Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra Rises to the Challenge Posed by the Honda Civic

Drivers of the latest compact sedans are not only enthusiasts. They're more discerning than ever. In a market as packed with options as that of small cars, it's becoming a matter of course to seek out distinctions, no matter how subtle, and so, one ought to be well-informed. After all, a host of features might impress on their own, but step into the driver's seat of a new brand, the most recent model, or a trim you never considered, and suddenly, you may be second-guessing your options.

That's not so much the case, however, for the new Hyundai Elantra. A proven performer with a history spanning decades, our new compact car remains as capable, well-equipped, safe, and comfortable as ever, ahead of the rest. We're sure that, when you check out our lineup here at Parkway Hyundai, you'll agree it remains a step ahead, especially against competition that's been around the bend more than once like the Honda Civic. Explore just a few of the ways the new Elantra makes the grade.

Power and Performance Features

From powertrain to fuel efficiency, it may seem that Honda Civic takes the lead out of Castaic, but the lap is fleeting. In the end and where it matters, Hyundai Elantra pulls ahead.

• The new Elantra offers a choice of three engines: a turbocharged 128-horsepower, 1.4-liter I4 in Elantra Eco, a turbocharged 201-horsepower, 1.6-liter in Elantra Sport, and a 147-horsepower, 2.0-liter elsewhere in the line. The new Civic only offers two, likewise turbocharged in its EX-T trim and later, surpassing Hyundai out the gate with a 158-horsepower inline-four, but Honda only reaches 174 horsepower at upper levels, far less than Elantra. That means our Hyundai sedan takes the win on an energetic ride.
• Elantra fares similarly when it comes to turning and pulling power. It spans from 132 pound-feet of torque at the base to 156 at the midrange, all the way to a competitive 195 pound-feet. Civic may make 138 in its own entry-level trim, but its highest rating only weighs in at 167 pound-feet. That's less get-up-and-go than Elantra.
• Elantra fuel economy is estimated by the EPA at up to 22 city mpg, 30 highway mpg, and 25 combined mpg in its Sport trim, reaching an excellent 32 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined in the gas-sipping Eco trim. Honda Civic may offer up to an EPA-estimated 28 city mpg, 40 highway mpg, and 32 combined mpg in its LX base, but that's still behind the less expensive Elantra SE base in city and combined mpg when equipped with an auto transmission: 29 mpg and 33 mpg respectively. Even Civic trims like EX-T and later, when equipped with a CVT, remain comparable to Elantra Eco when offering fuel economy up to 32 city mpg, 42 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined.

Interior Features

Though Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic may seem evenly matched in terms of comfort and conveniences for the San Fernando trip, you'll quickly learn that Elantra comes out the victor.

• Seating presents in base Elantra models in premium cloth, with leather in Sport and Limited. It's luxuriously heated in front in Elantra Value Edition and later, and optionally heated in the rear in Elantra Limited. The newest Civic might offer its own comfortable cloth seats, with leather in top EX-L and Touring trims, but heating is only optional for both front and rear, all throughout the Civic line.
• Elantra spans the gamut of superb tech, offering a 7-inch display audio touchscreen infotainment system at base, which becomes an 8-inch navigation system optional in Sport and later. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come standard in the second SEL trim and later, and a six-speaker audio system in Elantra SE becomes an HD Radio- and SiriusXM-equipped system in SEL and later. What's more, top-tier Infinity® Premium Audio is available in Sport and up. Civic offers only a 5-inch color LCD in its LX base. It might become a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in its own second EX trim and later, with a four-speaker audio system in LX becoming an eight-speaker variant in EX. There might even be the option of a 450-watt, ten-speaker system available in the penultimate EX-L trim and later, but Civic never captures the value added of a better-equipped system right out the gate.

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Safety and Driver-Assist Features

Both Elantra and Civic are evenly matched in terms of opportunities, but when it comes to peace of mind around the congested streets of Burbank, it's Hyundai that offers more options, and earlier - meaning better value.

• Blind Spot Detection (BSD) with Rear Cross-traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist come standard from the get-go, in its second SEL trim and up. Available at the top of the line, you can find Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Smart Cruise Control, and Automatic High Beam Assist. Honda offers its own Honda Sensing® tech with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, a Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, but throughout the lineup, they're only available, coming standard in Touring.

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Value

When all's said and done, invest in a new Hyundai Elantra, and you'll get more for less than the expense of a Honda Civic.

• Elantra is more affordable at base, with an approximate MSRP around $16,950 to Civic at $18,740. It's also less expensive when comparably equipped, weighing in around $17,835 to Honda's $19,630.
• Better yet, our Hyundai compact sedan is still the right choice even at the top of the line, its MSRP being roughly $22,100 to Civic's $26,700. Ditto for comparable equipment price: $22,985 to Honda around $27,590.

Eager to see for yourself how the Hyundai Elantra stacks up against its rivals here in Santa Clarita? Take the short drive out to see us here on Creekside Rd. We'll be delighted to take you on a private tour of all the latest new sedan has to offer.

Click here to browse our current selection of Hyundai Elantra sedans!