Is there an option for neither?
Let's be honest, the Civic is probably the worst on the market right now. After the completely botched 2012 introduction, and the rather minimal 2013 redesign, there are so few redeeming qualities about the car that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone outside of those who want it for basic transportation. While there are certainly redeemable qualities about that, it doesn't make it a "good car" by any sense of measure. Unless Honda is giving you an outrageously good deal on one, I'd stay away.
As for the Hyundai, I'd consider it to be the better of the two, but that really isn't saying much. The Hyundai is basic transportation, and that's really about it. It looks decent inside and out, it's quiet, and they're made to be taken from point A to point B. The 1.6L is pretty underwhelming, and you're stuck with automatic transmissions. It's the variants of the Elantra that are more interesting, in particular the GT, which benefits from some fairly reasonable sporting modifications.
If you're shopping in the C-Segment, the best options really depend on where your preferences lie. If you're dead-set on fuel economy, almost every brand offers an "Eco Model" of sorts to get those highway numbers above 40 MPG. For practicality, there are a good number of wagons and hatchbacks that make halfway decent choices as well.
My general opinion of the market right now is that the Japanese have really been caught off-guard when it comes to cars these size, the Civic and Corolla in particular. They look and feel at least a generation behind most of the competition, and it is pretty strange to think about how much better the Sentra is, when even it lags behind the others. The money really is on the Americans and the Koreans, in particular the offerings from Ford, General Motors and Kia. By most sense of measure, the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Kia Forte are leagues ahead of the competition when it comes to driving dynamics, quality, performance, and value.
...But even then, it leaves out some fantastic alternatives. The Dodge Dart has had a really slow start, but I still maintain that it's one of the better cars in the segment. They look and feel great, and in the right trim, can be quite the car when compared to a Focus. The Subaru Impreza is probably my favorite in the segment despite it being the most convoluted. The greatly improved fuel economy can only be managed with the CVT, and prices are generally a notch or to higher than the competition. If you're on a tight budget,
no bueno.
So, the way I'd go if I were buying one, tomorrow:
- Ford Focus SE: Basic trim includes some goodies, the standard 2.0L is more than adequate. Although PowerShift has been improved, I'd opt for the manual gearbox. All of that, and Ford Sync is pretty rad.
- Chevrolet Cruze Eco: Give or take, it's the one to get. Great fuel economy, a bit lighter, a little more fun to drive. The interior is showing it's age, but it is still a fantastic car for the money.
- Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Premium: It's the only model in the Impreza line I'd consider "acceptable." Dark wheels, paddle shifters with the CVT, a good bit of kit. But, it's expensive, and if you're in an area with a lot of snow, it'd be worth it.
- 2014 Kia Forte: What a pleasant surprise. Cheap, well-equipped, really high quality materials... I haven't driven one yet, but things looked great at the Chicago Auto Show
But, in all honesty, the great vehicles are in the B-Segment. Between the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit Sport, Mazda 2, Toyota Prius C, and Kia Rio, the competition is very hot. The value is much higher with these vehicles, and the size disparity isn't all that great. And in that group, it's the Honda and the Chevrolet that get the nod.
