Top Safety Pick

2025 Hyundai Elantra

small car / 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Standard blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention
Standard rear automatic braking

Key

Good
Acceptable
Marginal
Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2021 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Elantra conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall driver-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2015
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Footrest (cm)	6
Left toepan (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	1
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	3
Lower instrument panel (cm)	2

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2015
Head
HIC-15	122
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	20
Maximum Nij	0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm)	30
Femur (kN)
Left	1.4
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.62
Right	0.45
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	4.5
Right	1.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	126
Right	85

Passenger-side

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2021 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Elantra conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall passenger-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head contacted the right side of the frontal airbag but began to slide into the gap in coverage between the frontal and side curtain airbags, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The inflated side curtain airbag has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2020
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	5
Footrest (cm)	7
Right toepan (cm)	3
Center toepan (cm)	2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	4
Right lower dash (cm)	4

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2020
Head
HIC-15	143
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm)	27
Femur (kN)
Left	0.1
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.37
Right	0.62
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.9
Right	1.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	32
Right	48

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2020
Head
HIC-15	67
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm)	15
Maximum Nij	0.14
Chest maximum compression (mm)	34
Femur (kN)
Left	0.2
Right	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.31
Right	0.29
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.3
Right	0.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	40
Right	48

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Elantra SE 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2021 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Elantra conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2020
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	5
Left (cm)	9
Center (cm)	6
Right (cm)	4
Brake pedal (cm)	7
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-2
Rearward (cm)	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2020
Head
HIC-15	153
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm)	6
Maximum Nij	0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm)	32
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.6
Femur force - right (kN)	0.9
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	0
Maximum tibia index - left	0.32
Maximum tibia index - right	0.28
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	42
Right	46

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Elantra SEL 4-door

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2021 model year. Two tests of the Hyundai Elantra were conducted and ratings from both are shown below.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head remained a safe distance from the front seatback.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt moved too far upward toward the dummy’s neck, compromising the effectiveness of the rear restraint system.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2404	CEF2508
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	5	6
Left (cm)	9	10
Center (cm)	8	9
Right (cm)	4	5
Brake pedal (cm)	4	3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	1	0
Right (cm)	1	1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-2	-2
Rearward (cm)	-5	-5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEF2404	CEF2508
Head
HIC-15	129	132
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.9	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	12	7
Maximum Nij	0.20	0.21
Chest maximum compression (mm)	30	29
Femur (kN)
Left	0.1	0.2
Right	0.1	0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0	0
Right	0	1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0	0
Right	0	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.29	0.29
Right	0.38	0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.6	2.0
Right	1.4	1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	59	59
Right	57	78

Test ID	CEF2404	CEF2508
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion	no contact	no contact
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.7	1.6
Compression (kN)	0.5	0.7
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion	no contact	no contact
Chest
Chest index	34	36
Shoulder belt tension (kN)	3.4	3.4
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression	0.4	0.4
Right femur compression	0.5	0.3

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2024 Hyundai Elantra SEL 4-door 4wd

The Hyundai Elantra was redesigned for the 2021 model year. Beginning with 2024 models, reinforcements were added to the door beam, B-pillar and sill and a rear seat thorax airbag was added in addition to a pre-tensioning retractor with load limiter to the rear seatbelts. These changes were implemented to improve occupant safety in side impact crashes. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2024 Elantra conducted by Hyundai.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2338
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-23.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2338
Head
HIC-15	189
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.4
Compression (kN)	-0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	28
Lateral force (kN)	1.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	32
Average deflection (mm)	30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.27
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.66
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	4.9

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2338
Head
HIC-15	167
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.5
Compression (kN)	-0.7
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	30
Lateral force (kN)	0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	38
Average deflection (mm)	35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.51
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.69
Pelvis
Combined force (kN)	2.5

About the side crash test

Headlights

Trim level(s)

All trims

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	All trims
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED projector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2024-25 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	91.0 m	None
Straightaway left edge	63.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	72.7 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	67.9 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	61.0 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	56.0 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	162.4 m
Straightaway left edge	118.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	77.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	72.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	62.0 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	57.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Rating applies to all 2024-25 models

System details

standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph.

Crossing adult — night

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph.

Parallel adult — night

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 2.1 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 27 mph and a warning was issued 1.3 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2024-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration	Long enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)	None

Technical measurements for this test

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	SE
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	SE
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	25
Clearance angle (degrees)	67
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	73
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	13
Clearance angle (degrees)	74
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	30
Clearance angle (degrees)	69
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation

Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h	50 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h	66 dB
Difference between background and signal	16.3 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h	52 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h	66 dB
Difference between background and signal	13.2 dB
Dominant audio frequency	552 Hz