2016 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2016 Chevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai Elantra

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,368/ year to fuel
34 MPG
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,500/ year to fuel
31 MPG

The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,368 a year to fuel (34 MPG), versus $1,500 for the 2016 Hyundai Elantra (31 MPG). That's roughly $132 a year, or about $662 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

  • Chevrolet Cruze
  • Hyundai Elantra

Side by side

Chevrolet CruzeHyundai Elantra
$1,368 Your annual fuel cost $1,500
34 MPG Combined efficiency 31 MPG
30 MPG City 28 MPG
40 MPG Highway 37 MPG
94 cu ft Passenger volume 96 cu ft
10 cu ft Cargo volume 15 cu ft
261 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 282 g/mi
8/10 EPA fuel economy score 8/10
8/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 8/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
1.4L 4-cyl turbo Engine / motor 1.8L 4-cyl
6-speed automatic Transmission 6-speed automatic
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.

Chevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai Elantra across model years

  • Chevrolet Cruze
  • Hyundai Elantra

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 Hyundai Elantra has more cargo space (15 vs. 10 cu ft).

Among 67 2016 midsize cars, the Chevrolet Cruze ranks 16th and the Hyundai Elantra 19th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze or the 2016 Hyundai Elantra?

Measured by cost to drive, the Chevrolet Cruze. The Chevrolet Cruze is rated 34 MPG combined and the Hyundai Elantra 31 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze vs. the Hyundai Elantra per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,368 for the Chevrolet Cruze and $1,500 for the Hyundai Elantra.

Which has more cargo space?

The Hyundai Elantra, with 15 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).

Chevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai Elantra in other years

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