Hyundai Elantra vs BMW i4

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

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
BMW i4 in South Africa

BMW i4

M60 xDrive Gran Coupé Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 1,750,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 442 kW 🔧 795 Nm
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

Hyundai Elantra vs BMW i4: the short answer

i4 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Elantra.

Recorded price context Elantra: last listed from ZAR 448,900 · i4: current from ZAR 1,500,000

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Elantra i4
Maximum Power Elantra85 kW @ 6300 rpm i4442 kW
Maximum Torque Elantra143 Nm @ 4500 rpm i4795 Nm
Engine Size Elantra1497 cc i4Not Applicable
Combined Fuel Economy Elantra17.5 km/l i4Not Applicable
Ground Clearance Elantra130 mm i4140 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

Independent editorial assessment

Hagalu editorial ratings

When a variant is selected, its rating out of five applies only to that exact derivative; a model-range review is not inherited. Editorial ratings are separate from the Specification Evidence Index out of 100 and are not customer ratings.

Hyundai Elantra

1.5 IVT Fluid

Hagalu editorial rating Not yet rated

No complete editorial rating is published for this exact variant. This is not a zero score.

How Hagalu rates cars

BMW i4

M60 xDrive Gran Coupé

Hagalu editorial rating
3.9/5

Desk research · Exact variant

Hagalu Editorial Team ·

Editorial assessment, not a customer rating. Not road-tested for this review.

Read the review and score breakdown

Not yet rated means a complete review is not published; it does not mean the vehicle scored zero. Read the rating methodology.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Elantra

Strengths
  • Nothing stands out clearly here.
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: General Use
Specification evidence leader

i4

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • No obvious weak spots to flag.
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Elantra

  • Buyers who prefer this derivative's confirmed specification mix

i4

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed 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 i4
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 Battery-electric G26 Gran Coupé with four doors, a rear liftback and a road-car seating position.
Facelift History Seventh generation launched globally in 2020 and brought to SA; significant leap in styling and interior quality over the previous generation Current updated G26-based i4 Gran Coupé range in South Africa; current derivative identity is eDrive35 and M60 xDrive.
Facelift Launched Since 2020 Original current-generation version
Body Style Sedan Sedan
Production Status discontinued active
Segment Sedan Premium Sedan
Tare Mass Kg 1355 kg -
Vehicle Type Sedan Car
Facelift Version Ending Not confirmed Current
Model Year Not confirmed 2026
Spec Elantra i4
Length 4680 mm 4783 mm
Width 1825 mm 1852 mm
Height 1415 mm 1448 mm
Wheelbase 2720 mm 2856 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 130 mm 140 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) Not Officially Disclosed 125 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 47 l 0 l
Boot/Cargo Space 473 l 470 l
Kerb Weight 1355 kg 2285 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1860 kg 2730 kg
Payload Capacity 505 kg 520 kg
Towing Capacity Not Officially Disclosed 1600 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 4 doors 4 doors
Minimum Turning Radius Not Officially Disclosed 5.6 m
Front Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 994 mm
Rear Headroom Not Officially Disclosed 944 mm
Front Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 1036 mm
Rear Legroom Not Officially Disclosed 888 mm

In depth: how these cars differ

This Elantra and i4 comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Elantra 36 vs i4 100.

Efficiency index: Elantra 67 vs i4 90.

Safety-equipment index: Elantra 84 vs i4 92.

Practicality index: Elantra 61 vs i4 61.

Ownership-cover index: Elantra 65 vs i4 not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

i4 leads by 24 points

i4 holds a noticeable catalogue-index lead over Elantra.

Evidence leader 86 /100
Lead 24 points
Data 69% source coverage
86
#1 Evidence leader

i4

69% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 61
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 61
Leads by 24 points
62
#2

Elantra

93% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 84 Check Performance 36
Performance 36
Efficiency 67
Safety 84
Practicality 61
Ownership 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance i4 +64 Efficiency i4 +23 Safety i4 +8 Practicality Level

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

i4

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 61/100

Elantra

Performance 36/100
Efficiency 67/100
Safety 84/100
Practicality 61/100
Ownership 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW i4 leads the specification evidence index with 86 pts vs 62 pts for Elantra

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, i4 leads. However, Elantra may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Related comparisons

Continue with closely related South Africa models and comparable body styles.

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Elantra vs i4 questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.