The Lemon Index

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Honda Civic vs Hyundai Elantra: which has fewer problems?

Honda CivicHyundai Elantra

Photos: Elise240SX (Wikimedia Commons)

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
67
74
Years with fewer complaints
2002–2025
15 of 24
9 of 24
Recalls
2002–2025
183
86
MPG
latest year
24–49
23–54
Crash test
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