2019 Honda Civic vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the Mazda3, still offered a unique upscale style with its gloss-black upper grille, revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. Its graceful silhouette was often compared to an Audi A7, with a long hood balancing a sizable cabin and short tail featuring distinctive wraparound LED lights. The Touring-trim model boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights resembling tiny crystals, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The introduction of a new Sport trim brought some of the exterior flair of the performance-oriented Si trim at a lower cost. The Civic Hatchback, with its aggressive rear end, and the Coupe model, offered varied styles, while the Type R hatchback catered to speed enthusiasts. The interior maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme, with a central LCD screen, minimal buttons, and high-quality fit and finish, despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra underwent a redesign, introducing new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, along with redesigned wheels, trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. The design was described as kaleidoscopic, with a focus on geometric patterns. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, with new air vents, carbon-texture finishes, updated gauges, and revised dashboard controls adding excitement to the cabin. The interior quality was high, with a robust and solid shifter feel, although some materials felt inexpensive. The Elantra was available in sedan and GT hatchback models, with the Limited trim offering a range of advanced features through the Ultimate Package, enhancing both safety and convenience.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque for the LX and Sport sedans and coupes. A 6-speed manual transmission was standard on these models, with a CVT available as an option. The EX and higher trims, including the Touring, featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired exclusively with a CVT. The hatchback models came with the turbo engine as standard, delivering 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport with a manual transmission. The Si and Type R models offered more power, with the Si's 1.5-liter engine producing 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R's 2.0-liter engine delivering 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine recommended for its quick response and better mid-range acceleration. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension were noted for their sporty characteristics, providing an enjoyable driving experience.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, in its standard form, was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It offered three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Smart, with Sport mode adding liveliness but also weight to the steering. The Elantra's acceleration was deemed acceptable, with an EPA rating of 32 mpg in combined driving. Handling was decent, though not particularly inspiring, with a busy ride quality due to the torsion-beam rear-axle suspension. The Elantra GT Sport and Elantra Sport models offered more performance-oriented options, but the standard Elantra was more focused on quality and value than driving dynamics.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability compared to previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel allowed control of the central display, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered ample head- and legroom, with optional heated outboard seats, though rear air vents were absent. Cargo space was generous, with the sedan offering 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk, reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to a rear subwoofer. The coupe's trunk was smaller, while the hatchback offered up to 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console provided ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra provided good front-seat comfort, with height-adjustable seats and heated front seats in most trims. The Limited trim offered leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control. The rear seat was less comfortable, with hard plastic front seatbacks and no air vents or USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a sizable center-console bin, glove box, and door panel bins. The Elantra's trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, with a hands-free Smart Trunk feature available on most trims, allowing easy access without needing to wave a foot under the bumper.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while once considered good, had become dated compared to newer Honda models. It featured standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim. Honda's Garmin-based navigation system was a standout, offering quick and accurate voice-based input. The Civic also included LaneWatch, a camera system providing a live feed of the blind spot when the turn signal was activated.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, excluding the base SE, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim offered an Infinity premium sound system, with an 8-inch display, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services available through the Ultimate Package. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a good balance of knobs and buttons. The Limited trim also included a 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, offering a range of safety and convenience features compatible with smartwatches and smart home devices.

The 2019 Honda Civic included Honda Sensing as standard on all trims except the Si and Type R, offering forward-collision alert, emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top safety ratings from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered a range of driver-assistance features starting with the SEL trim, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a blind-spot-monitoring system. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top safety ratings from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH anchor accessibility, and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.