The current Civic was panned by most critics when it came out. Its not what it used to be. Honda is definitely riding on its laurels. I took it for a spin and liked it well enough, so I picked one up for my mom. It's peppy enough, fun to drive, and you certainly don't feel like you're in an economy car.
Didn't like the Elantra so much. It felt more cramped and even though it was better appointed, it didn't feel as quality.
The new Kia Optima looks badass. Might be worth checking out.