2016 Hyundai Elantra GT Vs 2015 Subaru Impreza

Going mainstream isn’t always a bad thing.

If you’re a hip indie band or the coolest craft brewery this side of a “fixie” bike, then going mainstream may be the worst idea ever. But, when it comes to big business, mainstream is where the money’s at.

For well over a decade now, Hyundai has made incredible strides to bring the Korean car maker from a value alterative to a full-fledge big-time player. Speaking of Hyundai in the same sentence as Toyota, Honda and Ford is now the norm.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Chevrolet Cruze vs 2015 Subaru Impreza

Although Subaru is still a little bit quirky with the brand’s symmetrical all-wheel drive and opposed engine design, Subaru of 2015 is a far cry from Subaru circa 2000. No longer are vehicles like the SVX, Baja and B9 Tribeca being churned out by the Japanese automobile manufacturer. Now, the focus is on mainstream, everyday models that general consumers should appreciate.

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As much as things have changed, Hyundai and Subaru still remember what brought them success in the first place. For Hyundai it’s always been about value for the money while Subaru is synonymous with all-weather capability.

All versions of the Impreza continue to come with full-time all-wheel drive. This helps the Impreza laugh-off foul weather like rain, sleet and snow. Power comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 148 HP and 145 lb-ft of torque.

Permanent all-wheel drive does no favors for fuel economy, but Subaru has worked hard to make AWD and respectable fuel economy possible. Officially rated at 27 MPG city and 36 MPG highway, the Impreza holds an efficiency edge over the more powerful Elantra that is rated at 24 MPG city and 33 MPG highway. During our real world testing though, the Impreza did not live up to its numbers and could only muster a 29 MPG average compared to the Elantra’s 30.1 MPG average.

Comfort is another area where Hyundai holds an edge over Subaru. Suspension softness is fairly equal between the two vehicles but the Subaru’s seats feel flatter than the more supportive front buckets in the Elantra GT.

Outward visibility is another story. Subaru has this absolutely nailed and the field of vision out of the Impreza couldn’t be better. Thin A-pillars, a boxy shape and door-mounted side mirrors make seeing where you’re driving much easier in the Impreza than the Elantra.

With 23.0 cubic feet of total space, the shorter Elantra holds a small half cubic foot advantage over the Impreza. Fold the rear seats down though and the Impreza does regain a small advantage.

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That’s because Subaru offers nearly an inch more rear legroom compared to the Elantra and when it comes to the comfort of backseat passengers, the Impreza wins hands down.

The interior designs of the two cars couldn’t be any more different. Subaru’s door panels and dashboards are improving, but it’s still hard to shake the feeling that an engineer designed them. Not all surfaces feel of quality or match one another. At least the infotainment system is finally integrated into the dashboard and most of the AutoGuide team like Subaru’s StarLink system.

The Elantra’s design is much better though. Mimicking that of the large Sonata mid-size sedan, the Elantra GT has the right mix of buttons and touch screen controls that are intuitive to use. Materials used inside the Elantra GT feel of higher quality and everything looks better integrated.

A big factor in value though is price. Starting at $18,075 after destination charges, a base model Elantra SE Sedan undercuts the cheapest Impreza 2.0i sedan by $915. Load up the Elantra GT Hatchback and the price totals $26,550, which is less than a loaded Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited Hatchback that lists at $28,385. Oh, and of course Hyundai’s warranty can’t be beat.