2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Toyota Prius

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra retained its bold, geometric-influenced design from the previous year, which was a departure from its earlier Genesis Jr. design cues. This styling was intended to pave the way for the more angular 2021 model. The Elantra was available in six versions, ranging from the base SE to the sporty Sport trim, with prices starting at $19,300 and going up to $24,150. The Limited trim, with the Ultimate Package, brought the price to $27,630. The Elantra's black paint job highlighted its angular features, creating a striking contrast with the chrome detailing. Inside, the Elantra Limited featured silver trim accents, giving it a more upscale appearance, though it still had some hard plastic elements typical of a compact car.

The 2020 Toyota Prius maintained its iconic jellybean-like shape, optimized for aerodynamics, while incorporating sedan-like styling cues. Despite these changes, it remained a hatchback. The Prius was known for its futuristic design, particularly its cabin with centrally located instrumentation. It was available in four trims: L Eco, LE, XLE, and Limited. The base L Eco trim included features like 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The XLE trim added amenities like synthetic leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Limited trim featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen and a JBL premium audio system. The Prius also offered a special 2020 Edition with unique exterior accents.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra featured a base 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, known as the "Intelligent Variable Transmission," offered simulated gear shifts for a more traditional driving feel. The Elantra Eco model had a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with 128 horsepower and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The Elantra Sport trim boasted a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 201 horsepower and an independent rear suspension for improved handling. Despite the CVT's promise of better fuel efficiency, real-world testing showed an average of 29.3 mpg, falling short of the expected 34 mpg. The Elantra's torsion beam axle rear suspension affected ride quality, making it less refined compared to models with independent suspension.

The 2020 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 121 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. It 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 featured three drive modes: EV, Eco, and Power, each catering to different driving preferences. The unique shifter design required some adjustment, but it included an Engine Braking mode for better control on descents. The Prius provided engaging handling due to its low center of gravity, offering a smooth ride and efficient performance for daily commutes.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was among the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodating four adults, with a fifth person fitting for short trips. The Limited trim featured power driver’s seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding center console armrest. All Elantras came with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, though rear passengers lacked air conditioning vents. The trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, comparable to some midsize sedans, and included a convenient interior grab handle for easy closure.

The 2020 Toyota Prius made efficient use of its space, with deep door pockets and a large tray area between the front seats for storage. The front seats provided ample headroom and legroom, while the rear seats offered good space, though taller passengers needed to be cautious when entering. The Prius excelled in cargo capacity, with 50.7 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. With the seats up, it offered 24.6 cubic feet in LE and AWD-e models, and 27.4 cubic feet in other trims. The hatchback design facilitated easy loading of large items, enhancing its versatility.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base SE trim had a 5-inch screen, while the SEL trim upgraded to a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Limited trim added wireless smartphone charging and a premium Infinity sound system. The Ultimate Package increased the screen size to 8 inches and included navigation and Blue Link services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and knobs for easy navigation, and the Infinity sound system delivered impressive audio quality for a compact car.

The 2020 Toyota Prius featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with a straightforward menu layout, supporting Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 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, a hallmark of Prius design, displayed hybrid drivetrain status and other critical information. The available head-up display provided additional convenience for drivers.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra included Hyundai Smart Sense as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. Starting with the SEL trim, it added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited and Sport trims featured full LED headlights with automatic high beams. The Ultimate Package included adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection. The Elantra earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS with LED headlights and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though there was a concern about rear-door intrusion in side-impact tests.

The 2020 Toyota Prius came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and active park assist. Lane-tracing assist helped center the vehicle in its lane. 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 crash tests.