2026 BMW 3 Series vs 2026 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.6 to 59.8, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety.
2026 BMW 3 Series
The 2026 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at…
2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 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…
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.6 to 59.8, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW 3 Seriesoverall 59.8 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 88.6 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 30.4 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 47.2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 91.1 | 83.4 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 89.3 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 41.4 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 16.4 | 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 | 59.8 | 88.6 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
BMW 3 Series: base trim M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD · 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 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 6.
- It starts $52,375 lower ($22,825 against $75,200 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (30.5 points against 5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA).
- It turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 132.
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
42 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $75,200 | $22,825 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,998 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 386 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.81 | 4.892 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | 8-speed STEPTRONIC | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.1 in | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 186 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 16.9 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.6 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 42.3 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,008 lbs | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,008 lbs | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | — | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic function | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.7 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | — | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 8 in | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/40 R19 | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.6 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 56.5 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 55.6 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
96 features · differences first, then sharedSafety25 differ · 26 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | — | std |
| Surround View with 3D View | std | — |
| Advanced dual front airbags w/ Occupant Classification System (OCS) | — | std |
| Driver and Front Passenger Side-impact (2) | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) & Lane Following Assist (LFA) | — | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) (2) | — | std |
| Active Park Distance Control | std | — |
| Active Park Distance Control | 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 |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Parking Assistance Package | std | — |
| Parking Assistant Plus | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | 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 |
| Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry and Panic | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | — | std |
| Rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance | std | std |
Infotainment11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance, AM/FM / HD/ AM/FM/HD/ Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | — | std |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | std | — |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| Harman Kardon Surround Sound System | std | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| Premium Package | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | — | std |
| Power Door Locks (ignition key reminder, 2-turn unlocking, inside handle override) | — | std |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 4-way Passenger's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| Extended Merino Leather Upholstery | std | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
Interior14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| Carbon Fiber Interior Trim | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Front Map Lights | — | std |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel | — | std |
| Urethane steering wheel | — | std |
| Inside Rearview Mirror - Manual Day/Night | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | — | std |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension | — | std |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | — | std |
Exterior21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| 19-inch M Dual-spoke Bicolor Black 792M wheels | std | — |
| Adaptive Full LED Lights | std | — |
| All-Season Runflat Tires | std | — |
| BMW Individual Paint | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | — | std |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Extended Shadowline Trim | std | — |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | — | std |
| Grille - Black | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | std |
| M Performance Exhaust | std | — |
| M Performance Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fiber | std | — |
| M Shadowline Lights | std | — |
| M Sport Package Professional | std | — |
| Shadowline Package | 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 |
Powertrain7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive | std | — |
| Drive Configuration: FWD | — | std |
| 8-speed Steptronic transmission | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| TwinPower Turbo and 48-volt mild hybrid technology | std | — |
Chassis6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | — | std |
| M Sport Brakes | std | — |
| MacPherson Strut front suspension | — | std |
| Mechanical Cable Parking Brake | — | std |
| Unibody construction with High Tensile Steel | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW 3 Series
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Elantra
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75,200 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $75,200 1 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 330i xDrive Sedan | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 29 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,850 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 88.6 to 59.8, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 88.6 and the 2026 BMW 3 Series 59.8. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,825 against $75,200, a gap of $52,375 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 BMW 3 Series: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 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 2026 BMW 3 Series and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 6, starts $52,375 lower ($22,825 against $75,200 base MSRP), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (30.5 points against 5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 3 filed with NHTSA) and turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 132. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.