Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota GR Supra

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Includes a historical vehicle

Current, upcoming and historical vehicles can be compared side by side. Historical records keep their verified specifications, while price labels show last-listed context rather than current new-car availability.

Hyundai Elantra Discontinued model
Hyundai Elantra in South Africa

Hyundai Elantra

1.5 IVT Fluid Petrol Discontinued model
ZAR 492,900 last listed
Discontinued model Verified historical specifications remain visible for owner and used-car comparisons.
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 143 Nm ⛽ 17.5 km/l
VS
Toyota GR Supra in South Africa

Toyota GR Supra

3.0T Manual Petrol 6-Speed Manual Current
ZAR 1,561,600 ex-showroom
⚡ 285 kW 🔧 500 Nm ⛽ 12 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance GR Supra
⛽ Fuel Economy Elantra
🛡 Safety GR Supra
📦 Practicality Elantra
🔑 Ownership Elantra
Recorded price context Elantra: last listed from ZAR 448,900 · GR Supra: current from ZAR 1,524,800

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec Elantra GR Supra
Maximum Power 85 kW @ 6300 rpm 285 kW
Maximum Torque 143 Nm @ 4500 rpm 500 Nm
Engine Size 1497 cc 2998 cc
Claimed Mileage 17.5 km/l 12 km/l
Ground Clearance 130 mm 117 mm
Boot / Load Bay 473 l 290 l
Airbags 6 9
Kerb Weight 1355 kg 1545 kg
Seating Capacity Not confirmed -
Warranty 5 3 years / 100 000 km

= leads in this spec

Archived models stay fully comparable. Verified specs remain visible; historical fields that were not source-confirmed are marked Not confirmed instead of being guessed.

The Bottom Line

Both Elantra and GR Supra are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance GR Supra +58 pts
Efficiency Elantra +20 pts
Safety GR Supra +7 pts
Practicality Elantra +25 pts
Ownership Elantra +22 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Elantra

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • More practical for daily use
  • Better long-term ownership value
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Less comprehensive safety features
Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency Family Usage
🏆 Overall Winner

GR Supra

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger safety package
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Less practical in daily usage
  • Shorter warranty coverage
Best suited to: Highway Driving

Which One's Right for You?

Elantra

  • Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency
  • Large families needing more practicality and usability
  • Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

GR Supra

  • Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
  • Families prioritising stronger safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Archived cars use verified historical spec records. Rows remain comparable; unavailable historical values are shown plainly rather than estimated.

Spec Elantra GR Supra
Model Introduced Year 1990 2021
Generation Seventh generation Elantra on Hyundai's K3 platform; bold parametric design language marks a clear break from the conservative sixth gen A90 fifth generation – co-developed with BMW on the CLAR platform
Facelift History Seventh generation launched globally in 2020 and brought to SA; significant leap in styling and interior quality over the previous generation Manual gearbox and power upgrade (280 kW→285 kW) in 2023
Facelift Launched Since 2020 2023
Tare Mass Kg 1355 kg 1545 kg
Body Style Not confirmed Sedan
Dealer Stock Note Not confirmed Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Production Status Not confirmed published
Segment Not confirmed Sedan
Vehicle Type Not confirmed Sedan
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Color Note Not confirmed Matte White, Nitro Yellow, Renaissance Red, Gravure Grey, Tungsten Silver, Black
Spec Elantra GR Supra
Drivetrain Layout FWD Rear Wheel Drive
LSD Available No Active Differential
Paddle Shifters No Standard
Engine Position Front -
Gearbox IVT Intelligent Variable Transmission 6-Speed Manual
Transmission Type Automatic Manual
Gear Shift Indicator Yes Not Applicable
Gearbox Type Automatic 6-Speed Manual
4WD Engagement Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
4WD Selector Not confirmed Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles Not confirmed Standard
Axle Layout Not confirmed RWD
Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Differential Type Front Not confirmed Not Available
Differential Type Rear Not confirmed Not Available
Drivetrain Not confirmed RWD
Front Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Number of Gears Not confirmed 6
Gear Shift Type Not confirmed 6-Speed Manual
Low Range Not confirmed Not Applicable
Low Range Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Rear Differential Lock Not confirmed Not Applicable
Transfer Case Not confirmed Not Applicable
Transfer Case Guard Not confirmed Not Available
Final Drive Ratio Not confirmed Not Applicable
Clutch Type Not confirmed Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds Not confirmed 6

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100
Verdict readout

GR Supra leads by 3 points

Both Elantra and GR Supra are extremely closely matched, making the final choice dependent on buyer preference.

Winner 67 /100
Lead 3 points
Data 85% confidence
67
#1 Winner

GR Supra

85% data confidence 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 99 Check Practicality 39
Performance 94
Efficiency 47
Safety 99
Practicality 39
Ownership 43
Leads by 3 points
64
#2

Elantra

91% data confidence 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 67
Safety 92
Practicality 64
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance GR Supra +58 Efficiency Elantra +20 Safety GR Supra +7 Practicality Elantra +25 Ownership Elantra +22

Very close match. Final decision depends on buyer preference.

Why this score View full breakdown
Overall Winner

GR Supra

Performance 94/100
Efficiency 47/100
Safety 99/100
Practicality 39/100
Ownership 43/100

Elantra

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 64/100
Ownership 65/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Toyota GR Supra wins with 67 pts vs 64 pts for Elantra

In structured scoring, GR Supra emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Elantra may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the GR Supra edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Elantra 67 vs GR Supra 47. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Elantra 92, GR Supra 99. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Elantra 65, GR Supra 43. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Elantra 64, GR Supra 39. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Elantra 36, GR Supra 94. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The GR Supra edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The GR Supra scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Elantra and GR Supra in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Elantra scores 36 vs 94.

Efficiency: Elantra scores 67 vs 47.

Safety: Elantra scores 92 vs 99.

Practicality: Elantra scores 64 vs 39.

Ownership: Elantra scores 65 vs 43.

Final structured scoring gives GR Supra the advantage in this comparison.