2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Hyundai Elantra

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a touch of luxury typically reserved for higher-end brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elegant, elongated body with 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 interior was simple yet refined, with soft-touch materials and high-quality switchgear. The 2020 model introduced new styling elements, including matte-black wheels and updated bumpers, enhancing its already appealing look.

In contrast, the 2021 Hyundai Elantra embraced Hyundai's Sensuous Sportiness design language, resulting in a distinctive and appealing look characterized by sharp creases and dramatic angles. The Z-shaped dent in the doors was a bold design choice that helped the Elantra stand out. The Elantra's interior was driver-focused, with a dashboard and centre console that clearly delineated the driver and passenger areas. Higher trim levels offered a more upscale cabin with light gray seats and Scandinavian-inspired design elements. The Elantra's interior was modern and upscale, with a focus on comfort and aesthetics, although lower-grade interiors were less impressive.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of powertrains, all front-wheel drive, with four engines and two transmissions available. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet 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, providing greater mid-range acceleration and responsiveness. The Civic Si and Type R models offered even more power, with the Si boasting 205 horsepower and the Type R an impressive 306 horsepower. The Civic's powertrains were smooth and responsive, with the Si and Type R models offering thrilling driving experiences.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission. The Elantra's CVT was among the better ones available, offering superior responsiveness and feel. The Elantra Hybrid used a 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, producing 139 horsepower, with a six-speed DCT. The Elantra N Line and N models offered more power, with the N Line's 1.6-litre turbocharged engine delivering 201 horsepower and the N's 2.0-litre turbocharged engine producing 276 horsepower. The Elantra's performance varied across trims, with the N model providing a thrilling driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior, with the hatchback providing the most cargo space at 728 litres behind the rear seats and 1,302 litres with them folded down. The sedan offered 416 litres of trunk space, while the coupe had 343 litres. The Civic's interior was well-designed, with a deep centre console storage bin and configurable cupholders. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space, although the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra was classified as a midsize car, offering a roomy interior with best-in-class rear-seat legroom. The trunk provided 402 litres of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Elantra's interior featured dual-stage adjustable cupholders and a hands-free trunk lid release on some versions. However, the lack of rear air vents and USB charging ports was a drawback.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with navigation available on higher trims. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, and LaneWatch, a camera system for blind spot monitoring. Honda Sensing was standard on all trims, offering advanced safety features.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a digital instrument cluster. The Elantra's infotainment system included a dynamic voice recognition system and a Bose premium audio system. The Ultimate trim offered a 64-colour ambient lighting system, enhancing the cabin's appeal.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rating in the passenger frontal crash test for the coupe.

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra featured SmartSense, Hyundai's suite of advanced safety features, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Elantra also offered blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Warning. The Elantra's safety features were comprehensive, providing a high level of protection for occupants.