2020 Toyota Camry vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, redesigned two years prior, featured a tailored look inspired by the Genesis G80 sedan. For 2019, Hyundai introduced new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, along with redesigned wheels, a new trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. The design was described as kaleidoscopic, and some felt it was less appealing than the previous year's model. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, with new air vents, a carbon-texture finish on some plastic housings, new gauges, and revised controls on the dashboard. The interior quality was high, with a robust and solid shifter, although some materials felt inexpensive.

The 2020 Toyota Camry aimed to reclaim its reputation for quality, reliability, and value with a renewed attention to detail. The styling was expressive, with a bold front fascia and taut lines, making it the sportiest Camry yet. Some design cues were influenced by BMW, and the car offered 14 exterior color options, including an available black roof. Inside, the Camry used uniformly nice materials, with a driver-focused dashboard design. The TRD model featured red trim accents, including bright red seatbelts, and higher trim levels had leather and wood, reinforcing the idea that a top-of-the-line Toyota was on par with an entry-level Lexus.

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. It offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, though Smart mode was not very perceptive. Sport mode made the Elantra feel livelier but added unwelcome weight to the steering. The EPA rated the Elantra at 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. The ride quality could be busy due to the inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with front-wheel drive (FWD), the same engine with all-wheel drive (AWD), a FWD 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and powerful performance. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder made 203 hp (206 in XSE trim) and was also paired with an eight-speed automatic. The AWD system could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels when needed. The front-drive Camry had an EPA combined fuel economy rating of 31 mpg in XLE and XSE trim, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD. Front-drive V6 models managed 26 mpg, except for the TRD, which was rated at 25 mpg.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort for a compact car, with height adjustment for both the driver and front passenger seats. Most Elantras had heated front seats, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. 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 forward of the shifter. The trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, and most trims included a hands-free trunk release.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to get into and drive, with most controls falling immediately to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation. However, the rear seat had less legroom, and the overall passenger volume and trunk size had shrunk. The trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The addition of AWD did not further compromise the trunk or passenger compartment, as Toyota modified the floor structure and fuel tank to accommodate it.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system running 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 system, and SiriusXM Data Services. The infotainment system was easy to use, with a good number of knobs and buttons. The Limited trim also provided a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, offering a long list of safety and convenience functions.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its lineup, along with Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system felt dated, with low-resolution graphics and inferior navigation software. However, the touchscreen was highly functional and quick to respond, with hard buttons for major functions. The standard 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch display. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were also included. Higher trim levels had a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems as standard equipment starting with the SEL trim. These included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, a blind-spot-monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-monitoring system. 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 the accessibility of its LATCH child-seat anchors. The NHTSA gave the Elantra a 4-star overall rating.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included a version of its Safety Sense suite of technologies in all models, with a pre-collision system, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was also included. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry had 10 airbags, stability control, and a backup camera. Higher trim levels offered Bird's Eye View for a 360-degree view of the space surrounding the car. The NHTSA gave the Camry a five-star rating, and the IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant.