Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra HybridVS 2025 Tesla Model 3

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Elantra Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Elantra Hybrid Sport SEL/Limited has a standard Blue Link, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Elantra Hybrid and the Model 3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid is safer than the Tesla Model 3:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Elantra Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Model 3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra Hybrid 2 years longer than Tesla covers the Model 3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Model 3 ends after only 8 years.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra Hybrid for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model 3.

There are over 4 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra Hybrid’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Elantra Hybrid’s reliability 37 points higher than the Model 3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 104 more problems per 100 vehicles, Tesla is ranked 32nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Tesla With 54 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Hyundai higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Tesla.

The Elantra Hybrid stops shorter than the Model 3:

The Elantra Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Elantra Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Elantra Hybrid Limited Sedan handles at .85 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Elantra Hybrid’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Hyundai Elantra Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 950 to 1000 pounds less than the Tesla Model 3.

The Elantra Hybrid has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model 3 (99.4 vs. 97).

The Elantra Hybrid has .3 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra Hybrid’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Elantra Hybrid to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

The Elantra Hybrid’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra Hybrid has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Elantra Hybrid is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model 3, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Elantra Hybrid offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model 3.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Elantra Hybrid equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model 3, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model 3’s traditional radio, the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and the Tesla Model 3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Model 3 has never been chosen.