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Tuscaloosa Toyota | Tuscaloosa, AL
A midsize sedan versus a compact sedan. Different size classes, different drivetrains, different capability. Tuscaloosa buyers deserve a straight comparison of both.
| Feature | 2026 Toyota Camry Toyota | 2026 Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Class | Midsize Sedan Larger Class | Compact Sedan |
| Starting MSRP | $29,100 (LE FWD) | $22,625 (SE) |
| Powertrain | Hybrid-only | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid Hybrid Standard | Gas standard | Hybrid option available |
| Horsepower | 225 hp FWD / 232 hp AWD More Power | 147 hp (gas) | 139 hp (hybrid) |
| AWD Availability | Available on Nightshade, XLE, XSE AWD Available | FWD only -- no AWD option |
| Best Combined MPG | 51 mpg combined (LE FWD) | 54 mpg combined (Hybrid Blue) |
| Gas MPG (Base Trim) | 51 mpg combined -- all Camrys are hybrid | 35 mpg combined (SE gas) |
| Trunk Space | 15.1 cu ft More Cargo | 14.2 cu ft |
| IIHS Safety Rating | Top Safety Pick+ | Top Safety Pick+ |
| NHTSA Safety Rating | 5 Stars Overall 5-Star | Not confirmed (2026) |
| KBB Award | KBB Best Midsize Car KBB Award | -- |
| Base Infotainment | 8-in (LE) | 12.3-in available | 8-in (SE) | 10.25-in (SEL Sport Premium+) |
| Safety Suite | Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 -- all trims | Hyundai SmartSense -- all trims |
| Basic Warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Hybrid Battery Warranty | 10 yr / 150,000 mi More Miles | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Complimentary Maintenance | ToyotaCare: 2 yr / 25,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
MSRPs exclude destination. Specs from Toyota.com, Hyundai.com, Edmunds, IIHS. Use for comparison only.
The Elantra has real strengths. These four differences explain why the Camry is the right choice for Tuscaloosa buyers who need midsize space, AWD, and long-term hybrid performance.
The 2026 Elantra is a compact sedan -- a smaller vehicle designed for efficient urban commuting. The 2026 Camry is a midsize sedan -- longer, wider, and with more interior volume. That class difference matters at highway speed on I-20 between Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, and it shows up every time a UA family loads gear into the trunk.
The Camry carries 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space versus 14.2 in the Elantra. It provides more rear seat legroom. Every Camry trim is a hybrid, which means 51 mpg combined with midsize space -- a combination the Elantra's gas lineup cannot match.
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is FWD only. Gas and hybrid alike -- no AWD option exists on any Elantra trim. The 2026 Camry offers Electronic On-Demand AWD on the Nightshade Edition, XLE, and XSE, with a rear electric motor that also adds 7 net horsepower.
For Tuscaloosa commuters on I-59 in winter rain, or drivers heading to Bankhead National Forest on slick rural routes, AWD availability is a real capability gap. The Elantra cannot bridge it at any price.
The 2026 Camry FWD produces 225 net combined HP. The Camry AWD produces 232 HP. The 2026 Elantra Hybrid produces 139 HP combined -- 86 fewer than the base Camry. Even the Elantra N Line, the performance-tuned trim, produces 201 HP and is a separate model at $30,645 or more.
For Tuscaloosa drivers merging onto I-20/I-59 in traffic, or carrying a full car of passengers with luggage for a road trip to Gulf Shores, that power difference is tangible. The Camry is a midsize car; it is built to carry more weight with more confidence.
Both the Camry and Elantra Hybrid carry a 10-year hybrid battery warranty. The difference is mileage: Toyota covers 150,000 miles. Hyundai covers 100,000 miles. That is 50,000 additional miles of protection on the most expensive component in either hybrid system.
The Elantra has a longer basic warranty (5yr/60K vs 3yr/36K) and longer powertrain warranty (10yr/100K vs 5yr/60K) -- advantages worth acknowledging. But for Tuscaloosa drivers who put 20,000 miles per year on a car commuting I-20 to Birmingham, the Camry's extra hybrid battery mileage is where the long-term value lives.
