When it comes to compact sedans, the 2022 Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra are formidable top contenders. I have driven both cars in the past year and came away impressed with different aspects of each. They’re both comfortable, stylish, fuel-efficient, and relatively fun to drive. However, one of them stood out way more than the other.

1. The 2022 Honda Civic feels more composed on the road

I have driven the 2022 Honda Civic Touring sedan and 2022 Hyundai Elantra Limited and can say that the former feels more composed on the road. The Civic Touring’s turbocharged 1.5-liter engine feels responsive despite being attached to a CVT and it performed well when I took the car up to 12,000 feet. In fact, I think breathed easier than I did at that elevation.

The Elantra, on the other hand, felt anemic in comparison. I didn’t drive it up to a high elevation like I did with the Civic, but it felt pretty lazy when driving around town at a mile high up. In addition to better performance, the Civic also felt sharper in the turns thanks to its tighter suspension and sharper steering.

2. The Civic’s interior feels a little more upscale than the Elantra’s

Sitting inside both cars is a pleasant experience, however, the Honda Civic’s interior feels a little more upscale. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some prospective buyers may prefer the Elantra’s futuristic asymmetrical design. I just preferred the Civic’s simplistically retro styling and more-supportive seats. I’ll give a nod to the Elantra’s 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, though. The setup is bigger and its interface looks better than the Civic’s.

Speaking of infotainment, I liked the Bose premium 12-speaker sound system in the Civic a lot more than the Elantra’s audio system. The highs and lows were clear and the bass was deep – typical Bose. As for the safety tech, both cars have similar driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking.

3. I preferred the Hyundai Elantra’s edgy look over the Civic’s styling

While I really do like the 2022 Civic’s sophisticated styling, I think it looks a little bland in comparison to the Elantra’s “Parametric Dynamics” design. Yes, it looks like sheet metal origami, but it looks better in person. But of course, it’s the buyer’s choice at the end of the day.

2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Hyundai Elantra

Ultimately, you really can’t go wrong with either of these compact sedans as both of them are stylish, fuel-efficient, and comfortable to drive on a daily basis. While the 2022 Civic trumps Elantra in a few different categories, it’s really up to any buyer to choose between the two. After all, they’re both similarly equipped and priced. However, if I had to pick between either of them, I would choose the 2022 Civic for its excellent driving dynamics and interior styling since I would spend more time looking at the inside of the car as opposed to the outside.