Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota Camry: Which Used Buy Wins?

As used buys (August 2026), the Hyundai Elantra typically lists for $21,995 against $28,627 for the Toyota Camry (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Hyundai Elantra takes fuel economy (31 MPG combined vs 25 MPG); the Toyota Camry leads on NCAP safety (4.9★ vs 4.7★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the SEL at $19,533 vs the LE at $24,800; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.

Head to head

Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)

A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Hyundai Elantra SEL ($19,533) faces the Toyota Camry LE ($24,800); the most common trims on the market are the SEL (28.6% of Hyundai Elantra listings) and the SE (76.7% of Toyota Camry listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($23,201) faces the XSE ($29,024). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.

Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Hyundai Elantra prices · Toyota Camry prices.

Used price by model year

Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (August 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to buy used — Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Camry?

Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Hyundai Elantra is cheaper: it typically lists for $21,995 versus $28,627 for the Toyota Camry (national medians, August 2026).

Which gets better fuel economy — Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Camry?

The Hyundai Elantra: its typical rated version returns 31 MPG combined versus 25 MPG for the Toyota Camry (median across EPA-rated versions of the compared years).

Which is safer — Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Camry?

By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Toyota Camry averages 4.9 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.7 for the Hyundai Elantra. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.

Which is more reliable — Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Camry?

NHTSA lists an average of 3.2 recalls per model year for the Hyundai Elantra and 3.8 for the Toyota Camry — an edge for the Hyundai Elantra. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.

Which trims should I actually compare?

Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Hyundai Elantra SEL typically lists for $19,533 vs $24,800 for a Toyota Camry LE; the most common trims on the market are the SEL ($19,533, 28.6% of Hyundai Elantra listings) and the SE ($28,900, 76.7% of Toyota Camry listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($23,201) faces the XSE ($29,024). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.

Dig deeper

Hyundai Elantra — live listings & specs Toyota Camry — live listings & specs Hyundai Elantra prices by year Toyota Camry prices by year Hyundai Elantra MPG by year Toyota Camry MPG by year

See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.