2020 Lexus ES 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 had a more conservative and upscale look, the 2019 version adopted a more geometric and kaleidoscopic design, which may not have been as universally appealing. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, adding design flair to the air vents, a carbon-texture finish to some plastic housings, new gauges, and revised dashboard controls. The interior quality was high, with a robust and solid shifter, although some materials felt inexpensive, which is typical for a compact car.

In contrast, the 2020 Lexus ES underwent a transformation to shed its "boring" label, adopting a more aggressive look with a larger spindle grille that meshed well with the car's larger proportions. The rear featured thin taillamps and a pronounced kink at the back of the side windows, adding to its rakish appearance. Inside, the ES blended modern technology with an organic aesthetic, featuring soft-touch materials and a large infotainment screen integrated into the dash. The interior was considered one of the best among luxury sedans, second only to Mercedes-Benz.

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 acceleration was acceptable, the driving dynamics did not inspire much excitement. The car offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Sport mode adding unwelcome weight to the steering. The Elantra achieved an EPA rating of 32 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it returned 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, and the ride quality was somewhat busy due to the inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph. The ES provided confident acceleration and a comfortable, refined ride, thanks to its Dynamic Control Shocks. The F Sport trim offered an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with adjustable dampers and additional drive modes, including Sport+ for a more engaging driving experience. The ES was not a high-performance machine but offered a balanced and comfortable ride with precise steering and the ability to handle corners confidently.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort for a compact car, 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 a lack of air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a good-size center-console storage bin, a sizable glove box, and a tray for smartphones. The trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, and most trims included a hands-free trunk release feature called Smart Trunk.

The 2020 Lexus ES boasted a spacious cabin with ample head- and legroom in both rows. The front seats could slide back significantly while still leaving plenty of legroom for rear passengers. The front doors had deep pockets, and the center console featured multiple retractable panels for storage. The ES offered 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which was mid-pack for the midsize luxury segment. However, the rear seats did not fold down, limiting the ability to carry larger items.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE trim, 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, and the Limited's Infinity audio system delivered impressive sound quality. The Value Edition and Limited trims also offered a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, providing a range of safety and convenience functions.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlling either the standard 8-inch display or the available 12.3-inch display. The system was not a touchscreen, but the Remote Touch pad was intuitive once presets were set. The infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the CarPlay screen taking up the entire display. The ES came standard with a 10-speaker premium audio system, with an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo system and a head-up display.

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, and a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Lexus ES came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic high beams, pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and lane-tracing assist. The ES also featured a full array of airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.