2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Hyundai Elantra

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 yet upscale look. Inside, the Elantra saw subtle improvements, such as new air vents, carbon-texture finishes on some plastic housings, and updated gauges and dashboard controls, which added excitement to the previously dull cabin. The interior quality was high, with a robust shifter feel, although some materials felt inexpensive, which was typical for a compact car. The Elantra was available in various trims, with the Ultimate trim offering features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and a larger touchscreen display.

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a sharp design across its sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles. The sedan featured a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2019 model year updates, including new grilles, bumpers, and wheels, carried over to 2020. The Civic's interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and gloss-black trim. The 2020 model introduced new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si trim, enhancing the overall interior appeal.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, offered a decent driving experience. It featured a six-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, and Smart. While Sport mode added liveliness, it also increased steering weight, leading to a preference for Normal mode. The Elantra's fuel efficiency was rated at 7.4 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with handling and ride quality being average due to its torsion-beam rear-axle suspension.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, available on higher trims, delivered 174 to 180 horsepower, with the Si and Type R models offering 205 and 306 horsepower, respectively. The Civic's powertrains were smooth and responsive, with the Si featuring adaptive dampers for improved handling. The Civic's fuel efficiency varied, with the Si rated at 8.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 7.8 combined.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra provided good front-seat comfort, with height-adjustable seats and heated front seats standard across all trims in Canada. The rear seats, while supportive, lacked air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a sizable centre-console bin and a wireless charging pad in the Ultimate trim. The Elantra's trunk offered 408 litres of cargo space, with a hands-free Smart Trunk feature for easy access.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior, with the hatchback providing 728 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. The sedan's trunk had 416 litres of space, while the coupe offered 343 litres. The Civic's interior featured a conventional shifter, a deep centre console storage bin, and configurable cupholders. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space, though rear air vents were absent. The Civic's interior was well-equipped, with available heated outboard seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat on the EX hatchback.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra came with a standard rear-view camera and Bluetooth connectivity. Most trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Ultimate trim offered an 8-inch display, Infinity premium sound system, and navigation. The Elantra's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a free five-year trial of Hyundai Bluelink services on higher trims.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system, though outdated, included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, and a 450-watt stereo. Honda Sensing, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Civic's top trims offered leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, and LED headlights.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning and lane-keeping assist on most trims. The Ultimate trim added adaptive cruise control and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH anchor accessibility. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall rating.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded the Civic five stars in all categories, except for a four-star passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.