2026 head-to-head · Midsize Car
2026 Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,329 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $1,550 for the 2026 Nissan Altima (30 MPG). That's roughly $221 a year, or about $1,107 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Hyundai Elantra
- Nissan Altima
Side by side
| Hyundai Elantra | Nissan Altima | |
|---|---|---|
| $1,329 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,550 |
| 35 MPG | Combined efficiency | 30 MPG |
| 31 MPG | City | 26 MPG |
| 40 MPG | Highway | 36 MPG |
| 99 cu ft | Passenger volume | 101 cu ft |
| 14 cu ft | Cargo volume | 15 cu ft |
| 254 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 297 g/mi |
| 6/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 6/10 |
| 6/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 6/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| CVT | Transmission | CVT |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima across model years
- Hyundai Elantra
- Nissan Altima
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Nissan Altima has more cargo space (15 vs. 14 cu ft).
Among 31 2026 midsize cars, the Hyundai Elantra ranks 11th and the Nissan Altima 14th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra or the 2026 Nissan Altima?
Measured by cost to drive, the Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundai Elantra is rated 35 MPG combined and the Nissan Altima 30 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2026 Hyundai Elantra vs. the Nissan Altima per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,329 for the Hyundai Elantra and $1,550 for the Nissan Altima.
Which has more cargo space?
The Nissan Altima, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 14 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Altima in other years
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