Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Lexus ES
The Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 76.5, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, safety. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on price and space & cargo.
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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…
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A2026 Lexus ES
The 2026 Lexus ES is sold in the U.S. as an electric and hybrid midsize sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the ES 350e (19 inch W…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Lexus ES
Clear winThe Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 76.5, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, safety. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on price and space & cargo.
Price 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 53.2
Fuel & range 2026 Lexus ES leads by 53.8
Tech & comfort 2026 Lexus ES leads by 23.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Lexus ESoverall 83.5 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 76.5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 46.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 46.2 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 81.9 | 65.8 | ||||||||||||
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 | 96.9 | 98.4 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 97.2 | 74.9 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 76.3 | ||||||||||||
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 | 83.5 | 76.5 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Lexus ES: base trim ES 350e Premium FWD · Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Lexus ES wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 127 combined against 54 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $650 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $1,250).
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra answers
- It lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It starts $25,970 lower ($22,825 against $48,795 base MSRP).
What they share
- 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
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $48,795 | $22,825 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (Front) | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 221 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 198 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 4.892 |
| Transmission type | — | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 61.4 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 202 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 13.3 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.3 in | 40.6 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.9 in | 42.3 in |
| Third-row legroom | 40.7 in | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,652 lbs | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,608 lbs | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,810 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut-type | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multilink | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | EPS | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Lexus Interface | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 36 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.5 in | 56.5 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53.9 in | 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
145 features · differences first, then sharedSafety30 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | 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 |
| Panoramic View Monitor | opt | — |
| 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 |
| Rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance | — | std |
| Side Air Curtains (front and rear passengers) (2) | — | 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 | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Driver Monitor | opt | — |
| Front Cross Traffic Assist | opt | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | opt | — |
| Lane Change Assist | opt | — |
| Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 | std | — |
| Rear Pedestrian Detection | opt | — |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist | opt | — |
| 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 |
Infotainment27 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-fi Hotspot (tied to Navigation) | std | — |
| 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 |
| 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display | std | — |
| 2 front 60W USB-C ports | std | — |
| 2 rear 15W USB-C ports in armrest | opt | — |
| 2 rear 60W USB-C ports | std | — |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | — | 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 w/ minimum 3-year-trial* | std | — |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| Head-Up Display | opt | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| Integrated Streaming w/ Spotify® | std | — |
| Lexus app | std | — |
| Lexus Interface w/ 14.0-inch touchscreen display | std | — |
| Mark Levinson® 17-speaker, 1,800-watt PurePlay Surround Sound Audio System | std | — |
| Remote Connect* (minimum 3-year trial included) | std | — |
| Safety Connect* (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| Service Connect* (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| SiriusXM® with 360L (3-month trial included) | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Charging - Qi format | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | — | std |
| HomeLink® garage door opener | std | — |
| Power Door Locks (ignition key reminder, 2-turn unlocking, inside handle override) | — | std |
| Power trunk w/ kick sensor | std | — |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | — | std |
| SmartAccess | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone climate control with interior air filters, smog sensor and automatic recirculation mode | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
| Multi-zone climate control w/ rear-seat controller | opt | — |
Seating18 differ · 18 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way power-adjustable driver seat w/ memory and 4-way lumbar adjustment | std | — |
| Heated Front Seats | std | — |
| Power driver's seat with lumbar support | std | — |
| Ventilated seats | std | — |
| Heated and ventilated rear seats | opt | — |
| Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver's seat and outside mirrors with Seat Easy Access | std | — |
| 10-way power-adjustable driver seat w/ memory and 4-way lumbar adjustment | std | — |
| 6-way Driver's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | — | std |
| 2-way power-adjustable driver's side rear passenger seat and 4-way power-adjustable rear passenger seat w/ ottoman and massage function | opt | — |
| 4-way Passenger's adjustable Bucket | — | std |
| 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat w/ memory | std | — |
| Driver's seat power cushion extender | opt | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Front seat radiant knee heater | std | — |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
Interior20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | std | — |
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Active noise control | std | — |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Front Map Lights | — | std |
| Perforated NuLuxe® interior trim | std | — |
| Perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim | std | — |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | — | std |
| Thematic ambient lighting | std | — |
| Thematic ambient lighting w/ bamboo layering trim | 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 |
Exterior26 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Sunroof power glass – tilt and slide, safety one-touch | std | — |
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| Heated power-folding outside mirrors with auto tilt-down in reverse | std | — |
| 19-inch alloy wheels | std | — |
| 21-inch alloy wheels | opt | — |
| Acoustic front and side window glass | std | — |
| Auto Easy Door Closer (soft close) | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | — | std |
| Cornering lamps | std | — |
| Digital latch electronic door handles | std | — |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | — | std |
| Full LED Rear Taillights (turn signal and hazard bulb) | std | — |
| Grille - Black | — | std |
| Headlamp washer | opt | — |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Heated power-folding outside mirrors with auto tilt-down in reverse | std | — |
| LED headlamps w/ auto leveling and daytime running lights | std | — |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | std | — |
| Rear camera washer | std | — |
| Window Belt Moldings - Black | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | opt | — |
| 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 |
Powertrain9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Configuration: FWD | — | std |
| AC dual-voltage charging cable supporting Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) input | std | — |
| Braking regen paddle shifters | std | — |
| CCS to NACS (J1772 to J3400) AC plug adapter | std | — |
| CCS1 to NACS (J1772 combo to J3400) DC plug adapter | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (ECO, Normal, Sport, Custom) | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | — | 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, NCAPLexus ES
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Hyundai Elantra
Safety Signal 68 D
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 4 · 0 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Wheels (1), Air Bags (1), Unspecified (1)
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Wheels 26V693000 · 17 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $48,795 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $48,795 – $60,195 8 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV, HEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | ES 350e (19 inch Wheels) | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 127 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $600 | $1,250 |
| EV range | 307 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 76.5, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, safety. The Hyundai Elantra is ahead on price and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Lexus ES scores 83.5 and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra 76.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,825 against $48,795, a gap of $25,970 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Lexus ES: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 4 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 Lexus ES and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Lexus ES wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 4 filed with NHTSA), is rated 127 combined against 54 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $650 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $1,250). Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra answers: it lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 2 and starts $25,970 lower ($22,825 against $48,795 base MSRP). What they share: 5 seats.