glass – tilt and slide, safety one-touch | std | — |
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| 15 x 6.0J Alloy wheels | — | std |
| 17-inch twin-V-spoke alloy wheels with Dark Metallic and machined finish | std | — |
| 18-inch split-10-spoke alloy wheels with two-tone Black and machined finish | opt | — |
| Bi-LED headlamps | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Tail Lights | — | std |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Grille: Black | — | std |
| Window Belt Moldings: Black | — | std |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | — | std |
| Rear Seat Heater Ducts and Rear Window Defroster | — | std |
| Solar Glass | — | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Configuration: FWD | — | std |
| 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder (147 HP @ 6200, 132 lb-ft @ 4500) | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Front brakes: Ventilated Disc 11.0" | — | std |
| Front suspension: MacPherson Strut | — | std |
| Parking Brake Type: Hand lever / Mechanical Cable | — | std |
| Rear suspension: Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPLexus ES
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
Hyundai Elantra
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Lexus ESStandard FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $43,215 (base trim) | $22,125 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $43,215 – $52,105 8 trims | $22,125 – $35,850 10 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | ES 300h | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 44 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,500 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 90.1 to 81.3, on price, fuel & range, tech & comfort. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Hyundai Elantra scores 90.1 and the 2025 Lexus ES 81.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2025 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,125 against $43,215, a gap of $21,090 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
2025 Lexus ES: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2025 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 2 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Lexus ES and the 2025 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2025 Hyundai Elantra wins: it lists 20 standard driver-assist features against 2, starts $21,090 lower ($22,125 against $43,215 base MSRP), and is rated 54 combined against 44 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2025 Lexus ES answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 35 filed with NHTSA) and makes 302 hp against 147. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.