2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2024 Hyundai Elantra

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, particularly in its Touring trim, exuded a sense of elegance and near-luxury appeal. During a test drive in New York's Hudson Valley, the Accord's sleek design drew numerous compliments, with its elongated body and refined lines reminiscent of high-end luxury sedans like the Audi A7. The updated model featured a more upright front grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and a long, flowing roofline that tapered gracefully to the trunk. The Accord's exterior was further enhanced by its 19-inch alloy wheels, available in various colors, and optional gloss-black HPD alloys. Inside, the Accord Hybrid Touring boasted a modern dashboard design, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and standard features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it a well-rounded choice for those seeking style and technology.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra showcased a bold and dramatic exterior design, characterized by its numerous creases and angular lines. While some found the design to be a bit overdone, the Elantra's N Line trim, with its Exotic Green paint and dark gray wheels, exuded a sense of brashness and sportiness. The refreshed model featured a lower-positioned grille, integrated headlights, and stainless steel Hyundai badges, adding a touch of premium flair. The Elantra's proportions mimicked those of a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan, with a low, elongated body and a fastback-inspired rear end. Inside, the Elantra offered a mix of analog and digital controls, with a thin center stack angled toward the driver and a well-designed interior that provided ample headroom and legroom for passengers. The trunk space was generous, and the overall design was both functional and stylish.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering a combined 204 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive, the Accord Hybrid offered a smooth and efficient driving experience, seamlessly transitioning between electric and gas power. Its suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, providing a comfortable ride without being overly firm or soft. The regenerative braking system featured six levels of regen, allowing for fine-tuning and ease of use. The Accord's agile handling made it a relaxing and familiar car to drive, even in tight parking spaces.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrains, with the most common trims featuring a 2.0-liter inline-four engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, this setup felt underpowered on highways. The N Line trim, with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine, delivered 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, offering a more spirited driving experience. The Elantra N, with its 276 horsepower and 289 lb-ft of torque, provided an exhilarating ride, though it suffered from turbo lag and torque steer. The Elantra Hybrid, with its 1.6-liter engine and electric motor, achieved impressive fuel economy, with nearly 60 mpg on the highway. Non-hybrid trims also offered good fuel efficiency, with the N Line sacrificing some efficiency for its power upgrade.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's interior adopted a layout similar to Honda's Civic and CR-V models, featuring a strip of honeycomb mesh trim that concealed the air vents. The dashboard housed a prominent infotainment screen, with easy-to-reach controls for climate and seat settings. The traditional gearshift provided a convenient resting spot for the driver's hand. The front seats offered excellent support and comfort, while the rear seats provided generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was slightly compromised by the roofline. The trunk offered 16.7 cubic feet of space, with a low load floor for easy access.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra's interior combined analog and digital controls, with a mechanical parking brake and conventional shifter. Shortcut buttons and climate controls were conveniently placed, though the drive mode button's location was less intuitive. Visibility was good from the front seats, and the rear offered ample legroom and headroom. The trunk provided 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with standard 60/40 folding rear seats. The N trim's X-brace limited seat pass-through, but overall, the Elantra's interior was well-designed and functional.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display. The infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-navigate graphics. The Touring trim included advanced tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a head-up display. A 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports were also standard, making the Accord Hybrid a tech-savvy choice.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen on SEL-and-above trims, with an 8-inch screen on the SE. The infotainment system was quick, with customizable menus, though the icons were small and hard to identify while driving. A Wi-Fi hotspot and digital key function were new options for 2024. The N Line and Limited trims featured an eight-speaker Bose stereo and wireless charging pad. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Limited trim, providing accurate steering on marked highways.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of active safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and more. The Touring trim added a multi-angle rearview camera and parking sensors. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. The Accord Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with high scores in crash tests and safety features.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. However, it scored worse in a new frontal crash test compared to previous models. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims added cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system.