2019 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra underwent a significant redesign, featuring new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, along with redesigned wheels, a new trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. This kaleidoscopic design was a departure from its previous conservative look, which some found less appealing. Inside, the Elantra saw subtle improvements, such as new air vents, carbon-texture finishes on some plastic housings, updated gauges, and revised dashboard controls, adding excitement to the previously dull cabin. The interior quality was high, with a robust shifter feel, though some materials felt inexpensive, typical for a compact car. The Elantra was available in various trims, with the Limited trim offering advanced features through the Ultimate Package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and a navigation system.

The 2020 Toyota Prius maintained its iconic jellybean-like shape, optimized for aerodynamics, while incorporating visual tricks to resemble a sedan. Despite its futuristic style, the Prius remained contemporary, with a cabin defined by its central instrumentation and gauges. The Prius offered trim levels from L Eco to Limited, each adding features like alloy wheels, climate control, and driver-assistance systems. The XLE trim introduced synthetic leather upholstery, heated seats, and wireless charging, while the Limited trim featured adaptive headlights, a head-up display, and an 11.6-inch touchscreen. The Prius also celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special edition featuring unique exterior accents.

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 were not particularly inspiring. The Elantra offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Sport mode adding weight to the steering. The EPA estimated 32 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed slightly lower results. Handling was decent, with no significant praise or criticism for the steering and brakes, and the ride quality was affected by the torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 121 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. The Prius offered both front-wheel drive and an all-wheel-drive variant, the Prius AWD-e, which used a second electric motor for the rear wheels. The Prius excelled in smooth acceleration and seamless transitions between electric and conventional power. It offered EV, Eco, and Power drive modes, with Eco providing the best balance of performance and efficiency. The unique shifter design required some adjustment, and the Prius handled well for a hybrid, with a smooth ride and good bump absorption.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra provided good front-seat comfort with height-adjustable seats and available heated front seats. The backseat was less comfortable, with hard plastic front seatbacks and no rear 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 for easy access.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made excellent use of its space, with deep door pockets and a large tray area between the front seats. The front seats were spacious, with good headroom and legroom, and the rear seats offered ample space for passengers. The Prius provided 50.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet with the seats up, depending on the model. The hatchback design made loading large items easy, enhancing its versatility.

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 offered 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 quality switchgear and impressive sound quality. The Elantra also provided a 3-year trial of Blue Link services for added convenience.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, a WiFi hotspot, and three USB ports. The Limited trim upgraded to an 11.6-inch screen with a customizable layout, though it lacked Android Auto. The Prius offered satellite radio, HD Radio, a head-up display, and a JBL premium audio system. The top-center instrument panel was a defining feature, providing hybrid drivetrain status and other critical readouts.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring from the SEL trim. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH anchor accessibility, and a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and active park assist. The Prius earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS, though it fell short of the highest rating due to average scores in certain tests.