2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Toyota Camry
On the public data alone the Elantra edges it 4–0.
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | 2026 Toyota Camry | |
|---|---|---|
| Segment | Midsize car | Midsize car |
| Powertrains | Hybrid, Gas | Hybrid |
| Best combined mpg | 54 | 51 |
| Safety Signal | 77 | 74 |
| NHTSA recalls | 2 | 3 |
| Critical recalls | 1 | 1 |
| Owner complaints | 3 | 125 |
| NHTSA overall stars | 5 | 5 |
2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize car with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid Blue, is EPA-rated at 54 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall cam
C2026 Toyota Camry
The 2026 Toyota Camry is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize car with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Camry HEV FF LE, is EPA-rated at 51 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this
Recalls at a glance
Elantra
Electrical System
criticalProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Elantra Hybrid vehicles. The hybrid power control unit (HPCU) assembly may overheat.
Risk: Overheating in the HPCU increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the HPCU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 301. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 16, 2026.
Air Bags
highProblem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
Risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.
Camry
Electrical System
highProblem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Camry Hybrid vehicles. The instrument cluster display may fail during vehicle startup, deactivating the hazard lights, turn signals, seat belt warning system, and smart key reminder. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 101, "Control and Displays," 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment," 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention," and 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An instrument cluster that fails to display critical safety information increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 21, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 26TB16 and 26TA16.
Hybrid Propulsion System
criticalProblem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Camry Hybrid and 2026 Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles. A bolt inside the inverter may not have been tightened properly, causing incomplete contact at the inverter terminal.
Risk: Incomplete contact can cause a loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, a loose bolt can cause an electrical short while the vehicle is powered on, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inverter assembly, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed July 23, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 25TB15/25TA15.
Back Over Prevention
minorProblem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
Green cells mark the better value on that row. Complaint counts scale with sales volume; treat them as a pattern signal, not a verdict. Sources: EPA, NHTSA.