Corolla vs. Elantra
Toyota Corolla vs. Hyundai Elantra: Which Compact Sedan Should You Buy in Pueblo, CO?
Southwest Motors is a great place to shop if you want a pre-owned sedan. Why? Our used car dealership in Pueblo has a massive inventory year-round, which often includes as many as 100 four-door cars for sale. Two value-oriented sedans are the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
Differences in dimensions
From the outside, the Elantra and the Corolla look nearly the same size. The sedans measure exactly the same in overall height at their tallest points and have the same wheelbase length. The Corolla stretches less than a half-inch longer in length due to its elongated hood. The Elantra is tad wider, which provides extra hip room and shoulder room for passengers.
The boxy shape of the Elantra maximizes passenger volume, whereas the Corolla bears a form made for aerodynamics and stylishness. The Elantra also prioritizes trunk space, offering more than an additional cubic foot of space between the seatbacks and the lid than the Corolla does.
Both of these models come in hatchback forms too, with the Hyundai hatch version dubbed the Elantra GT.
Differences in styling
Of the two compact sedans, the Corolla flaunts a sportier appearance — especially after its 2020 redesign. The Toyota car has more angular headlamp tilts, cooler wheel spoke patterns, and more defined character lines. The Elantra prefers a more conservative, traditional appearance.
Those dynamics continue inside, where the Corolla has a more cockpit-like aesthetic and sloped dashboard, while the Elantra has a conventional, T-shaped dash.
Differences in power and performance
The Elantra tends to offer a stronger base engine that cranks out around 10 more horsepower thanks to its larger displacement. Torque also peaks higher on the Elantra’s basic engine. The Elantra Sport’s upgraded turbocharged engine also boasts stronger performance and smooth shifting with its dual-clutch transmission.
The Toyota Corolla’s wheels are slightly wider for a planted stance and better traction on winding roads in Colorado. But, that also means the Corolla’s turning radius is a foot wider than the tight circles you can drive in the Elantra.
The Corolla’s rear brakes are the same size as the front brakes, which the Elantra’s front brakes are far bigger than its diminished rear brakes. The Elantra opts for torsion beam suspension in the rear, while the Corolla prefers a multi-link suspension that glides smoother over bumps without jolting the car around.
Differences in fuel economy
According to EPA estimates, recent model years of the Corolla and Elantra tend to be comparable in fuel economy — though the Elantra does a bit better on highways. For instance, when comparing base engines in 2020, the EPA rated the Elantra with 40 average MPG on the highway and the Corolla at 38 mpg on the highway.[1] With the Elantra’s bigger gas tank, that translates to a longer cruising range when you pilot the Hyundai car.
However, the Corolla has offered a hybrid powertrain for much longer than the Elantra has, giving drivers in Colorado the option of electricity-bolstered energy.
Differences in technology
The Elantra skimps on the technology that’s included on its bare-bones base models, which tend to carry smaller entry-level touch screens and lack Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Corolla models splurge a bit more on tech; this is evident in the inclusion of Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 on all newer Corolla models. The Corolla also has a history of better IIHS safety scores than the Hyundai Elantra does.
Elantra offers Driver Attention Warning as a standard feature in recent models, which isn’t available on the Toyota Corolla. But, the Corolla has adaptive cruise control as part of TSS 2.0. Of course, the exact features you’ll find on any vehicle at Southwest Motors depends on the model year and trim level.
You can find many pre-owned sedans for sale at Southwest Motors, your used car dealership in Pueblo, Colorado. We carry many discontinued nameplates that you won’t find elsewhere, including used sedans from your favorite automakers.
[1] Fuel economy estimated by EPA for comparison only. Mileage may vary.