2020 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Honda Accord

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra retained its bold geometric styling from the previous year, which was a precursor to the more angular design of the upcoming 2021 model. Available in five trims—Essential, Preferred, Luxury, Ultimate, and Sport—the Elantra's price ranged from $17,099 to $27,549, excluding a $1,825 destination charge. The Elantra Ultimate, with its black paint job, highlighted the car's angular design elements, creating a striking contrast with the chrome detailing. Inside, the Elantra's interior was updated to offer a more upscale appearance, featuring silver trim accents, although some hard plastics remained, reminding occupants of its compact car status.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Accord was celebrated as one of the most stylish iterations in its history, despite some mixed opinions on its front styling and rounded roofline. The Accord was available in LX, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices starting at $28,705 and reaching up to $40,405, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Touring trim, equipped with 19-inch alloy wheels, enhanced the car's visual presence. Inside, the Accord boasted high-quality materials, with soft-touch surfaces and a matte-finish simulated wood trim, creating a luxurious feel. The interior was praised for its quality and comfort, making it a standout in the family sedan category.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered a base 147-horsepower, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a new continuously variable transmission (CVT), replacing the previous six-speed automatic. The CVT, branded as an "Intelligent Variable Transmission," featured a chain belt and wide-ratio pulley system for improved efficiency and responsiveness. However, real-world testing showed an average fuel consumption of 8.0 L/100 km, falling short of the expected 6.8 L/100 km. The Elantra Sport trim, with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, offered a more engaging driving experience with its independent rear suspension. Despite this, the standard Elantra's torsion beam axle rear suspension detracted from ride quality and handling, making it more of a practical commuter car than a thrilling drive.

The 2020 Honda Accord, on the other hand, featured a standard turbocharged 1.5-litre engine with 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT. For those seeking more power, the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine delivered 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, coupled with a ten-speed automatic transmission. The Accord's driving modes, Economy and Sport, allowed for tailored powertrain responses, with Sport mode enhancing driving pleasure. During testing, the Accord achieved a fuel consumption of 8.6 L/100 km, better than the estimated 9.1 L/100 km. The Accord's adaptive dampers and precise steering contributed to its enjoyable driving dynamics, although the braking system could benefit from refinement.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra was among the roomier compact cars, comfortably accommodating four adults, with a fifth person fitting for short trips. The test car featured power driver's seat adjustment, leather upholstery, and a sliding centre console armrest. Upper trims included dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, though rear passengers lacked air conditioning vents. The Elantra's trunk offered 407 litres of space, nearly matching some midsize sedans, and included a convenient interior grab handle for closing the trunk lid.

In comparison, the 2020 Honda Accord was essentially a full-size car, offering more rear-seat legroom and cargo space than its competitors. The Accord's 12-way power driver's seat provided excellent comfort, while the rear seat was exceptionally accommodating, with wide doors and ample thigh support. The EX-L and Touring trims added heated outboard rear seats and rear air conditioning vents. The trunk boasted an impressive 473 litres of space, ideal for long trips, though it lacked a handle for closing. Inside, the Accord's cabin was spacious, with clear instrumentation and ergonomic controls, making it a pleasant environment for occupants.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra came standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a USB port. The base Essential trim featured a 5-inch screen, while the Preferred trim upgraded to a 7-inch display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. The Ultimate trim added an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a wireless charging pad, and a premium Infinity sound system. 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 Honda Accord's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was praised for its intuitive design, featuring volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons, and clear graphics. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and text-messaging support. The Sport trim added a ten-speaker premium audio system, while the Touring trim offered HondaLink services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, navigation, and wireless charging. However, the Accord's voice recognition required specific prompts for accurate responses. The Touring trim also featured a head-up display, visible even with polarized sunglasses, and a reversing camera with multiple viewing angles.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offered advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) on the Preferred trim, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver attention monitor. The Preferred trim also included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Ultimate grade added full LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, and Safe Exit Assist. 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 Honda Accord was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and received five stars in all NHTSA assessments. Honda Sensing, standard on all trims, included forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was exclusive to the Touring trim, while lower trims featured Honda's LaneWatch system. The Accord's ADAS could benefit from smoother adaptive cruise control and more accurate warning systems, but overall, it provided a comprehensive safety package.