The Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic are compact sedans that provide enormous value and great fuel economy. Each is relaxing to drive but with sharp handling reflexes that help them thrive in heavy urban traffic.
Now in its seventh generation, the Hyundai Elantra has updated exterior styling and a freshened interior for the 2024 model year. It’s surprising to see such a head-turning shape in a class of economical small sedans not usually known for their visual bravado.
Serving as the base engine in the 2024 Hyundai Elantra is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that sends 147 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). It provides reasonable acceleration, but Hyundai does spice things up with a pair of optional turbocharged engines.
Having been fully redesigned for the 2022 model year, the 2024 Honda Civic doesn’t have any notable changes. That’s fine because the Civic has a winning formula, one that has resulted in multiple Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards crowns over the years. The standard powertrain in the Honda Civic is a similarly dutiful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 158 hp. As in the Elantra, power gets routed to the front wheels via a CVT. The Civic also has two sport-tuned models that please serious driving enthusiasts.
Let’s explore some of the highlights of the 2024 Hyundai Elantra and the 2024 Honda Civic.
2024 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra sedan is available in five flavors: SE, SEL, Limited, N-Line, and N. Starting at $21,745, excluding destination charges, the SE features a standard 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and many standard safety items like safe exit warning and blind-spot monitoring. This generation of the Elantra made its debut in the 2022 model year. Hyundai also offers the Elantra Hybrid, which earns up to 56 mpg on the highway.
Hyundai Elantra Highlights
Sporty N-Line and N models: Most Elantra shoppers will be perfectly happy with the standard 4-cylinder engine, but Hyundai does offer upgrades. The turbocharged 1.6-liter with 201 horsepower in the Elantra N-Line delivers much peppier acceleration. And the Elantra N, a total sleeper, is a serious sport sedan motivated by a 276-hp turbo 4-cylinder that zips it to 60 mph in about 5 seconds. It’s ready for the track, and it’s the only Elantra available with a 6-speed manual transmission. But all this performance does come at a price: about $33,000.
Head-turning exterior: Love it or leave it, you won’t be able to ignore the sharply creased exterior of the Elantra. The bold shape is a far cry from the dullsville designs of most economy sedans. Visual tweaks for the 2024 model year include narrower headlights, a slimmer front grille, and new alloy wheel designs. While the 2024 Honda Civic is a handsome design, it fades into the background when compared to the Elantra.
Pricing and warranty coverage: If you want added peace of mind with your compact sedan, the Elantra makes complete sense. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which is complemented by an outstanding 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. This eclipses what you get with the Civic, not to mention other competing models like the Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Sentra.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Elantra models for sale near you.
2024 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic, long one of our favorite small cars, comes highly recommended. It is enjoyable to drive, easy on fuel, and available as a sedan or hatchback. Starting at $23,950, the base Civic comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and automatic climate control.
Honda Civic Highlights
Steering feel and agility: The Civic feels light on its feet, so to speak, thanks to quick and nicely balanced steering. Thankfully, this agility doesn’t come at the expense of ride comfort. If lengthy road trips are on the agenda, the Civic will satisfy.
Two body styles: An ace up the Civic’s sleeve: You can get one with a sedan or a hatchback body. Should cargo space be a priority, get the 5-door hatchback. Yes, it costs slightly more than the sedan, but that 24.5 cubic feet of trunk volume it has behind the folding back seat makes the Civic hatchback extremely practical.
Sporty Civic Si and Type R: The Elantra isn’t the only compact sedan here with a wild side. Starting around $29,000, the Civic Si features a 200-hp turbo 1.5-liter 4-cylinder and comes exclusively with a 6-speed manual. For sheer speed, though, it’s tough to beat the Civic Type-R. With taut, hunkered-down suspension, the Type-R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder with 315 horsepower. The only gearbox is a 6-speed manual with short and precise throws. An asking price of about $44,000 only sounds crazy until you get behind the wheel of the Type R.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Civic models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Elantra and Civic have so much in common. Each has a value-minded base powertrain to keep the asking price and fuel bills low. Headroom and legroom front and rear are nearly identical in each sedan. And for those who want to get seriously racy, the Elantra N and Civic Type R deliver the goods with genuinely track-ready performance.
Conclusion
The 2024 Hyundai Elantra scores points in this comparison for having a lower base price, for its class-leading warranty coverage, and for its extroverted exterior design. Its standard engine gets the job done, and the two optional turbocharged 4-cylinders are there for those who need to get away more swiftly when the traffic light turns green.
The same holds true for the 2024 Honda Civic, thanks to the potent and fun Si and Type R variants. Whether you prefer the sedan or hatchback, the regular-brew Civic is a savvy choice and will provide many miles of trouble-free driving. A hybrid is also expected to join the lineup soon.
In this Hyundai versus Honda battle of remarkably similar compact sedans, there’s no wrong answer. The Honda Civic is a household name and is available as a practical hatchback, while the Hyundai Elantra has a lower starting price, touts a class-leading warranty, and is available in a variety of variants, including a terrifically efficient hybrid. Your priorities will lead you to the right answer.
Specifications
| 2024 Hyundai Elantra | 2024 Honda Civic | |
| Starting Price | $21,475 | $23,950 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 147 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 158 hp @ 6,500 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 138 lb-ft @4,200 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg city/41 mpg highway/36 mpg combined | 31 mpg city/40 mpg highway/35 mpg combined |
| Also Available | Turbo 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Turbo 1.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 107.1 inches | 107.7 inches |
| Overall Length | 184.1 inches | 184 inches |
| Width | 71.9 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Height | 55.7 inches | 55.7 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 35.4 | 36.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.6 inches | 39.3 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 37.3 inches | 37.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 42.3 inches | 42.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 38.0 inches | 37.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 56.5 inches | 57.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 55.6 inches | 56.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 14.1 cubic feet | 14.8 cubic feet |
