2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback had undergone a refinement in its design five years ago. This redesign had earned mixed reviews, with enthusiasts needing to view it from the right angle and under the right light to fully appreciate its new look. For 2020, Honda made slight modifications to its appearance, introducing body-color crossbars in the large faux air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights. These changes, combined with the new wheel designs that debuted, aimed to elevate the Civic Hatchback's already sporty look.

The Sport Touring trim I tested came in Platinum White Pearl paint, which contrasted strikingly with the car’s glossy black detailing. This combination garnered positive responses, with some mistaken impressions that it was the more aggressive Civic Type R. Inside, the Sport Touring trim boasted premium materials like stitched leather on the steering wheel and sophisticated soft surfaces. Yet, hard plastics were present, reminding that this is a mainstream compact car. The cabin proved impressively quiet, punctuated by a satisfying thunk of the door, reminiscent of a more solid, expensive vehicle. The 2020 model also introduced a six-speed manual gearbox for the Sport Touring trim, priced at $28,980.

Conversely, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra introduced sharp creases and dramatic angles through Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design language. Its styling, defined by Parametric surfacing details, presented a bold and distinctive look, appreciated more profoundly in higher trims. Even the controversial Z-shaped dent on its doors succeeded in attracting attention and establishing a unique character for the Elantra.

The Elantra came in various trims—SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited—with prices ranging from $19,650 to $25,450. The Elantra's cabin featured a driver-centric dashboard, an angled center console, and a design that became progressively more sophisticated with higher trims. Notably, the Limited trim, especially in light gray, offered a modern and upscale feel. This trim level, adorned with gray stitched fabric door panel inserts and a mostly monochromatic interior, imparted a Scandinavian vibe.

Performance-wise, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback and 2021 Hyundai Elantra bore significant differences. The Civic Hatchback, powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Though the manual transmission variant offered slightly more torque, the overall driving experience was refined with quiet and consistent engine performance. The Civic Hatchback's ride, especially in Sport and Sport Touring trims, was softer and more compliant than the higher-performance Civic Si, making it a more comfortable daily driver.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra presented an array of powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine provided 147 horsepower, paired with a CVT. It felt nimble around town but lacked highway power, achieving 31.4 mpg against an EPA rating of 35 mpg. The Elantra Hybrid, with a 1.6-liter engine and electric motor, claimed to deliver 50 mpg but achieved 42.2 mpg during vigorous driving conditions. The sporty Elantra N Line featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower, offering a fun, performance-oriented drive. Topping the range was the Elantra N, boasting a 276-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, advanced suspension, and electronic limited-slip differential, providing an exhilarating driving experience on par with performance vehicles in higher price brackets.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback couldn't rival an SUV's cargo volume but offered practical space for a compact car. It featured 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, outdoing some small SUVs like the Honda HR-V. The interior provided ample front leg support, although the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The center console design stood out with its versatility, allowing various configurations for storage. Rear-seat comfort was commendable, but the absence of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted glass resulted in a less favorable experience for passengers.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, categorized as a midsize car by the EPA, offered a spacious and comfortable cabin. Front seats were adjustable for height with tilt/telescopic steering wheels, and luxury features like heated and ventilated seats became available in higher trims. However, the elimination of the height-adjustable passenger seat and the use of hard plastics for upper door panels marked steps backward. In the rear, the Elantra provided best-in-class legroom, though the backrest angle was suboptimal. The trunk, offering 14.2 cubic feet of space, enhanced utility with a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Unlike the Civic, it lacked air conditioning vents and USB ports for rear-seat passengers.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a digital dashboard and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in all but LX trim. It included essential connectivity features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Sport Touring trim introduced additional elements such as a premium 12-speaker sound system and navigation. The Civic’s automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock provided convenient functionality, adding value to the ownership experience.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered a more advanced tech suite. Lower trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Limited trim upgraded to a 10.25-inch screen paired with a digital instrument display, housed under a single piece of glass. This setup delivered significant visual appeal and functionality, including navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and ambient lighting. The Elantra also introduced a Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key, turning a smartphone into a digital car key, a noteworthy innovation for the compact sedan segment.

Safety was a priority for both cars, but the Honda Civic Hatchback and Hyundai Elantra took different approaches. The Civic's Honda Sensing suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, relying instead on the somewhat outdated LaneWatch system. Its Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS was marred only by poor headlight performance.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra came equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Additionally, it included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and several enhancements like cyclist detection and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The Elantra’s structural engineering offered enhanced crash energy management, making it a robust choice for safety-conscious buyers.