Two leading choices for the compact car segment are the Honda Civic and the Hyundai Elantra. See how they stack up in this 2023 Honda Civic vs. 2023 Hyundai Elantra comparison.

2023 Honda Civic vs. 2023 Hyundai Elantra: What are the differences?

In this 2023 Honda Civic vs. 2023 Hyundai Elantra compact car comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, safety, passenger and cargo space, warranty coverage, reliability, and price. The Civic offers both sedan and hatchback versions, while the Elantra only has a sedan model. We note the differences where applicable.

Civic vs. Elantra: Performance

For performance, the 2023 Honda Civic has a higher base engine horsepower output and maximum horsepower output than the 2023 Hyundai Elantra. Engine options for the standard Civic model include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower) and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (180 horsepower). Also, the sporty Civic Si features another variant of the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 200 horsepower.

For even greater performance, you can get the Civic Type R “hot hatch.” The Civic Type R comes equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 315 horsepower.

In comparison, engine options for the standard Elantra model include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (147 horsepower) and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder (201 horsepower). There’s also the high-performance Elantra N with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which generates 276 horsepower. 

Civic vs. Elantra: Gas mileage

For efficiency, the Elantra has a slight edge. The Civic has an estimated gas mileage of up to 36 combined mpg, compared to a fuel economy of up to 37 combined mpg for the Elantra. 

Civic vs. Elantra: Safety

Given its history, the Civic has a slight advantage for safety. For the previous model year, the Civic earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest possible IIHS rating. In comparison, the Elantra earned the second-tier IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

Civic vs. Elantra: Passenger and cargo space

Which compact car is bigger: the 2023 Civic or the 2023 Elantra? Both the Civic Sedan and Civic Hatchback have a total passenger volume of 99.0 cu-ft, compared to 99.4 cu-ft for the Elantra.

For trunk storage space in the sedan models, the Civic Sedan has a maximum cargo capacity of 14.8 cu-ft, compared to 14.2 cu-ft for the Elantra. Also, the Civic Hatchback has a maximum cargo capacity of 24.5 cu-ft.

Civic vs. Elantra: Warranty coverage and reliability

The Elantra has more generous warranty coverage than the Civic. It’s backed by a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, compared to a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty for the Civic.

Also, both compact cars offer a free maintenance plan, but the one for the Elantra is for a longer coverage period. It has a 3-year/36,000-mile plan, compared to a 2-year/24,000-mile plan for the Civic. 

However, the Civic is more reliable than the Elantra. It earned a J.D. Power reliability rating of 82/100, compared to 78/100 for the Elantra.

Civic vs. Elantra: Price

Which compact car costs more: the 2023 Civic or the 2023 Elantra? The starting base price of the 2023 Elantra is $20,500 MSRP. For the 2023 Civic, the official price information is not yet available, but it will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 version. The starting base price of the 2022 Civic is $22,550 MSRP.

2023 Honda Civic vs. 2023 Hyundai Elantra: Which compact car is better?

In this 2023 Honda Civic vs. 2023 Hyundai Elantra comparison, each compact car has various advantages. For the 2023 Civic, advantages include performance, safety, cargo space, and reliability. Conversely, advantages for the 2023 Elantra include gas mileage, passenger space, and more generous coverage for the warranties and complimentary maintenance plan.