2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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. The Elantra's exterior styling, while reminiscent of the midsize Sonata, had its own unique personality, with distinctive creases and folds forming a "Z" shape on the doors. 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 N Line trim added sporty elements like N Line design fascias, chrome twin-tip exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels, enhancing the car's sporty look and feel.

In contrast, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class exuded calm sophistication with its clean lines and sculpted front end. The S 580e plug-in hybrid variant featured optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style bumpers and side skirts, adding a touch of sportiness. Inside, the S-Class offered a luxurious experience with 15 different leather upholstery colours and five trim materials. The Sienna Brown and Black leather in our tester, along with a panoramic sunroof and superb fit and finish, created an opulent atmosphere. The soft headrests added to the comfort, making it a challenge for drivers to stay awake, while passengers could enjoy epic cat naps.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-litre Atkinson-cycle engine, a 32-kilowatt electric motor, and a 1.32-kilowatt-hour battery, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trim boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and multi-link independent rear suspension enhanced its handling dynamics, while larger front brake rotors provided more stopping power.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580e combined a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and an electric motor, offering 90 km of all-electric range. The powertrain delivered 510 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission. The S 580e accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in about 4.4 seconds, matching the S 580 with its twin-turbo V8. The S-Class featured a buttery soft air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and seamless transitions between electric and gas power in Hybrid mode. The nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth gear shifts, although a slight jerk was noted when downshifting into first gear.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a compact size that made it easy to navigate tight spaces, with clear instrumentation and controls. The N Line's low seating position required extra effort to get in and out, but once inside, the Elantra provided excellent visibility. The rear seat accommodated three children comfortably, although taller adults might find headroom limited due to the sloped roof. The Elantra's trunk offered 402 litres of cargo space, with a narrow opening due to the sloping roofline. However, the trunk lid support arms could crush items in their path. 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 source of irritation.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and armrests. Power sunshades and soft-closing doors added to the luxury experience. The ambient lighting offered 64 colours for a customizable atmosphere. The Energizing Comfort wellness program combined lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls for a mood-boosting experience. The S-Class provided ample small storage spaces, but the trunk offered only 350 litres of cargo space, less than the standard S-Class's 550 litres. For more space, the Porsche Panamera plug-in hybrid or luxury plug-in hybrid SUVs were recommended.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra impressed with its technology offerings, including an 8-inch display audio touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and four speakers on the base Essential trim. Higher trims added features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, and a fully digital instrument cluster. The N Line trim in Canada featured the Bose system, while the U.S. version had a six-speaker setup. The infotainment system was easy to pair with smartphones, and Apple CarPlay integration was seamless.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen with the MBUX infotainment system. The system offered a variety of games, a natural-language AI assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native navigation system impressed with augmented reality, displaying numerical addresses and arrows overlaid on a video from the forward-facing camera. The stoplight view feature, however, was deemed unnecessary. Wireless charging and USB-C ports were available, and the standard Burmester sound system catered to audiophiles.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, with automatic emergency braking standard across all trims. Other features, such as forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning, were standard on higher trims. The Elantra received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests. However, lower-level trims with halogen headlights received a "Marginal" rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class boasted an extensive array of ADAS safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. The hands-on highway driver-assist system used adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping to enhance safety. Crosswind Assist and Speed Limit Assist added to the S-Class's safety credentials. However, the S 580e had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.