Discover the Special Features of Hyundai Elantra vs. Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla

Smaller cars are ideal for running around town doing errands, getting the kids to daycare, or taking grandma to the grocery store. When it comes to compact cars, there are a lot of options to choose from. Here we offer three top contenders in this category, highlighting a few differences to help you decide which is best for your lifestyle.

Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is a reliable car with a smooth ride and competent handling on winding roads. Interior and exterior updates give the Elantra a more sophisticated feel than some of its competitors, and Hyundai’s use of technology in the Elantra is notable. A five-inch display screen is integrated into the infotainment system, which is easy to figure out and use while on the road. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available features, as is wireless charging. This makes it easy to listen to your favorite music or podcast and stay connected while on longer trips. The Elantra also has a good dose of modern driver technology, including blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist. The Elantra sports plenty of cargo space for the family and is available in both sedan and hatchback models.

Nissan Sentra

The Nissan Sentra also gets good marks for reliability, but you’ll notice a decidedly underpowered ride. The engine strains while passing or traveling uphill. The Sentra has a spartan interior that looks outdated and drab, but it benefits from a user-friendly infotainment system with a seven-inch touchscreen. Available features include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as satellite radio and premium speakers. When it comes to driver assist technology, the Sentra is on equal footing with the Elantra. Where this car pulls ahead is in the cargo space. The Sentra has cavernous cargo space for this class, so families with a lot of stuff to haul may prefer this vehicle to either of the others. The Sentra is not available in a hatchback.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla drives well, offering smooth performance and handling, in spite of sluggish acceleration. The Corolla gets bonus points for exceptional gas mileage; it comes in above its competitors in this category. Inside, you’ll find the cabin comfortably appointed, but too many hard plastic surfaces create a lower-end feeling than the manufacturer probably anticipated. Another drawback to the Corolla is the cargo space. The Corolla is lacking here, and those with a lot of luggage may struggle to get it all in. Driver assist features are plentiful in the Corolla, with many of them coming as standard equipment rather than available options. Toyota makes the Corolla in both sedan and hatchback models, although they’re very different from each other.

Can’t Decide?

If we were choosing, we’d go with the Hyundai over the other two. It’s an overall more comfortable ride, it comes with many standard features, and it’s a better value for your hard-earned dollars.