Hyundai Elantra vs Toyota Camry: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (July 2026), the Hyundai Elantra typically lists for $22,299 against $29,049 for the Toyota Camry (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). The Hyundai Elantra takes fuel economy (31 MPG combined vs 29 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 $19,787 vs the LE at $24,588; 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 ($19,787) faces the Toyota Camry LE ($24,588); the most common trims on the market are the SEL (32.7% of Hyundai Elantra listings) and the SE (74.2% of Toyota Camry listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($23,259) faces the SE ($29,648). 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.
| Hyundai Elantra | Toyota Camry | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| SELMost popularCheapest | $19,787 | 32.7% | LECheapest | $24,588 | 11.5% |
| BLUE | $20,946 | 1.9% | XLE | $28,451 | 3.8% |
| SE | $20,998 | 13.4% | XSE | $29,174 | 10.4% |
| SEL CONVENIENCE | $21,521 | 11.7% | SEMost popularPriciest | $29,648 | 74.2% |
| SEL SPORT | $22,007 | 14.3% | — | ||
| LIMITED | $22,506 | 21.1% | — | ||
| N LINEPriciest | $23,259 | 3.3% | — | ||
| SEL SPORT PREMIUM | $25,232 | 1.6% | — | ||
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
| Year | Hyundai Elantra typical | Toyota Camry typical | Difference | Hyundai Elantra MPG | Toyota Camry MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $23,720 | $34,071 | Toyota Camry +$10,351 | 35 MPG | 43–51 MPG |
| 2025 | $22,299 | $29,049 | Toyota Camry +$6,750 | — | 44–51 MPG |
| 2024 | $20,499 | $26,748 | Toyota Camry +$6,249 | — | 25–32 MPG |
| 2023 | $20,085 | $25,598 | Toyota Camry +$5,513 | — | 25–32 MPG |
| 2022 | $18,238 | $23,991 | Toyota Camry +$5,753 | — | 25–32 MPG |
| 2021 | $16,598 | $21,995 | Toyota Camry +$5,397 | — | 25–32 MPG |
| 2020 | $13,499 | $20,995 | Toyota Camry +$7,496 | 35 MPG | 25–32 MPG |
| 2019 | $11,900 | $18,999 | Toyota Camry +$7,099 | 33 MPG | 26–32 MPG |
| 2018 | $10,993 | $18,044 | Toyota Camry +$7,051 | 33 MPG | 26–32 MPG |
| 2017 | $9,980 | $15,587 | Toyota Camry +$5,607 | 33 MPG | — |
| 2016 | $8,500 | $13,995 | Toyota Camry +$5,495 | 30 MPG | — |
| 2015 | $7,950 | $12,995 | Toyota Camry +$5,045 | 27–30 MPG | — |
| 2014 | $7,995 | $11,995 | Toyota Camry +$4,000 | 27–30 MPG | — |
| 2013 | $6,995 | $10,995 | Toyota Camry +$4,000 | 31–32 MPG | — |
| 2012 | $6,495 | $10,195 | Toyota Camry +$3,700 | — | — |
| 2011 | $6,499 | $7,999 | Toyota Camry +$1,500 | — | — |
| 2010 | $5,398 | $7,925 | Toyota Camry +$2,527 | 29 MPG | — |
| 2009 | $4,997 | $7,495 | Toyota Camry +$2,498 | — | — |
| 2008 | $4,992 | $6,995 | Toyota Camry +$2,003 | — | 22–25 MPG |
| 2007 | $4,722 | $6,925 | Toyota Camry +$2,203 | — | 23–25 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 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 $22,299 versus $29,049 for the Toyota Camry (national medians, July 2026).
Which gets better fuel economy — Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Camry?
The Hyundai Elantra: its typical rated version returns 31 MPG combined versus 29 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 $19,787 vs $24,588 for a Toyota Camry LE; the most common trims on the market are the SEL ($19,787, 32.7% of Hyundai Elantra listings) and the SE ($29,648, 74.2% of Toyota Camry listings); at the top of the market, the N LINE ($23,259) faces the SE ($29,648). 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.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/hyundai/elantra/vs/toyota/camry.
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.