So here we have with us today four such cars from the far East. There are Hyundai Elantra and its blue-collar cousin Kia’s Forte taking on the innovative Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic. All these compact sedans are very much alike yet there is something unique about each of them. However, the underlying motive remains the same, and that is to make your daily drives as enriched as possible.
The Hyundai Elantra sedan debuted in the early 90s and is currently in its sixth generation, introduced as part of the 2017 model year. Hyundai has also released images of the 2021 Elantra based on an entirely new Parametric design theory. Along with that, this compact sedan will also be accompanied by a Hybrid variant. As of now, this sedan has another hatchback body type, the Elantra GT and Elantra GT N Line. Of these, the former is powered by the same 2.0-liter inline-four as the Elantra Sedan but the latter gets a 1.6-liter turbo-four.
Another very similar sedan is 2020 Honda Civic. This compact sedan hardly needs any introduction. From being a humble everyday urbanite to completely dominating underground races all over, this Honda has had a glorious past. Its latest 10th generation is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-banger offered on its more expensive trims. There’s also the sportier Civic Si Sedan and the blazing Civic Type R versions of this four-door sedan on offer in the States.
In comparison to those sedans, the Kia Forte is relatively young. Only in its third generation, this Kia four-door sedan was first unveiled back in 2009. Still, as a newbie, it is one of the most upscale in its segment. It has no utility-maximizing hatchback body types but offers multiple powertrain choices. Standard on the 2020 Kia Forte is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It also has a more powerful GT variant that uses a 1.6-liter turbo-four. So this four-door is a premium, versatile and at the same time very pocket friendly.
The 2020 Nissan Sentra is unlike any of these sedans. It has a single body type and offers just one engine option. It is powered by a 2.0-liter Direct Injection inline four-cylinder motor which is not very special. However, this compact, four-door sedan from Nissan serves a different purpose entirely. It is one of the most utility-friendly of all and is also very stylish. It also gets Nissan’s fabled SR trim. So like all the other cars in its class, it also offers great value for money but does so in its own unique way.
Which compact sedan offers best performance?
Almost all these sedans, except for the Nissan Sentra, come with multiple engine choices. As economy-inclined vehicles, each of them is powered by extremely efficient naturally aspirated engines, and the 2.0-liter four-pot seems to be the go-to choice for all. Of them, the Hyundai Elantra’s 2.0-liter four-pot is the most underpowered at 147 hp and 132 lb.-ft. torque. As the Kia Forte is powered by the very same engine, it also returns the exact same output. The Honda Civic is the most powerful of these sedans.
Its naturally aspirated 2.0-liter motor makes most power at 158 hp but it isn’t the most torquey. That title belongs to the 2.0-liter Direct Injection motor of the Nissan Sentra. It makes 146 lb.-ft. torque, while power is rated at 149 hp. So overall, it is Sentra that appears to be most impressive on paper. However, it offers a single Xtronic automatic transmission as a stand-alone option, and that is true even for the Elantra sedan. None of these sedans offer the choice of a manual unit. Also, there’s no choice of a manual mode where you can take charge of gear shifts with the help of paddle shifters.
That way, the Kia Forte and Honda Civic appear more attractive. While the former comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, the Civic Sport’s M-CVT is offered with paddle shifters. They are also more sportier to drive. When it comes to showing might on a race track, there’s no one quite as good as the Civic. While all are front-wheel drive sedans that are quite sedate, the Honda packs most performance. Its responsive steering provides the kind of feedback that can put sports cars twice its price to shame. It also has several architectural advantages.
It's lighter in comparison and the exterior design is also very aerodynamic. But that doesn’t mean that the ride’s not comfortable. Even with the large 18-inch wheels, the ride remains plenty composed. In fact, it is a perfect balance between plush and sporty. So much so, not even the Kia Forte comes close. It is probably the most fun-to-drive compact sedan after the Civic but the ride is not quite as engaging. The electronically assisted steering wheel is responsive but it lacks feels. That makes the ride unsettling under sudden maneuvers.
|
Models |
Hyundai Elantra SE Sedan |
Honda Civic LX Sedan |
Kia Forte LXS Sedan |
Nissan Sentra S Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$19,150 |
$20,650 |
$19,290 |
$19,090 |
|
Engine |
2.0-liter I4 |
2.0-liter I4 |
2.0-liter Multi-point injection I4 |
2.0-liter Direct injection I4 |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Transmission |
Intelligent variable transmission |
M-CVT |
Intelligent variable transmission |
Xtronic CVT |
|
Power (hp @ rpm) |
147 hp @ 6200 |
158 hp @ 6500 |
147 hp @ 6200 |
149 hp @ 6400 |
|
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) |
132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 |
138 lb.-ft. @4200 |
132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 |
146 lb.-ft. 4400 |
As far as the Elantra is concerned, everyone has always complained about the ride being too springy. That is true for the sedan even today. It’s not as mushy as it used to be but the overall dynamic is on the softer side. That way, it is extremely comfortable to drive in the city. The Elantra sedan comes standard with 15-inch wheels, while other 16-inch, 17-inch, and 18-inch wheels are offered on other variants. The ride definitely becomes a lot sportier with the 18-inch wheels without compromising the comfort factor by much.
