Head-to-head
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Toyota Crown
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 92.8 to 85.1, on price, fuel & range. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and performance.
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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…
vs
A2026 Toyota Crown
The 2026 Toyota Crown is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Crown Hybrid AWD, is EPA-ra…
More Hyundai Elantra head-to-heads More Toyota Crown head-to-heads Every Elantra vs Crown model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 92.8 to 85.1, on price, fuel & range. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and performance.
Price 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 44.9
Safety 2026 Toyota Crown leads by 19.5
Fuel & range 2026 Hyundai Elantra leads by 24.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Crownoverall 85.1 | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 92.8 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 55.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 75.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 97.8 | 78.3 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 95.6 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 96.4 | 85.2 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 98.4 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 85.1 | 92.8 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Crown: base trim XLE AWD · 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 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It starts $18,615 lower ($22,825 against $41,440 base MSRP).
- It costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $1,650).
- It is rated 54 combined against 41 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 4 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 21.
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 | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,440 | $22,825 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,487 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.5-liter Dynamic Force 4-cylinder | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 184 hp | 147 hp |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 42 mpg | — |
| MPG (combined) | 41 mpg | — |
| MPG (highway) | 41 mpg | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 4.892 |
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.8 in | 5.3 in |
| Overall height | 60.6 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 72.4 in | 71.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 15.2 cu-ft | 14.2 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 114 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.2 in | 40.6 in |
| Second-row headroom | 37.5 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.1 in | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | 38.9 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | — | 38 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,980 lbs | 2,868 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,980 lbs | 2,725 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,020 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with stabilizer bar | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) rack parallel-type | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 38 ft | 17.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 328 mm | — |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) |
| Rear brake diameter | 318 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 15 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 6 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/55R19 | 195/65R15 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 14.5 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Safety Connect / Remote Connect / Drive Connect / Service Connect / Wi-Fi Connect | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 60 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.1 in | 56.5 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 55.1 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
135 features · differences first, then sharedSafety37 differ · 43 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA - camera only) w/ Pedestrian Detection | — | 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 |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Auto High Beams | std | — |
| Automatic High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Brake Hold function | std | — |
| Collision sensors: deactivate high-voltage battery | std | — |
| Cruise control | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger Whiplash-Injury-Lessening seats | std | — |
| Eight airbags — includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, and front and rear curtain shield airbags | std | — |
| Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column | std | — |
| Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones | std | — |
| Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control | std | — |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane Tracing Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Proactive Driving Assist | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Road Sign Assist | std | — |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | — | std |
| Side-impact door beams | std | — |
| Smart Pedal | — | std |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 3.0 | std | — |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System | std | — |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Blind-Spot Collision-Warning (BCW) w/ Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCA) | std | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) w/ Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control System (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS) and Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Anti-theft System integrated with Remote Keyless Entry and Panic | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | std | std |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | 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-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription. | 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 |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | — | std |
| Five USB-C charge ports — two front/two rear/one in console | std | — |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | — | std |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app (1-year trial subscription) | std | — |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports (5-year minimum trial subscription) | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | — | std |
| Wireless Charging - Qi format | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | std | — |
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | — | std |
| One 12V/120W auxiliary power outlet in front console | 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 |
| Power window with auto up/down and jam protection | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual zone automatic climate control system with dust and pollen filter, and rear-seat vents | std | — |
| Manual Air Conditioning | — | std |
Seating14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 Split Fold-down Rear Seatback with adjustable headrests (all) center armrest w/ cup holder | std | — |
| Heated Front Seats | std | — |
| Power driver's seat with lumbar support | std | — |
| Ventilated seats | std | — |
| Heated rear 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 |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | — | std |
| Leather-trimmed front seats with seatback pockets | std | — |
| Premium cloth seating surfaces | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | — | std |
| 60/40 Split Fold-down Rear Seatback with adjustable headrests (all) center armrest w/ cup holder | std | — |
Interior22 differ · 23 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel, with audio, infotainment and driver-assist controls | std | — |
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | — | std |
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal transceiver | std | — |
| 12.3-in. digital gauge cluster with selectable gauges | std | — |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | — | opt |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | — | std |
| Covered center console, armrest and storage | std | — |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | — | std |
| Front Map Lights | — | std |
| Heated, leather-trimmed tilt/telescopic steering wheel, with audio, infotainment and driver-assist controls | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed shift knob | std | — |
| LED front and rear reading lights and cargo area light | std | — |
| Overhead console with maplights and Safety Connect® button | std | — |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel | — | std |
| Two front and two rear cup holders; two front-door and one rear bottle holder | std | — |
| Urethane steering wheel | — | std |
| Inside Rearview Mirror - Manual Day/Night | — | std |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension (Driver and Passenger) | std | — |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | — | std |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | — | std |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension | std | std |
Exterior17 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual LED Projector Headlights | — | std |
| Heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators, puddle lights and power-folding feature | std | — |
| 19-in. multi-spoke machined-finish two-tone alloy wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic noise-reducing windshield and driver and front passenger side windows | std | — |
| Bi-LED projector low- and high-beam headlights, Automatic High Beams and auto on/off | std | — |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | — | std |
| Color-keyed outside door handles with front door touch-sensor lock/unlock feature | 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 |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing glass | std | — |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wiper | std | — |
| Window Belt Moldings - Black | — | std |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | — | std |
| Solar Glass | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| Rear Seat Heater Ducts and Rear Window Defroster | std | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | std | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive / Full-Time Electronic All-Wheel Drive | std | — |
| Drive Configuration: FWD | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | — | std |
| Idle, Stop & Go | — | std |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | — | std |
Chassis6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | — | std |
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | — | std |
| Electric Parking Brake | 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, NCAPToyota Crown
Safety Signal 94 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 2 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (1), Electrical System (1)
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
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| Toyota CrownXLE AWD | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,440 (base trim) | $22,825 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,440 – $54,990 4 trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Crown Hybrid AWD | Elantra Hybrid Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 41 | 54 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,650 | $1,250 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 92.8 to 85.1, on price, fuel & range. The Toyota Crown is ahead on safety and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 92.8 and the 2026 Toyota Crown 85.1. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts lower — $22,825 against $41,440, a gap of $18,615 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Crown or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
2026 Toyota Crown: 5 NHTSA stars, 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 Toyota Crown and the 2026 Hyundai Elantra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it starts $18,615 lower ($22,825 against $41,440 base MSRP), costs $400 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $1,650), and is rated 54 combined against 41 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2026 Toyota Crown answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (2 against 4 filed with NHTSA) and lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 21. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.