2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, earning accolades for its sharp design and engineering excellence typically found in higher-end brands like BMW. Marketed as a $20,000 compact car, the Civic came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback. The sedan boasted a svelte roofline akin to the coupe but with an elongated and elegant body. The exterior featured body panel creases, wide, arcing headlights, and large sweeping LED taillights, emphasizing its low and wide stance. The hatchback, with its quirky tall rump, and the exaggerated Type R model stood out for their unique designs. Updates for the 2019 model year included upgraded grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over to the 2020 models, further accented by matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille on the Si sedan.

Inside, the Civic's simple interior design included high-quality switchgear and soft-touch rubbers on the upper sections. Gloss-black trim on the steering wheel and dash complemented the feel of the metal shift knob. For 2020, new interior styling elements included three new dash accents on the hatchback and red accent lines on the Si's instrument panel, along with revised sport seats in the Si.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra embraced Hyundai’s Sensuous Sportiness design language, with its Parametric surfacing resulting in sharp creases and dramatic angles that offered a distinctive and appealing look. Notably, the Z-shaped indentation on the doors, designed by Davis Lee, broke conventional automotive design rules, adding a unique character to an already bold vehicle. The Elantra was available in multiple trims: SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited, with a hybrid powertrain option for the SEL and Limited.

The Elantra's interior featured a driver-focused dashboard and center console, clearly delineated from the passenger area by an angled passenger cornering grip. Higher trim levels offered increasingly luxurious and high-tech interiors. The Limited and Hybrid Limited trims, especially in Gray, were noted for their modern, upscale look, featuring light gray seats and high-quality materials that almost had a Scandinavian feel. On the contrary, the SEL trim with the Premium Package and a black interior felt drab, with glossy black plastic more noticeable and harder to overlook.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered four engines and two transmissions across its lineup, all front-wheel drive (FWD). The base LX and Sport trims were powered by a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The EX and above trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine making 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with hatchback versions offering 180 hp. The Civic Si sedan boasted a 1.5-liter engine boosted to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Civic Type R challenged the boundaries of a compact car with 306 hp and 295 lb-ft, both exclusively with manual transmissions.

The Civic Si was hailed for its adaptive dampers reducing body roll, and a torque-rich engine, while the Type R was noted for its near-insane capabilities and composure despite its power. However, the 2020 model saw a reduction in EPA ratings due to a shorter final-drive ratio, yet it still managed impressive fuel economy figures.

For the 2021 Hyundai Elantra, numerous powertrain combinations, including the high-performance Elantra N, were extensively tested. The standard Elantra SEL featured a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, paired with a CVT. Despite an EPA rating of 35 mpg, real-world driving returned 31.4 mpg.

The Elantra's hybrid variant, powered by a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine combined with an electric motor, achieved 139 hp and returned 42.2 mpg during testing. The Elantra Hybrid impressed with its instant electric torque but fell short in fuel savings relative to its cost. The sporty Elantra N Line, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine making 201 hp, offered a thrilling driving experience, while the high-performance Elantra N, equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine producing 276 hp and paired with an 8-speed wet DCT, provided a memorable and exhilarating drive.

For the 2020 Honda Civic, improved interior features included a volume knob and better cupholders. The hatchback models gained additional sound insulation, and EX hatchback models featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The three-spoke steering wheel, with controls for the central display and the instrument panel, offered excellent accessibility. The Civic's center console was highly configurable, with a deep storage bin, item trays, and removable cupholders. Despite the luxurious elements, the Civic lacked rear air vents, impacting rear passenger comfort.

Cargo space in the Civic was commendable, with the sedan offering 15 cubic feet, the coupe 12 cubic feet, and the hatchback 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra, classified as a midsize car by the EPA, provided a spacious feel from the driver’s seat. The height-adjustable driver’s seat and tilt/telescopic steering wheel, combined with heated front seats, ensured comfort. However, the elimination of the height-adjustable front passenger seat was a notable oversight. The rear seat offered best-in-class legroom, though the backrest shape and lack of air conditioning vents or USB charging ports detracted from rear passenger comfort.

The Elantra's trunk measured 14.2 cubic feet, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat enhancing utility. Some versions included a hands-free trunk lid release. Like the Civic, the Elantra also had a few ergonomic misses, such as the absence of an interior trunk grab handle.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system, though functional, lagged behind newer systems in speed and graphical interface. The 7-inch touchscreen became standard on all models except the base LX. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for better user experience, and higher trims featured a Garmin-based navigation system with fast and accurate voice recognition. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, keyless entry, a power moonroof, heated front seats, and a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo system. LaneWatch, automatic climate control, and Honda Sensing were standard across the Civic lineup, enhancing safety and convenience.

In comparison, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra's technology suite varied significantly across trims. SE, SEL, and N Line trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satellite radio. Higher trims like the Limited boasted a 10.25-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation screen, offering a Mercedes-Benz-like single-pane glass display. This setup included dynamic voice recognition, ambient cabin lighting, and split-screen Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Elantra also offered a Bose premium sound system and Hyundai Digital Key, which allowed smartphone-based access and control of the vehicle.

The 2020 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Upgraded LED headlights helped the Civic earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. The Civic also received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, Hyundai’s suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping and centering assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention warning system. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Rear Occupant Alert, and Safe Exit Warning. High-end safety options like cyclist detection, junction turning assistance, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist provided exceptional safety.