Surprisingly, the all-new Nissan Sentra turns out to be the most impressive. It is now lower and wider than before. So there’s definitely a noticeable difference in the way this compact sedan drives now. The new platform on which 2020 Sentra is based, allows it to remain a lot more planted on the road. Even the steering is a lot more responsive than before. You can fix the ride with a choice of 16-inch or 18-inch wheels only. While riding on the former, the ride is definitely on the softer side but the larger ones make the ride sportier. If you opt for the SR variant of this Nissan, not only do you get those 18-inch alloy wheels as standard but also a sport-tuned suspension which complements the ride even better. However, its ground clearance is low, lower than all the others, so interactions with underneath are communicated a bit more on the inside.
When it comes to the overall experience of driving, the Civic takes the lead but is followed closely by the Sentra. On the other hand, Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra are more comfort-oriented, the latter more than the former. But no comparison is complete without numbers. So let’s talk about that. The Civic is the quickest to clock the 0-60 mph time at 8.2 seconds. The Kia Forte takes advantage of its lighter weight and is equally quick as that Honda to reach the 60 mph. The Nissan Sentra, which is the heaviest of the lot, does 0 to 60 mph in just 8.5 seconds. The lagger of the lot is Hyundai Elantra with 9.0 seconds time to get to the 60 mph mark.
|
Models |
Hyundai Elantra SE Sedan |
Honda Civic LX Sedan |
Kia Forte LXS Sedan |
Nissan Sentra S Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0-60 MPH (sec) |
9.0 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.5 |
|
Quarter Mile (sec) |
16.8 |
16.3 |
16.4 |
16.6 |
|
Top Speed (MPH) |
116 |
118 |
116 |
130 |
|
Engine |
2.0L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
2.0L I4 |
The quarter-mile timings of these compact sedans are also equally matched. With its 16.3 seconds time to finish the quarter-mile, the Civic takes the top spot. It takes the Kia Forte 16.4 seconds to do the same. While the Nissan Sentra manages to pull past the quarter-mile in 16.6 seconds, the Hyundai Elantra with its 16.8 seconds timing is the slowest yet again. So as it is evident, the 2020 Honda Civic is the quickest but is it also the fastest? Well, no. That title belongs to the Nissan Sentra. It is able to clock a top speed of 130 mph. As for the rest, the Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra are tied with 116 mph of top speed, and the Civic finishes second at 118 mph. As it turns out, the Hyundai Elantra is the least polluting of all. So that works in its favor at least.
Although, more performance usually translates to less fuel consumption. So, technically the Hyundai Elantra, besides being less damaging to the environment, should be the most fuel-efficient. Is it true then? Let’s start with the quickest Honda Civic and fastest Nissan Sentra. In the city, the Civic can manage 30 miles to a gallon. That number is pushed to 38 mpg on the highway and the combined mpg is rated at 33 mpg. The Sentra’s fuel efficiency figures are rated at 29 miles per gallon in the city, 39 miles per gallon on the highway and 33 miles per gallon combined. So the latter is clearly the less economical of the two. However, both get similarly sized 12.4-gallon fuel tanks.
In comparison, the Elantra is actually the most fuel-efficient. Its 2.0-liter naturally aspirated motor returns EPA rated city, highway and combined mileage figures of 31, 41 and 35 mpg respectively. It also gets a 14.0-gallon fuel tank, which is the biggest in this segment. So it is also the compact sedan to offer the most range overall. That Kia does have its own forte. It turns out to be the fact that it is exactly similar to the Elantra. It gets the same engine which makes exactly the same power and is also just as fuel-efficient. As it turns out, at 14.0 gallons its fuel tank is also equally capacious. So it turns up offering the same range.
Which compact sedan boasts best design?
While one may be more aggressively styled than the other, all four-door sedans in this comparison are elegantly styled. They look segment-appropriate and their exteriors have been designed keeping in mind the kind of purpose they serve. At 106.3-inches, the wheelbase of each of these sedans is exactly the same. The Nissan Sentra has an ever so slightly bigger 106.8-inches wheelbase. Also, all these sedans offer choices of both steel wheels and alloy wheels. However, some get bigger 16-inch wheels as standard as opposed to other smaller 15-inch ones.
