Though let's be clear: Topman aside, and maybe Mars, they made almost all a terrible impression.
Saturn the supreme clawn. Gandhi got stopped by anyone, from Zoro to Sanji to giants. Ju Peter lol. Even Topman was stopped by Dorry and Brogy, slapped by Emeth, etc.
Not really some fearsome villains
Imagine if there were no top tier good guys in MF and it was an escape arc, then Akainu was stopped by Jimbei, cut in half by Croc, Jozu body slammed Aokiji,etc.
Im saying its the same thing, there was no fight so they couldnt show off. Next time they will.
Ok, but Akainu got his own super focus: killed Ace, took half of WB's brain, etc.
Also, he was at best stopped at gear cost, not even wounded.
Aokiji took Jozu out.
Gorosei were not treated well. (Not saying that MF wasn't an absolute mess too)
Other than plot armor for the SHs and others, Oda pretty much had to clown on the Elders just to have the SHs and others escape.
But despite being clowned on, with the exception of Saturn, none of the Elders truly went all out, heck three of the Elders have yet to show off their hybrid forms.
Also it took the SHs having plot armor, the help of the Giants, the help of the Pacifistas though Bonney, and the help of Emet just to hold back and escape from the Elders.
So even if Oda had to clown on them, they were still portrayed as huge threats who couldn't be taken down no matter what.
@Fujishiro is right, when they have full fights next time, is when we will finally see them go all out.
By then we will really know if the others are truly bums like Saturn or not.