Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra
Compact cars · head to head, 2010–2027
The Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Civic's own years, its best bet is 2020; years to avoid: 2022–2023; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Elantra's own years, its best bet is 2024; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Honda Civic
Car · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2020
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2022–2023
- Be careful 2024
Hyundai Elantra
Sedan · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2012, 2017
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Civic year says nothing about whether it beats a Elantra. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Honda Civic | Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | AVOIDSerious complaints 3.0× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | AVOIDSerious complaints 5.6× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly collision avoidance and engine | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and power train | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.9× usual, mostly engine and structure | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and brakes | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and air bags | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly engine and air bags | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Honda Civic | 2026 Hyundai Elantra | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $22,625 to $39,250 base price by trim, 11 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo, 200 hp 2.0L 4-cyl, 141–315 hp 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 141–315 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 141–315 hp manual available | 1.6L 4-cyl hybrid 1.6L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl 2.0L 4-cyl turbo manual available |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 24–49 mpg | 23–54 mpg |
| Seats | — | 5 |
| Third row | — | No |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 29 | 1 · 3 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Civic Sport Hatchback first listed | Civic Type R last listed | Elantra SE lowest price, $22,625 | Elantra N TCR Edition highest price, $39,250 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | No | Standard | Standard | Wired only |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | — | — |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | No | No | — | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | No | — | — |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | No | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | No | No | — | — |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | No | No | — | — |
| Remote start | Standard | No | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Civic, Elantra).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Honda Civic
19 manufacturer programs on file: 19 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage As a result, tiny holes may develop in the condenser tube walls that allows the refrigerant to leak out. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. (A19-091, 2016–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Today, May 28, 2021, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2018-2020 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Civic, 2017-2021 Civic Hatch, 2017-2021 Civic Type R, 2018-2021 Clarity PHEV, and 2019-2021 Insight vehicles.… (ABOM05282021, 2017–2021 models)
- Extended coverage The majority of the compressors returned were analyzed and proven leak free. (APaS02052020901, 2016–2020 models)
- Extended coverage Due to a new North America regulation which introduces a new refrigerant and oil requirement the compressor shaft seal may leak. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C compressor shaft seal from the original 3 years to 10… (A23-039, 2016, 2019–2021 models)
Hyundai Elantra
25 manufacturer programs on file: 10 extended coverage, 15 repair programs.
- Extended coverage The warranty coverage for engine repair or replacement regarding engine damage or malfunction from connecting rod bearing wear has been extended to 15 years or 150,000 miles from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use,… (22-EM-006H-2, 2014–2020 models)
- Extended coverage Hyundai has announced an extended warranty for the motor driven power steering (MDPS) coupling on the following vehicles: ? 2011-2014 Sonata (YFa), 2011-2014 Sonata Hybrid (YF HEV) ? 2007-2015 Elantra (HD, MD/UD), 2009-2012 Elantra Touring… (5NP-F8M5G, 2010–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Certain Elantra (CN7) non-N-Line and N-Line, Elantra (CN7A), Elantra N (CN7 N), and Elantra Hybrid (CN7 HEV) vehicles may experience an inoperable horn. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for the horn replacement under this… (25-BE-005H-1, 2021–2025 models)
- Extended coverage Certain Hyundai Elantra (CN7) non N-Line and N-Line, Elantra (CN7A), Elantra (CN7 N), and Elantra Hybrid (CN7 HEV) vehicles may experience an inoperable horn. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for the horn replacement under this… (25-BE-005H-2, 2021–2025 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010–2011, 2013–2016, 2018–2021, 2025. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2024: the Elantra is rated best buy (serious complaints 0.5× usual), while the Civic is rated careful (serious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2023: the Elantra is rated good buy (serious complaints 0.9× usual), while the Civic is rated avoid (serious complaints 3.0× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance). Each against its own other years.
- Shopping around 2022: the Elantra is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly collision avoidance and engine), while the Civic is rated avoid (serious complaints 5.6× usual, mostly steering and collision avoidance). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Civic 2022–2023.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Civic 2025; Elantra 2025.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Elantra at 54 mpg (Civic: 49), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.