Style-wise, the Civic stands out the most. Its Sportback design is quite unique. It almost has a Coupe-Esque roofline, very much like the Civic Coupe. The hood is low and dips at the front for better aerodynamics. It houses the signature chrome-strip Honda grille, flanked by sharp halogen headlights that can be replaced with LEDs on the top-level touting variant. Everything about this Honda’s design makes it look a lot sportier than it actually is. Even the rear is creatively put together signature C-shaped tail lights with integrated LED light bars. While the design helps plenty with handling and fuel efficiency, it takes much of the functionality inside the car but more on that later.
The other most good looking sedan in this comparison has to be the Kia Forte. You might even have it confused with the Stinger and we won’t blame you. Upfront, you get the trademark Kia’s tiger-nose grille. The grille is surrounded by projector-beam headlights and black-gloss, sport bumper accents make the car appear fast even when it is parked. The side profile is quite modest, underscored by a strong shoulder line. The 18-inch GT-specific two-tone alloy wheels on the Kia Forte GT offer this sedan quite a distinctive look. There’s also the option of gloss-black trunk lid spoiler on some of its variants. The tail is complete with chrome finished exhaust tips.
However, it is the recently updated Nissan Sentra that grabs the most attention. It has shed a lot of weight and definitely looks a lot more shapely than before. Its lower and wider stance is only accentuated by Nissan’s V-Motion grille. Even the headlamp units look sleek. Actually, it looks quite similar to the flagship Maxima sedan, except its V-motion grille dips deeper which leaves a more imposing impact. The sharp character lines with the wider shoulders make this Nissan look quite muscular. Overall, the two-tone exterior design and unique rear fascia highlight a serious attitude that was missing earlier.
Now, the 2020 Elantra with Hyundai’s much appreciated “Fluidic” design definitely looks on-point. In fact, for the 2021 model year, this sedan is going to be even edgier than before, thanks to the new Parametric design. But that is the thing of the future. Presently, the Elantra’s design does not excite as much. Not only is it the least sporty to drive but it also appears to be the bulkiest. The Cascading Grille is surrounded by triangular headlights and fog lights. Even it has a Sportback design that is exquisitely put together by tail lights. Nonetheless, things have started to feel dated and the upcoming update is eagerly awaited.
|
Models |
Hyundai Elantra SE Sedan |
Honda Civic LX Sedan |
Kia Forte LXS Sedan |
Nissan Sentra S Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
2844 |
2771 |
2762 |
3047 |
|
Length (in) |
181.9 |
182.7 |
182.7 |
182.7 |
|
Width (in) |
70.9 |
70.9 |
70.9 |
71.5 |
|
Height (in) |
56.5 |
55.7 |
56.5 |
56.9 |
|
Ground Clearance (in) |
5.3 |
N/A |
5.3 |
4.8 |
|
Wheelbase (in) |
106.3 |
106.3 |
106.3 |
106.8 |
So as it turns out, each of these four-door sedans exhibits a design theory that underscores the way they drive. The 2020 Sentra is the one to watch for the most. It is quite understated, still manages to turn up on the top quite often. The only downside to this sedan is its least fuel-efficient 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Otherwise, it is adequately powerful, looks attractive and is a lot of fun to drive despite being the heaviest in this segment.
Which of these compact sedans has best interior?
The Nissan Sentra has the longest wheelbase and is also the widest. This should translate to more space on the inside, and it does. It offers the best-in-class legroom in both the rows. But then, the shoulder room at the back is a bit cramped. So while taller occupants will prefer it, healthier people might refrain from the same. Also, it still is one Nissan to be devoid of their coveted Zero Gravity seats. So, while the standard cloth trimmed seats are quite comfortable, they do not provide the kind of comfort that some of the other sedans, like the 2020 Nissan Altima, do.
Its seats do feature adjustability function, 6-way for the driver and 4-way for the front passenger, so getting into the right position should not be a problem. The rear seats include a 60/40-split-folding function for enhanced utility. Other than that, visibility from the inside is good with minimal blind-spots. Anyway, this Nissan comes standard with SafetyShield 360 across the range. So it has not only got your back but your front and side too. Even the cabin has been given a much-needed update. The carbon fiber accents contrasted with the use of orange trim make the interiors look fairly upscale. Then there are the GT-R inspired air vents that enhance the sportiness of the cabin, while a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit adds that hint of advancement. The level of insulation inside the cabin is also quite impressive. Surely, the 2020 Nissan Sentra's huge departure.
