Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Honda Civic vs. Hyundai Elantra
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I'm not arguing for the Civic or Elantra.
Just curious ?? )
Accord EX V6 is regarded as the best value for the money in the midsize segment.
Intellichoice has termed Civic/Accord as THE BEST Picks for ownership over 5 years taking into account depreciation. Maintennace insurance etc
Did they ever say that? Which issue?
"The manufacturer with the most-improved vehicles is Hyundai. Its small Elantra sedan holds its own with the best in its class, including such stalwarts as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla (see our test in the February 2001 issue). And the Hyundai Santa Fe SUV also did well in our road tests (see our test in the March 2001 issue). If these Hyundais show good reliability in our next annual survey, we will be able to recommend them." [italics mine]
In typical CR fashion, they are waiting to put their "Recommended" checkmark on the Elantra (and Santa Fe) until their reliability is proven. The same issue reported that the '00 Elantra has above-average reliability so far, while the '99 got a below-average ranking (a black mark on the transmission the main culprit). So in another 11 months we'll see if Elantra gets added to CR's Recommended list. If that happens... watch those Hyundai sales figures soar even more.
Our dealer is not ready for less than 200 over invoice
Celica GT, 140 hp, 28/33
Neon, 132 hp, 27/33
Elantra, 140 hp, 25/33
Focus ZTS, 130 hp, 25/33
Protege 2.0, 130 hp, 25/31
Golf 1.8T, 150 hp, 25/31
Sentra SE, 145 hp, 24/31
From this sample, it appears that there may be some threshold for 4-cyl. cars, around 130 hp, over which it is very difficult to get fuel economy higher than the low 30s. (Any engineers out there who can verify that?) That could explain why Honda limited the '01 Civic EX to 127 hp--their primary goal was fuel economy and low emissions vs. power. And now that gas is back over $2.00 US a gallon in some spots, who's to question that strategy?
Golf GL 2.0/115 hp/2767 lbs. 24/31
Golf GTI 1.8T/150 hp (170 hp soon?)/2860 lbs. 24/31
Passat GLS 1.8T/150 hp/3043 lbs. 24/31
Golf 2.0 is an 8-valve dinosaur.
The other too are turbocharged.
BTW, in my opinion, the only reason Honda kept the hp numbers for the Civic unchanged, is 'cause it's basically the same engine with some very minor changes for the '01 model. New engine development is an extremely costly process.
Check out this numbers:
Toyota Avalon, auto - 3450 lb car:
HP 210; Torque 220; 21/ 29
Toyota Corolla, 5-speed 1.8 L engine (more torgue than in the Civic and look at the mileage figs)
HP 125; Torque 125; 32/ 41 !!!!!!!
30/39 with auto.
And don't forget about gearing. Higher geared cars like the Protege offer very quick response and very good highway passing power. But it makes fuel economy suffer. Also creates some extra engine noise at cruising speeds.(very high rpm cruising is not for everybody).
I had very lax requirements:
1. price of the car including tax must be less than $13,500
2. roomy enough for me ( 5 ft, 10 inches with wide shoulders)
3. minimum option of air conditioner and a CD player
Here's my very simple personal comparison:
Civic:
Dislikes:
1. my shoulder touched the door - too narrow
2. felt all the road bumps
3. even with 5spd, car felt heavy pulling myself and the sales person
What I liked:
1. gas mileage
Elantra:
Dislikes:
1. booming engine noise!!!
2. felt all the road bumps
3. low gas mileage compared to Civic.
4. clutch engages a lot further out than Civic.
What I liked:
1. roomy interior
2. preppy pickup when accelerating with 2nd and 3rd gear
I guess I am not too demanding of the cars at this price range, but when I compared the Civic with Elantra at the same price range, I felt the Elantra offered more for the money. So here I am, a new Elantra owner. Will post my experience with the car as I rack up miles on it.
"How much does the Edmunds.com editorial staff like its new Hyundai Elantra GLS? So much that its role as the BMW 3 Series replacement for the long-term fleet is making more and more sense all the time." and
"'If this thing holds up, there won't be reason to buy a Japanese economy car anymore.' That's what Editor-in-Chief Christian Wardlaw offered after two weeks behind the wheel of our new Pewter 2001 Hyundai Elantra GLS long-term test car."
I'm car shopping, test drove the Elantra yesterday, and was quite enamored myself. Will test the Civic also, though I can't afford it, just to compare.
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/longterm/articles/46043/article.html
We looked at the Civic LX, too. No contest...the Hyundai was roomier, quieter and offered more feaures for the dollar. We plan to keep the car until it evaporates so trade-in value did not concern us.
Civics are very nice, but they aren't the Kings of Compact any more. Go to the dealerships with a open mind and test-drive both. People stop and ask us what kind of car have (there are very few Elantra GTs on the roads where we live). No one believes us that it's a Hyundai. And no one chuckles, either.
