2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 BMW 3 Series

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still offered a unique upscale style with its gloss-black upper grille, revised lower bumper, and available 18-inch alloy wheels. Its silhouette was graceful, reminiscent of an Audi A7, with a long hood balancing the cabin and short tail. The wraparound LED lights added a distinctive touch, and the Touring model featured chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals. The Civic Sport trim introduced a centre-mounted exhaust and exterior elements from the Si trim at a lower cost. The Civic Hatchback had a tall, aggressive rear end, while the Coupe offered a more balanced alternative. The interior maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme, with a central LCD screen and minimal buttons, providing a high-quality fit and finish despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series exuded an aquatic elegance with its lidded headlights, bulging hood, wide air intakes, and oversized grille. The M340i trim, in particular, was a joy to drive, despite its high starting price of $49,350 Canadian for the base 330i. The M340i, with its additional options, reached a total MSRP of $73,250 Canadian. The interior offered a variety of colours and materials, with the test car featuring off-white Ivory leather contrasting with a black cabin and Tanzanite Blue exterior. The interior design was purposeful, with a focus on quality, making the high sticker prices more palatable.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque for the DX, LX, EX, and Sport sedans, as well as the LX and Sport coupes. In Canada, these models came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The Touring models featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre inline-four engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a CVT. The hatchback models exclusively used the turbocharged engine, producing 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport. The Si and Type R models offered more power, with the Si's 1.5-litre engine delivering 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R's 2.0-litre engine producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The manual transmissions were highly regarded, and the CVT was noted for its impressive performance. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension were all commended, making it a fun and sporty car to drive.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series addressed previous criticisms of its driving dynamics with significant structural and suspension changes. The M340i trim featured a 3.0-litre turbo inline six-cylinder engine producing 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, paired with BMW's rear-biased xDrive AWD drivetrain. The M340i's engineering package, including variable sport steering and M Sport brakes, enhanced its sporty handling. The 8-speed automatic transmission, while not a manual, was praised for its performance, especially in city traffic. The M340i's powertrain allowed it to reach 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The car's various driving modes and paddle shifters added to the driving experience, making it a joy to drive even without a manual transmission.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability compared to previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional heated seats and passable head- and legroom. Cargo space was generous, with the sedan offering 428 litres, the coupe 343 litres, and the hatchback up to 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. The centre console provided ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions. However, the best LED headlights were reserved for the Touring trims.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered simple and supportive front seats, equipped with high-quality leather, heaters, and a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat entry and exit were somewhat awkward, but once inside, the seats provided excellent support. The interior featured some hard-to-find controls, but the widescreen infotainment system was well-integrated, and the iDrive system was the best version yet. Storage space was generous, with a covered bin containing an optional wireless smartphone charger. The trunk offered 479 litres of space, though it appeared smaller than typical family sedans.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while good in 2016, was outclassed by newer Honda models. The system's graphics and menu organization were dated, but the Garmin-based navigation system was a standout. Standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth technology were redeeming features. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring model was improved, and Honda's LaneWatch provided a simple and effective blind-spot monitoring solution.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series featured the latest iDrive infotainment system with a touchscreen display, natural voice recognition, and gesture control. The system offered multiple ways to interact, making it intuitive to use. The touchscreen was user-friendly, and the voice recognition system was excellent. Gesture control, while optional, added a unique touch. The head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2019 Honda Civic came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features on all trims except the Si and Type R. This included forward-collision alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The IIHS rated the Civic with top Good ratings in crash tests, and the NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories. The Civic's crash-prevention features were rated as Superior.

The 2020 BMW 3 Series offered advanced driving assistance systems through the optional Advanced Driver Assistance package. While the safety features were accurate, the lane-keeping assist system was abrupt. The 3 Series received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS when equipped with adaptive full LED headlights.