Winner
Honda Civic
About 9% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Hyundai Elantra, and fewer in 15 of 24 model years both were sold.
Head to head
Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
100 = average, lower is better
67
74
Years with fewer complaints
2002–2025
2002–2025
15 of 24
9 of 24
Recalls
2002–2025
2002–2025
183
86
MPG
latest year
latest year
24–49
23–54
Crash test
best, latest year
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.
Year by year
Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.
Every Honda Civic year · Every Hyundai Elantra year · How the index works

