2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant transformation with its seventh-generation redesign, shedding its previous unremarkable appearance for a bold and striking new look. The redesign introduced a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, creating a dramatic four-door-coupe silhouette that set it apart from its predecessors. The Elantra's exterior styling, while reminiscent of the midsize Sonata sedan, carved out its own unique identity with distinctive creases and folds on the doors forming a "Z" shape. This design choice added character and helped differentiate it from both the Sonata and rival compact sedans. Inside, the Elantra's interior saw improvements in material quality, offering a slightly above-average experience for the compact car class, despite some hard plastic elements. The Elantra's starting price of around $20,000 made it an attractive option, especially considering its advanced tech features.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a new design language for the luxury car line, featuring a bold front-end styling with an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. The front fascia, with its thin LED accent lights and recessed headlights, initially received mixed reactions but grew on observers over time. The 7 Series offered two style themes: the standard M Sport with chrome grille accents and the M Sport Professional with a more aggressive blacked-out look. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, while the rear end boasted distinctive horizontal taillights. Inside, the 7 Series impressed with a modern and minimal interior, featuring a broad horizontal layout and a curved pane of dark glass housing the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials quality was excellent, with options like light gray cashmere wool-blend upholstery adding a cozy touch. The rear seats, especially with the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package, exuded premium luxury.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While adequate for most buyers, the engine could feel underpowered during hard acceleration. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine and electric motor, delivered 139 horsepower and up to 195 lb-ft of torque, offering a more dynamic driving experience with its six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The N Line variant, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, provided a sportier option with either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension and larger front brake rotors enhanced its handling dynamics, making it a compelling choice for driving enthusiasts.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two powertrains: the base 740i with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, and the 760i xDrive with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The 740i accelerated to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, while the 760i xDrive achieved it in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive impressed with its quick and fluid response, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 7 Series' handling was sportier than its rivals, with a slightly stiffer ride quality that wasn't intrusive. Sport mode further enhanced the air suspension and steering responsiveness, appealing to drivers who valued performance alongside comfort.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra excelled in practicality, with its compact size making it easy to navigate tight spaces. The interior offered clear instrumentation and controls, along with ample storage options. While the N Line's low seating position required extra effort to enter and exit, the Elantra provided excellent visibility and a comfortable cabin. The rear seat accommodated three children comfortably on long journeys, though taller adults might find the sloped roof limiting headroom. The Elantra's trunk offered 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, sufficient for a weekend's worth of luggage, though the narrow trunk opening posed a challenge for accessing items near the seatbacks. Some drawbacks included a droning noise from the moonroof when fully open and a lack of USB ports and rear air conditioning vents.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, though they could be cumbersome to use. Inside, the front seats offered generous padding and power adjustments, with standard heating and ventilation. The rear seats provided ample space for tall passengers, with the lounge seating option adding a reclining passenger-side seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than some competitors, with a wide and deep layout for easy loading. Interior storage was adequate, with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and small bins for personal items.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, especially considering its price point. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch display audio touchscreen with a rearview camera, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and dual USB ports. Higher trims added more speakers, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Limited trims boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a fully digital instrument cluster. Hyundai Digital Key allowed Android users to unlock and start the car without a physical key. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with seamless Apple CarPlay integration, though the six-speaker audio system's performance was only adequate.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came equipped with iDrive 8, BMW's latest infotainment system, offering a wealth of features. It could be operated via touchscreen, central dial, or voice commands, though the menu structure could be complex. Voice controls helped navigate the system, but they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System delivered impressive audio quality. The optional theater screen had some usability challenges, with inconsistent touchscreen inputs. Overall, iDrive 8 felt less intuitive compared to previous versions and rival systems.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra prioritized safety with its standard SmartSense suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Additional features like adaptive cruise control and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. 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 2023 BMW 7 Series had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control and highway driving assistant performed smoothly, reducing driver fatigue on long trips. BMW planned to introduce a level 3 automated driving system in some markets, though it required additional equipment.