2020 Toyota Corolla vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, with its redesigned exterior, was not considered particularly attractive, resembling other modern Toyotas with their aggressive styling. However, when equipped with SE or XSE trim and the Celestite paint colour, the Corolla presented a more appealing look, especially when compared to other Toyota sedans. The interior of the Corolla XSE showed significant improvement in perceived quality, with soft-touch surfaces replacing the previously cheap, hard plastics. Despite these enhancements, the transmission shifter reminded drivers of the Corolla's economy car status, lacking the solid feel found in competitors like Hyundai or Kia.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra stood out with its Sensuous Sportiness design language, featuring sharp creases and dramatic angles that gave it a distinctive and appealing look. The Z-shaped dent in the doors, a controversial design cue, added to its unique character. The Elantra's styling improved with higher trims, and the interior offered a driver-focused dashboard with a clear delineation between driver and passenger areas. The Ultimate trim, with its light gray interior, provided a modern and upscale feel, while lower-grade interiors appeared drab in comparison.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla offered a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower for the L, LE, and XLE trims, paired with a CVT. The SE and XSE trims featured a more powerful 169-horsepower, 2.0-litre engine, and a more sophisticated CVT with paddle shifters. The Corolla XSE provided a sporty driving experience with a smooth and stable ride, thanks to its independent rear suspension. However, the lack of a turbocharger limited its acceleration capabilities, making it struggle in traffic and on inclines. Fuel efficiency for the XSE was rated at 7.7 L/100 km in the city and 6.1 on the highway, with an average of 7.9 L/100 km during testing.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and a CVT, providing adequate power for urban driving but feeling underpowered on highways. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, delivered 139 horsepower and impressive fuel efficiency, averaging 5.6 L/100 km. The Elantra N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 horsepower, offering a fun driving experience with sport suspension and larger brakes. The high-performance Elantra N, with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 276 horsepower, provided an exhilarating driving experience with advanced features like an electronic limited-slip differential and customizable driving modes.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, smaller than a Camry, offered adequate space for a family of four, though rear passengers found the lack of air-conditioning vents and USB ports inconvenient. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the low seating position made entry and exit challenging. The interior had limited storage space, and the trunk offered 371 litres of cargo capacity.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car, provided ample space with a height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat offered best-in-class legroom, though the backrest lacked upper back support. The Elantra's trunk measured 402 litres, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. However, the absence of a height-adjustable front passenger seat and rear air-conditioning vents were noted drawbacks.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla featured the Entune 3.0 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen and familiar controls. Higher trims offered an 8-inch display and additional features like SiriusXM and advanced voice recognition.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a digital instrument cluster. The system included dynamic voice recognition and a Sounds of Nature function. A Bose premium audio system was available, enhancing the audio experience.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering features like low-light pedestrian detection, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The Corolla received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warning. Higher trims offered additional features like cyclist detection and Highway Drive Assist. The Elantra's new platform was designed to absorb and disperse collision energy effectively.