Re insurance rates, I'd love to be able to get USAA rates but alas many of us do not have the Service connection. My insurer, Farmers, charges almost the same for a '01 Elantra as for my former car, a '97 Sentra, so I didn't think that was too bad. And that was last fall, before there was any crash test or accident data to factor in. Also, my agent told me that currently there is no discount for the side air bags, but there may be in the future. If I wanted the lowest possible rates, I'd buy another Caravan like my wife drives--twice the MSRP but lower rates.
Re Hyundai "short-changing" all 2001.5 GT buyers with the 2002 model: how is that? It's clear that what you are buying is a 2001.5 model, right? And you have the privilege of owning one of the first GTs in North America, right? Anyone who wants to avoid this problem can wait a few months and buy a 2002. Who really understands the marketing mind, anyway?
I was planning to buy the 2001 VE elantra here in Canada, but when I saw the pictures/features/especs of this new car I decide to wait longer in order to have a look at the real thing. Probably my debt will be 3.000 canadian higher, but I am sure on the long run it will pay off. People form CarandDriver magazine have some spy pictures and it really look like a mercedes C-class.
mpgman, good luck with your new GT. Looking forward to reading your future posts.
The Civic EX comes with all the options I want - cruise, CD, moonroof, ABS, antitheft. Has 127 hp, gets 31/38. I'm concerned about backseat (two young children) and legroom is 36 in with hip at 50 in. Got excellent/good crash rating, and has 3yr/3yr.
The Elantra GLS with options to match Civic EX is 14,078 and that doesn't include ABS. The sunroof package overlaps with ABS package, and I can't figure out how to get both. ABS isn't a lone add-on I guess. If you added in ABS at $600, then the Elantra comes in at 14,600 loaded. Elantra back seat is 35in leg, 56 inches hip. ALso got excellent/good crash, and comes with that nice 5yr/10yr. Engine gives 140 hp, and gets 24/33 giving a cost different of $200/year in gas for 12,000 mile year. Trunk is 11 cu. ft compared to 12.9 in the civic (strollers/cribs etc.)
So - the difference in price is $2000 and doesn't include ABS in Elantra for similarly equipped vehicles. THe GT is only $1000 less, but you get the hatch. Yes - I'm bugged everyone drives a Civic, but the reliability and resale contribute to that. I like the Elantra styling too - but not sure if $2000 less is worth the risk in reliability. Yes the warranty is great - but having your car in the shop is a major pain, as is breaking down.
So...I'm going to test drive both of course. I want to like the Elantra, because I could use the savings up front. I plan to drive the car for at least 7-8 years, so resale not as big an issue - but admittedly still counts.
Just wanted to get some facts out there in the hopes of continuing this dialogue.
Thanks
Nothing to complain about with the Civic, really...we just thought it was dull and a little noisier. Nice car, though, even if a tad overpriced.
Also, on your price comparison you should factor in that you can likely get a substantial discount (including $500 rebate) on the GLS, but it will be tougher dealing on the GT until supply is greater.
One thing I recommend you test thoroughly is the front seat comfort. I've seen several posts on the Honda Civic Sedans forum re uncomfortable driver's seat. The Elantra's driver's seat is, for me, one of the most comfortable I have ever sat in.
There's always a few people who have to be the first to own a new model. Dealers figure they might pay a little more for that privilege. Once they are taken care of, the GT pipeline starts flowing full steam, and the competition increases this fall (e.g. Focus 5dr), you should see pricing drop to more normal conditions--maybe even rebates as on the GLS. The bad news is, there is another scenario that's possible: with all the good press the Elantra is getting, Hyundai might be able to firm up the pricing a bit, even drop the rebates and (gasp) even the 10 year warranty. I don't see that happening real soon because there's still the long term reliability issue, but if Consumer Reports slaps the "Recommended" label on the Elantra next spring (which they said they would do if the reliability holds up), who knows?
Good points backy...unfortunately, I can't wait past the end of September. I just have to hope the supply increases incrementally, as does the competition. The pics on the web are great..and I said 'Saab' immediately when I saw it, only to read back on this thread and see other say the same.
OK...question: What features does the Elantra GT (w/ package 7= 15,300) have that the Civic EX (no options = 16,300) doesn't?
1- Alloy wheels
2- Side airbags
3- Seat belt pretensioners
4- Traction control
5- Leather interior
6- Fog lights
The civic EX has the following which the GT doesn't.
1- Antitheft
2- Cruise control (!!) - is that true??? This is going to be a problem for me. Can't travel without it.
When I was purchasing I thought the Elantra GT compared very favorably to the Civic EX, with the exception of fuel economy. I thought the Civic had more road noise.
rgarbaccio -- you're not a joke. I was just like you; I never thought I'd own a Korean car but then I drove that GT and I was hooked. If you can get one for under MSRP it is the best deal in the compact class as far as feature content is concerned. BTW, I live in Montclair, NJ and I have yet to see another GT (except mine) on the roads. Tri-staters gotta start representin'!
Good Luck!
But I think you're right...before long people will start to see what a bargain the Elantra GLS/GT is. They thing that makes the Elantra so appealing is that you don't have to sacrifice anything for that low price.
I'm keeping my eyes peeled for more GTs, but I still haven't seen another one yet!