2019 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Honda Accord

Three years ago, Hyundai gave the Elantra a stylish makeover, drawing inspiration from the Genesis G80 sedan. This tailored look gave the 2017 Elantra an upscale appearance, with refined proportions and tidy lines. However, the 2019 Elantra featured new styling ahead of the windshield and front doors, revamped wheels, and a redesigned trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. The changes felt incongruous, leading critics to describe the overall design as kaleidoscopic and less appealing than its predecessor.

Inside, subtle updates were made to the Elantra's cabin in 2019, with improved air vent designs, carbon-texture finished plastic housings, updated gauges, and revised dashboard controls. These enhancements were small but added a touch of excitement to an otherwise unremarkable interior. The materials, while occasionally inexpensive, were well-assembled, offering a solid and quality-feeling environment. The shifter, in particular, felt robust, exemplifying the car’s build quality.

The Elantra was available in several trims, including SE, SEL, Value Edition, Eco, and Limited for the sedan, with the GT moniker reserved for the five-door hatchbacks. The sedan started at $17,100 with an additional $885 destination charge. My Limited test model had a base price of $23,485, and with the Ultimate Package—including advanced safety and convenience features—totaled $26,690.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord showcased one of the most stylish designs in its history, despite the divisive opinion on its front styling and rounded roofline. This model, particularly in its Sport and Touring trims with their 19-inch wheels, exuded a sleek and upscale appearance, much like a fastback rather than a typical family sedan. Other trims offered 17-inch wheels, which rendered a less striking presence but provided long-term value due to cheaper tire replacement costs.

The Accord was available in trims including LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring, with hybrid versions available based on similar trims. Starting prices ranged from $24,270 to $36,400. The Touring test car, complete with Radiant Red paint and Ivories interior contrasting against a black dashboard and carpets, provided a luxurious and stylish ambiance. Every touch point was soft, the leather was supple, and the matte-finish simulated wood accentuated the car's high-quality feel.

Driving dynamics and performance were essential to many, and while the Hyundai Elantra offered a reliable driving experience, it lacked inspirational zest. Equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, it produced 147 horsepower and utilized a 6-speed automatic transmission to power the front wheels. Acceleration was satisfactory, and drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes. However, Smart mode was not particularly intuitive, Sport mode added undesirable steering weight, and Normal mode was the most balanced choice.

The Elantra's EPA rating was 32 mpg in combined driving, but real-world tests revealed varied results from 29.3 mpg on a modified testing loop to 32.4 mpg after a week of driving. Handling, steering, and braking were adequate, though there was no standout aspect. The ride quality could be busy due to the inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension, and overall, the driving experience was not very rewarding but also not aggravating.

The 2020 Honda Accord offered a more diverse range of performance options to cater to different driving preferences. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. This engine was adequate for daily tasks. For those seeking fuel efficiency, the hybrid powertrain delivering 212 horsepower was impressive, averaging 42.6 mpg in a week-long test.

For performance enthusiasts, the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine was the star, generating 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided a thrilling "whoosh!" experience, though the absence of all-wheel-drive made it challenging for the front tires to manage all the power. The Accord was equipped with Economy and Sport driving modes, with Sport mode significantly enhancing powertrain response. During testing, the Accord achieved 27.4 mpg, exceeding the EPA's 26 mpg estimate.

The Accord Touring's adaptive dampers controlled body roll, dive, and squat beautifully, with the 19-inch tires providing exceptional grip in corners. The ride remained compliant over undulating pavement, though it required slow navigation over speed humps. Steering was precise, and although braking performance faltered slightly during intense usage, it remained adept in daily driving.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra provided commendable front-seat comfort for a compact car, with height-adjustable seats in every trim making entry and exit easier for people with mobility issues. Most trims featured heated front seats, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with a Clean Air ionizer system. Leather upholstery was exclusive to the Limited trim.

Backseat comfort, however, was less impressive. The proper seating position and support were somewhat mitigated by hard plastic front seatbacks unfriendly to taller passengers, and the absence of rear air vents or USB ports in Limited trim. Still, interior storage was sufficient with a sizable center console, glove box, smartphone tray, and door bins. The hands-free Smart Trunk release was convenient, offering 14.4 cubic feet of cargo space—generous for a small car.

The 2020 Honda Accord, for all intents and purposes, was a full-size sedan compared to the compact Elantra. It offered significant rear-seat legroom and cargo space, surpassing even the Toyota Camry. The Avalon might come close in terms of interior space, but the Accord was a more value-oriented choice given Avalon's high base price nearing that of a loaded Accord Touring.

Inside, the 12-way power driver’s seat in the Touring trim was supremely comfortable, offering excellent support and both heating and ventilation. Unfortunately, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The back seat boasted exceptional comfort with natural seating angles, plentiful thigh support, heated outboard positions, and rear air conditioning vents in the Touring trim. Trunk space was a remarkable 16.7 cubic feet, allowing the storage of full-size suitcases on their sides—ideal for family road trips. However, it lacked a handle or grip for easier lid closing.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra equipped most of its trims with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim received an upgrade to an Infinity premium sound system with Clari-Fi technology. The Ultimate Package further enhanced the infotainment experience with an 8-inch screen, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services, including traffic and weather.

The system was user-friendly, with sufficient knobs and buttons to minimize touchscreen reliance. The high-quality switchgear and impressive sound system further enhanced the experience. Value Edition and Limited trims also included a three-year free subscription to Blue Link services, offering a comprehensive suite of safety and convenience functions compatible with smartwatches and smart home devices.

Honda’s 2020 Accord featured an excellent 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in upper trims, complete with volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons, lovely graphics, and intuitive steering wheel controls. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text-messaging support. Starting with EX-L trim, a ten-speaker premium sound system was standard, and the Touring trim added HondaLink services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless charging.

While user-friendly, the Accord’s system lacked natural voice recognition, requiring specific commands for accurate responses. The Touring trim exclusively featured a head-up display, visible even with polarized sunglasses, enhancing driver visibility. The Accord's visibility was further aided by a reversing camera with multiple viewing angles.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered a strong suite of safety features, with most trims including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a driver-monitoring system as standard. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, and a Safe Exit system.

The Elantra received top marks from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH anchor accessibility. However, the NHTSA gave it an overall 4-star rating due to 4-star performance in frontal and rear side-impact tests.

The 2020 Honda Accord excelled in safety, earning a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA assessments. It came standard with Honda Sensing across all trims, offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and traffic sign recognition.

Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was reserved for higher trims like the Sport 2.0T and EX. While Honda Sensing was comprehensive, it required refinement, as adaptive cruise control could be smoother, and forward collision and lane-departure warnings occasionally issued false alerts.