|
Models |
Hyundai Elantra SE Sedan |
Honda Civic LX Sedan |
Kia Forte LXS Sedan |
Nissan Sentra S Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
First Row(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
40.3/56.2/42.2 |
39.3/57.0/42.3 |
38.8/56.1/42.2 |
38.9/56.4/44.0 |
|
Second Row(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in) |
37.3/55.3/35.7 |
37.1/55.0/37.4 |
37.5/55.3/35.7 |
36.7/54.5/37.4 |
Even the Kia Forte’s interior is quite well set apart from the Hyundai Elantra. These sedans are mechanically and structurally matched but the real difference shows in the way each of their interiors has been designed. The availability of space inside is almost the same. Both offer the same amount of leg space in the second row at 35.7 inches. However, as Kia is a more premium offering of Hyundai, the cabin of the Forte also has that feel to it which is more upscale than that of the Elantra. Take for example their individual infotainment systems. The Elantra gets a 5.0-inch touchscreen unit as standard, while the one on the Forte is an 8.0-inch unit. Yes, the Elantra does offer an 8.0-inch infotainment system but that is only available on the top-tier Limited and Sport variants, that too as an option.
At the same time, while both get cloth seating surfaces, the seats inside the Forte feel more premium and are also more supportive. Even the level of insulation inside the Forte is better and the overall feel of the dash and doors also more tactile. But the ride quality of the Elantra is plusher. So it is that Kia which will bounce you around more but then that’s just the compromise you have to make for a sportier experience. Even the use of lighter shades inside the cabin of the Forte makes it look more spacious. Outward visibility inside the Elantra, however, is better. Its Sportback design makes for a clearer view of the back. At the same, it is the only sedan in this lineup to offer dual-zone climate control as standard across the range.
The Honda Civic has the chicest and classy interiors. All the buttons and controls have been laid out in a very clutter-free manner and the overall layout is quite minimalistic. Still, everything looks and feels as if the cabin is from a segment above. Its cabin is the most driver-centric and everything has been put within reach of the driver. Even the quality of materials used is good. Yes, there is considerable use of plastics but that is justified for the segment and asking price. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible 7.0-inch touchscreen unit is quite responsive and its placement allows it to be very comprehensive even under direct sunlight.
Also, there is no scarcity of space. In fact, the availability of legroom in the second row is exactly as much as what is offered by the Nissan Sentra. So, the Civic is not only the most fun to drive but also very comfortable for its occupants. The seats are well-bolstered and provide the kind of comfort needed for longer drives. The only downside to this sedan is its coupe-like design. That takes away much of the headspace in the second row and restricts accessibility. Furthermore, the taut rear windshield can make reversing a bit of challenge but the standard Honda Sensing Safety & Driver-Assistive Technologies make life easier.
When it comes to being the most practical, the Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic take the top spot. Their cabins are well-built, have upscale features and are also the most spacious. Both Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra trail behind in this aspect. There is, however, another factor yet to be considered, i.e., cargo volume. In that case, it is the Forte that takes the top spot. At 15.3 cu.-ft., its trunk is the biggest. It is followed closely by Civic’s 15.1 cu.-ft. Boot. As for the others, the Sentra gets the smallest cargo-carrying capacity of 14.3 cu.ft., while the Elantra has a 14.4 cu.ft. trunk. So overall, there is no beating the Civic. It is the most usable of all the compact sedans with a spacious cabin and equally capacious trunk.
Which compact four-door sedan is best value for money?
Putting things side-by-side, 2020 Honda Civic easily wins this battle. Yes, it is not the most fuel-efficient and that matters for a daily commuter but it more than makes up for it in all the other aspects. It is punchy, has agile handling and also offers one of the best interiors. Priced at an MSRP of $20,650 for the base LX variant, it sure is a bit more expensive than its competitors. Although, the difference is not a lot and the value for money in return is a lot more.
This brings us to our second most preferred choice, 2020 Nissan Sentra sedan. This sedan, with its latest update, has definitely managed to revitalize its existence. The base S model of the Sentra is priced at $19,090, which makes it the most affordable compact sedan. Even at that price, it offers plenty of features. However, if you opt for the top-tier SR trim, priced at $21,430, you get premium features like dual-zone climate control, intelligent cruise control, heated front seats, and Bose Premium 8-speaker sound system.
That leaves us with 2020 Hyundai Elantra and 2020 Kia Forte. Now in a world without the latter, the Elantra would have made for a decent proposition. It is the most fuel-efficient of all and the ride quality is extremely comfortable. However, the very similar Kia Forte does everything it can and at the same time offers a more premium feel and more upscale features. It is also equally comfortable but also has that added sportiness which is missing in the Elantra. The prices of the Kia Forte start at $17,890, while that Hyundai costs $19,150. You will hardly find any features in the base Forte and will have to opt for the LXS variant, priced at $19,290, to get some use out of it at least. Even then, the Elantra SE seems less pocket friendly.