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is a genuinely strong compact sedan. Its $22,625 entry price is among the lowest in the class. Its Hybrid Blue trim achieves 54 mpg combined -- better than the Camry's 51 mpg. Its basic warranty covers 5 years and 60,000 miles, versus Toyota's 3 years and 36,000 miles. Its powertrain warranty runs 10 years and 100,000 miles, versus Toyota's 5 years and 60,000 miles. It even includes 3 years of complimentary maintenance versus ToyotaCare's 2 years. The Elantra earns IIHS Top Safety Pick+ -- the same award as the Camry. Buyers who prioritize low entry price, compact car efficiency, and broad warranty terms will find the Elantra a legitimate choice.
The Camry wins where the Elantra genuinely cannot compete. It is a midsize sedan with more interior space and 15.1 cubic feet of trunk room. Every single Camry is a hybrid -- no base-trim gas engine -- delivering 51 mpg across the full lineup. It produces 225-232 HP versus the Elantra Hybrid's 139 HP. It offers AWD on three trims; the Elantra has no AWD option. Its hybrid battery warranty covers 150,000 miles versus 100,000. For Tuscaloosa families on University Boulevard, I-20 commuters, and drivers who want midsize space at hybrid efficiency, the Camry answers in ways the Elantra cannot.
| Specification | 2026 Toyota Camry | 2026 Hyundai Elantra |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing and Class | ||
| Vehicle Class | Midsize Sedan Larger | Compact Sedan |
| Base MSRP | $29,100 (LE FWD) | $22,625 (SE) |
| Top Gas Trim | N/A -- all Camrys are hybrid | N Line -- $30,645 (1.6T, 201 hp) |
| Base Hybrid Trim | LE -- $29,100 (51 mpg combined) | Hybrid Blue -- $25,450 (54 mpg combined) |
| Engine and Powertrain | ||
| Engine | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid (all trims) Hybrid Standard | 2.0L NA gas (SE-Limited) | 1.6L hybrid (Hybrid trims) |
| Horsepower | 225 hp FWD / 232 hp AWD More Power | 147 hp gas | 139 hp hybrid |
| Torque | 163 lb-ft | 132 lb-ft gas | 195 lb-ft hybrid |
| Transmission | eCVT (all trims) | CVT (gas) | 6-speed DCT (hybrid) |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard | AWD available (Nightshade, XLE, XSE) AWD Available | FWD only -- no AWD option exists |
| Fuel Economy (EPA Est.) | ||
| Best Midsize Hybrid MPG | 51 mpg combined (LE FWD) Midsize at 51 MPG | N/A -- Elantra is a compact class |
| Best Compact Hybrid MPG | N/A | 54 mpg combined (Hybrid Blue) |
| Base Trim Gas MPG | 51 mpg combined -- all Camrys are hybrid | 35 mpg combined (SE gas) |
| Dimensions and Cargo | ||
| Overall Length | 192.1 in | 185.4 in |
| Trunk Space | 15.1 cu ft More Cargo | 14.2 cu ft |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers | 5 passengers |
| Technology and Infotainment | ||
| Base Screen Size | 8-inch touchscreen (LE) | 8-inch touchscreen (SE) |
| Available Screen Size | 12.3-inch (SE and above) | 10.25-inch (SEL Sport Premium and above) |
| Wireless CarPlay / Auto | Standard all trims | Standard on 8-inch; wired-only on 10.25-inch |
| Safety | ||
| IIHS Rating | Top Safety Pick+ 2026 | Top Safety Pick+ 2026 |
| NHTSA Rating | 5 Stars Overall 5 Stars | Not confirmed (2026) |
| Standard Safety Suite | Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 | Hyundai SmartSense |
| Blind Spot Monitor | Standard all trims | Standard all trims |
| Warranty -- Honest Comparison | ||
| Basic Coverage | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Powertrain Coverage | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Hybrid Battery Coverage | 10 yr / 150,000 mi More Miles | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Complimentary Maintenance | ToyotaCare: 2 yr / 25,000 mi | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Awards | ||
| Awards | IIHS TSP+, KBB Best Midsize Car, 5-Star NHTSA Multiple Awards | IIHS TSP+ |
MSRPs exclude destination and handling. EPA ratings for comparison only. Actual mileage varies. Specs sourced from Toyota.com, Hyundai.com, Edmunds, IIHS.org as of June 2026. Elantra warranty applies to original owner; powertrain warranty reduces to 5yr/60K upon transfer.
