2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Tesla Model 3
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 81 to 72.9, on price, tech & comfort, safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
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 Tesla Model 3
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Premium RWD, is …
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 81 to 72.9, on price, tech & comfort, safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
| Category · weight | 2026 Tesla Model 3overall 72.9 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 81 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 61.7 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 42.3 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 60.7 | 80.8 | ||||||||||||
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 | 100 | 72.8 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 59 | 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 | 72.9 | 81 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Tesla Model 3: base trim Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD · 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 has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 30 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 3.
- It starts $14,165 lower ($22,825 against $36,990 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers
- It is rated 139 combined against 54 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,250).
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
41 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $36,990 | $22,825 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Electric Motor | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 147 hp |
| Torque | — | 132 lb-ft |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 4.892 |
| Transmission type | Single-Speed | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.4 in | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.7 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 186 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 76.1 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 24 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) | — | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,759 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 | — | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 15 in |
| Wheel material | — | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 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
100 features · differences first, then sharedSafety24 differ · 24 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | 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 |
| 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 |
| 8 exterior cameras | std | — |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Traffic-aware cruise control | 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 |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wireless phone chargers | std | — |
| 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 |
| 15.4" First-row touchscreen | std | — |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | — | std |
| 3 USB-C ports | std | — |
| 7 Speaker audio system | std | — |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | — | std |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| Grok voice assistant | std | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| Over-the-air software updates | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
Convenience4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | — | std |
| Hands-free power open on approach | 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 |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen adjust air vents | std | — |
Seating11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Front Seats | std | — |
| 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 |
| First-row power recline | std | — |
| Five-seat interior | std | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | std | — |
| Vegan leather with textile inserts | std | — |
Interior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | std | — |
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Center console with extended storage | std | — |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Front Map Lights | — | std |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | 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 |
Exterior14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | — | std |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | — | std |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | — | std |
| Grille - Black | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | — | std |
| LED headlights; Auto and adaptive high beams | std | — |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | std | — |
| Panoramic glass roof | 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 | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Configuration: FWD | — | std |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | std | — |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
| Supercharging Max 225 kW; Pay Per Use | std | — |
Chassis6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | 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 |
| Passive shock absorbers | 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, NCAPTesla Model 3
Top recalls
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
Hyundai Elantra
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| Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $36,990 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $36,990 – $54,990 4 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Model 3 Standard RWD | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 139 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $550 | $1,250 |
| EV range | 321 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 81 to 72.9, on price, tech & comfort, safety. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 81 and the 2026 Tesla Model 3 72.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,825 against $36,990, a gap of $14,165 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Tesla Model 3 or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Tesla Model 3: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 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 Tesla Model 3 and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 30 filed with NHTSA), lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 3, and starts $14,165 lower ($22,825 against $36,990 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers: it is rated 139 combined against 54 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $700 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $1,250). What they share: 5 seats.