2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra received a significant facelift, featuring new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, redesigned wheels, and a revamped trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. While the previous model's design was considered upscale and conservative, the 2019 version adopted a more geometric and kaleidoscopic look, which may not have been as universally appealing. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, with new air vents, a carbon-texture finish on some plastic housings, updated gauges, and revised dashboard controls. The interior quality was high, with a robust shifter and tightly assembled parts, though some materials felt inexpensive. The Elantra was available in various trims, with the Limited trim offering a base price of $23,485, and the Ultimate Package adding advanced safety and convenience features, bringing the total to $26,690.

The 2020 Honda Civic, a staple in Honda's lineup, was available in three body styles: sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback. The Civic's design was sharp and visually stimulating, with a svelte roofline, body panel creases, and wide, arcing headlights. The 2019 model year updates, including new grilles, bumpers, and wheels, carried over to 2020, with additional enhancements for the Si sedan and coupe, such as matte-black 18-inch wheels and LED fog lights. The Civic hatchback also received new bumper and light changes. Inside, the Civic featured a simple yet high-quality interior with soft-touch materials, gloss-black trim, and pleasing design elements. The 2020 model introduced new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si trim.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. While the Elantra offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, the driving dynamics were not particularly inspiring. The Sport mode added weight to the steering, making it less desirable, and the Smart mode was not very perceptive. The Elantra achieved an EPA rating of 32 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing showing 29.3 mpg on a modified loop and 32.4 mpg after a week of driving. Handling was decent, with no significant praise or criticism for the steering and brakes. The ride quality was somewhat busy due to the inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions across its lineup, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The EX and higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine producing 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, with the hatchback versions making 180 horsepower. The Civic Si, with a 1.5-liter engine boosted to 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, and the Type R, with 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, were performance-oriented models. The Civic Si featured adaptive dampers and a balanced, direct driving experience, while the Type R was remarkably composed despite its power. The Si's EPA rating was 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, slightly lower than the base LX sedan.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort, with height-adjustable seats for both the driver and front passenger. Most trims included heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. However, backseat comfort was less impressive, with hard plastic front seatbacks and no air conditioning vents or USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a good-size center-console storage bin, a sizable glove box, and a tray for smartphones. The Elantra's trunk provided 14.4 cubic feet of space, and most trims included a hands-free trunk release feature called Smart Trunk.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured a significantly improved interior with a volume knob, better cupholders, and more sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback models had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Civic's three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console offered configurable storage. Rear passengers enjoyed considerable room, though the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight. The sedan's trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim included an Infinity premium sound system, and the Ultimate Package added an 8-inch display, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a good balance of knobs and buttons. The Elantra also offered a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, providing a range of safety and convenience functions.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, slow, and complex compared to newer Honda models. The 7-inch touchscreen, standard on all models except the base LX, included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch, a camera system for the right-side mirror, was also included. Automatic climate control was standard, and Honda Sensing, with active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams, was available on all trims. The EX-L and Touring trims included leather seats and rain-sensing wipers.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems starting with the SEL trim, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH child-seat anchors. The NHTSA gave the Elantra a 4-star overall rating, with 4-star ratings for frontal and side-impact protection for rear-seat occupants.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned the Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R, with top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.