2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2022 Volkswagen Jetta

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its seventh-generation redesign, moving away from its previous unremarkable appearance. The new model boasted a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, creating a striking four-door-coupe silhouette. Its exterior styling, while reminiscent of the midsize Sonata, had its own unique personality, with distinctive creases and folds forming a "Z" shape on the sides. Inside, the Elantra's interior saw improvements in material quality, offering a slightly above-average experience for the compact car class. Despite some hard plastics, the advanced tech features and starting price of around $20,000 made it a compelling choice. The Elantra was available in four trim levels in Canada, with the N Line offering sporty styling elements and a black interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a mild makeover, with subtle exterior updates that were easy to overlook. The front fascia, bumper, and grille featured more chrome, while the rear bumper had a more square design. The Jetta's exterior changes were subtle, akin to differentiating one black suitcase from another. The interior updates were equally subtle but appealing, with new rhombus-patterned cloth seats and contrast stitching. The Jetta Highline offered a two-tone leather interior option and a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel. The 8-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster was standard across the lineup, with the Highline receiving the 10-inch Digital Cockpit Pro and an 8-inch touchscreen-navigation system.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine was standard on Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate trims, with a six-speed manual transmission standard on Essential and a CVT optional on Essential and standard on other grades. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle engine paired with a 32-kilowatt electric motor, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT in Canada. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension enhanced its handling dynamics, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta featured a single engine option: a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. This engine replaced the previous model year's 1.4-litre turbo-four, offering a slight increase in horsepower. The Jetta was available with a standard 6-speed manual or an optional 8-speed automatic transmission, with the automatic standard on the Highline trim. The Jetta's fuel economy was impressive, with estimates of 8.0 L/100 km city, 5.5 highway, and 6.9 combined for the manual transmission. The Jetta's powertrain, however, was its downfall, with a touchy throttle and turbo lag. The Jetta offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Custom drive modes, but the overall driving experience was tepid.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was designed for practicality and ease of use. Its compact size made it easy to navigate tight spaces, and the instrumentation and controls were user-friendly. The Elantra offered ample storage options, and the seats were comfortable, though the N Line's low seating position required extra effort to get in and out. The Elantra provided excellent visibility and could accommodate three children comfortably in the back seat. However, taller adults might find the rear seat headroom limited due to the sloped roof. The Elantra's cargo space was adequate at 402 litres, though the trunk opening was narrow. The power tilt-and-slide moonroof produced a noticeable droning noise when fully open, and the lack of rear USB ports and air conditioning vents was a minor inconvenience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta offered a spacious interior for a compact car, with ample passenger space for four adults. The front seats provided good thigh support, though the elevated lip might not suit shorter individuals. The cabin was driver-centric, with buttons for quick access to climate control, audio, and seat controls. The Jetta offered practical storage solutions, including door pockets, a centre console bin, and a sunglass holder. The centre storage bin lacked a latch, but it was still functional for keeping items out of sight.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, especially considering its price point. The base Essential trim featured an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with a rearview camera, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims added more speakers, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Ultimate and N Line trims boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The N Line's infotainment system was easy to pair with smartphones, though the six-speaker audio system was only adequate.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta received a technology upgrade with the Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster standard across all models. The Comfortline and Highline trims featured an 8-inch infotainment system with customizable views and widgets. The Highline offered the Digital Cockpit Pro with a 10.25-inch display and additional widgets. The Jetta's infotainment system allowed for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and MirrorLink integration, with Bluetooth and USB-C ports standard. The test vehicle included premium Beats Audio sound and a remote start system.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with automatic emergency braking standard across all trims. Other driver-assist technologies were optional on the Essential trim and standard on higher trims, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. The Elantra received top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with five stars for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings in all IIHS crash tests.

The 2022 Volkswagen Jetta included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian recognition as standard features. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist were available from the Comfortline trim. The Jetta's Travel Assist and Emergency Assist features provided additional driver support. However, the Jetta fell short of a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to an "Acceptable" score in the updated side crash test and "Marginal" to "Poor" headlight ratings. The NHTSA awarded the Jetta a five-star overall safety rating.