Compare the2025 Honda CivicVS 2025 Hyundai Elantra

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Honda Civic have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Hyundai Elantra doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Honda Civic has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Elantra doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Civic deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Civic’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Elantra’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Civic Sport Touring Hybrid has a standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Elantra doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Civic Sport Touring Hybrid has standard parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Elantra doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Civic and the Elantra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Civic is safer than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	241 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	51 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	42%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Civic is safer than the Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Civic is safer than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	1.2 inches
Hip Force	286 lbs.	327 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	268	345
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	805 lbs.	954 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Civic Sedan is safer than the Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	402 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	1049 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Honda Civic has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Elantra is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

There are over 27 percent more Honda dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Civic’s warranty.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 6 places higher in reliability than Hyundai.

Engine

The Civic’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (150 vs. 147) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (133 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Civic Hybrid’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 53 more horsepower (200 vs. 147) and 100 lbs.-ft. more torque (232 vs. 132) than the Elantra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Civic Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Hyundai Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8.4 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	10.5 sec	13.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.1 sec	4.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.1 MPH	87.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Sedan gets better mileage than the Elantra:

		MPG
Civic Sedan
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/47 hwy
	LX 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	31 city/39 hwy
Elantra
	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/39 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Civic Hatchback gets better mileage than the Elantra:

		MPG
Civic Hatchback
	2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/45 hwy
Elantra
	SE 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/41 hwy
	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/39 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Civic Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Elantra doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the Civic’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available Hybrid). Hyundai only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Elantra SE.

The Civic has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Elantra doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Civic’s standard front disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The front discs on the Elantra are solid, not vented.

The Civic stops shorter than the Elantra:

	Civic	Elantra
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Civic has larger standard tires than the Elantra (215/55R16 vs. 195/65R15). The Civic Sport/Touring’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Elantra (235/40R18 vs. 225/45R17).

The Civic LX Sedan’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Elantra SE’s standard 65 series tires. The Civic Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Elantra SEL Sport/Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Civic LX Sedan has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Elantra SE. The Civic Sport/Touring’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Elantra SEL Sport/Limited.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Civic has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Hyundai Elantra has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Civic has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Civic flat and controlled during cornering. The Elantra’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

Chassis

The Civic Sedan is 6.4 inches shorter than the Elantra, making the Civic easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Civic has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Elantra uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Civic Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Elantra doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Civic has .9 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Elantra.

Cargo Capacity

The Civic Sedan has a larger trunk than the Elantra (14.8 vs. 14.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Civic easier. The Civic’s trunk lift-over height is 26.2 inches, while the Elantra’s liftover is 28.4 inches.

Ergonomics

The Civic’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Elantra has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Civic’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Elantra’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

On a hot day the Civic’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Elantra can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Civic has a standard Pushbutton Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Elantra SEL/Limited offers a Proximity Key.

The Civic’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Elantra’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Civic Sport Hybrid’s standard wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers and the Civic Sport Hybrid Touring’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Elantra’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Civic’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Elantra’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Model Availability

The Honda Civic comes in sedan and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Hyundai Elantra isn’t available as a four door hatchback.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Civic owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Civic will cost $485 less than the Elantra over a five-year period.

The Civic will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Civic will retain 55.63% to 60.2% of its original price after five years, while the Elantra only retains 51.66% to 55.34%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Civic was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024 and 9 more times in the last 40 years. The Elantra has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Civic outsold the Hyundai Elantra by 49% during 2023.