Compare the2025 Hyundai Elantra NVS 2024 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Hyundai Elantra N are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 N are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Elantra N and 2 Series Gran Coupe have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Elantra N has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Elantra N and the 2 Series Gran Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, 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 and driver alert monitors.

The Hyundai Elantra N (Built after October 2024) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

The Elantra N comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Elantra N 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than BMW covers the 2 Series Gran Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 2 Series Gran Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Hyundai dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Elantra N’s warranty.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

The Elantra N’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 48 more horsepower (276 vs. 228) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (289 vs. 258) than the 228i Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Hyundai Elantra N is faster than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (automatics tested):

The Elantra N offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Elantra N offers an optional sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the Elantra N’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

The Elantra N stops shorter than the 2 Series Gran Coupe:

For better traction, the Elantra N has larger tires than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (245/35R19 vs. 225/45R17). The Elantra N’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (245/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The Elantra N’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Elantra N has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Elantra N’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the 2 Series Gran Coupe (107.1 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The Elantra N handles at .99 G’s, while the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Elantra N executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (24.3 seconds @ .8 average G’s vs. 25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s).

The Hyundai Elantra N may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

To minimize engine movement during hard acceleration and transmission shifts, the Elantra N has solid engine mounts. The 2 Series Gran Coupe uses conventional rubber.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Elantra N is quieter than the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe (79 vs. 83 dB).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Elantra N a Mid-size car, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe is rated a Compact.

The Elantra N has 8.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 2 Series Gran Coupe (99.4 vs. 91).

The Elantra N has .8 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

The Elantra N’s standard Proximity Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Elantra N’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Elantra N has standard extendable sun visors. The 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra N has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the 2 Series Gran Coupe.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The 2 Series Gran Coupe has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the BMW 2 Series by almost 9 to one during 2024.