The Elantra is a compact sedan. The Camry is a midsize sedan -- more room in every direction. Where the Elantra suits a single commuter or a small household, the Camry fits the full reality of Tuscaloosa life: long I-20 stretches to Birmingham, UA tailgates with a full carload, or family driving along US-82 toward Demopolis.
And every Camry -- from the $29,100 LE to the $37,800 XSE AWD -- includes a hybrid drivetrain at no extra cost. There is no gas-only Camry. You get 51 mpg combined in a midsize car without paying a hybrid premium over the base price.
The 2026 Elantra Hybrid produces 139 HP. The 2026 Camry FWD produces 225 HP -- 86 more. The Camry AWD produces 232 HP. That power difference is the midsize sedan doing what a compact cannot: carrying weight with confidence at interstate speed.
The Elantra N Line pushes to 201 HP via a turbocharged engine, but it is a performance variant starting at $30,645 -- priced near the Camry, without a hybrid drivetrain, without AWD, and in a compact class body. The Camry at $29,100 includes 225 HP and hybrid efficiency from the base trim.
It is important to be direct here: Hyundai offers an industry-leading warranty. The Elantra's basic warranty runs 5 years and 60,000 miles -- versus Toyota's 3 years and 36,000 miles. Its powertrain warranty runs 10 years and 100,000 miles -- versus Toyota's 5 years and 60,000 miles. The Elantra also includes 3 years of complimentary maintenance versus ToyotaCare's 2 years.
Where the Camry wins on warranty is hybrid battery mileage. Toyota covers the battery to 150,000 miles. Hyundai covers it to 100,000 miles. For Tuscaloosa high-mileage drivers who put 18,000-20,000 miles per year on a commute to Birmingham, those 50,000 extra miles of hybrid battery coverage are the most expensive protection on either vehicle.
The 2026 Camry offers a 12.3-inch touchscreen on SE trims and above. The Elantra tops out at a 10.25-inch screen -- and that larger Elantra screen requires a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, where the Camry's 8-inch and 12.3-inch screens both support wireless connectivity.
Tuscaloosa Toyota at 3325 Skyland Blvd E is a Toyota-certified service center staffed by technicians trained specifically on the fifth-generation hybrid system in the 2026 Camry. Service opens at 7 AM Monday through Saturday. ToyotaCare covers factory-scheduled maintenance for the first two years of ownership.
Tuscaloosa Toyota is located at 3325 Skyland Blvd E in Tuscaloosa, AL. We carry the full 2026 Camry lineup -- LE, SE, Nightshade Edition, XLE, and XSE -- in FWD and AWD configurations. We serve Tuscaloosa, Northport, Birmingham, Bessemer, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, and Alabaster.
Our service department is Toyota-certified with technicians trained on the fifth-generation hybrid system in the 2026 Camry. We open at 7 AM Monday through Saturday. ToyotaCare is included with every new Camry purchase -- covering factory-scheduled maintenance at no cost for the first two years.
The Elantra has real strengths. We acknowledge them. But if you need midsize space, AWD availability, more horsepower, and a hybrid system covered for 150,000 miles, come test drive the Camry. It is worth 30 minutes of your time on Skyland Boulevard.
Real Tuscaloosa buyers have driven Camrys off Skyland Boulevard for years. Read their reviews before you schedule a test drive.
Address: 3325 Skyland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 Sales: (205) 553-3325 Service: (205) 561-2048 Website: tuscaloosatoyota.com
Sales Hours: Mon-Sat 9AM-6PM Service Hours: Mon-Sat 7AM-6PM
Tuscaloosa Toyota is on Skyland Blvd E -- accessible from McFarland Boulevard, US-82, and I-20/I-59. The 2026 Camry is available for test drives Monday through Saturday during sales hours.
Common questions from Tuscaloosa-area buyers comparing these two sedans.
Tuscaloosa Toyota
The Elantra is a well-built compact sedan and we said so. The Camry is bigger, more powerful, AWD-capable, and covers its hybrid battery 50,000 miles further. Tuscaloosa Toyota has all five trims on Skyland Boulevard. Drive both before you decide.
Tuscaloosa Toyota | 3325 Skyland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 | Mon-Sat 9AM-6PM Sales | Mon-Sat 7AM-6PM Service
