It’s generally understood that the Honda Civic is an incredibly popular car here in the U.S. And maybe you agree with this overall opinion. This compact car has been a top-seller year after year for very good reasons. The Honda Civic is a practical buy and usually a good fit for the budget-conscious consumer. But it’s also fun to drive, safe, and fuel-efficient. It might just be the total compact car package.

But not all compact car people are necessarily Honda Civic people. And there are several other contenders in this class worth considering if you’re in the market to buy. If you need a 2021 Honda Civic alternative, here are a few of the best that deserve a look. And these stand up well among the critics, including the rigorous scoring from U.S. News & World Report Cars.

The super-affordable 2020 Nissan Sentra

The Nissan Sentra got a face-lift and redesign for 2020. This car also improved its standard equipment roster, interior quality components, and exterior styling.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is a great alternative to the Honda Civic for those who are impressed with safety features and attractive price points. MSRP starts around $19,310, but Nissan typically has affordable lease offers worse considering, as well.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla is fully redesigned

The 2021 Toyota Corolla has always been a staunch competitor to the Honda Civic over the years. And with its hatchback introduction in 2019, more consumers are discovering how much fun the Corolla really is.

The Corolla sedan saw a complete redesign in 2020, and new for 2021 are infotainment and tech standard upgrades. If it’s been a while since you’ve considered the Corolla, now may be a good time to take a closer look.

The 2020 Kia Forte wins awards left and right

Coming off of a new redesign in 2019, the 2020 Kia Forte was primed to take charge of the compact car stage. This sedan is an ideal Honda Civic alternative, in part due to its price.

MSRP typically starts around $17,890 and a couple of thousand dollars shy of the Civic. The Kia Forte also won U.S. News & World Report Cars’ 2020 Best Compact Car for the Money distinction, proving just how much value the Forte brings to the table.

The 2020 Mazda3 brings the zoom, zoom

The 2021 Honda Civic may lead the compact car pack, but no other model embodies the zoom, zoom quite like the Mazda3. For anyone looking to venture away from the Civic and toward something a little more fun to drive, the 2020 Mazda3 deserves a look. Redesigned for 2019, this sedan or hatchback is all fresh and full of new standard safety features.

The 2020 Hyundai Elantra offers value

If you’re looking to compare a vehicle to the Honda Civic, line for line, window sticker to window sticker, the Hyundai Elantra won’t disappoint. In fact, the 2020 Hyundai Elantra keeps up well with the 2021 Honda Civic in terms of reliability, comfort, and efficiency.

Don’t hesitate to look beyond the 2021 Honda Civic if it just doesn’t fit your style or personality. Many consumers cross over into the midsize sedan category and find reputable rides like the Toyota Camry, too.

But the compact car segment is chock-full of worthy contenders, one of which may just check all your boxes and find its way into your garage. Start with those features that matter most to you and explore some of these other incredible Honda Civic alternatives.