2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Honda Civic

The 2019 Honda Civic was noted for its upscale style, featuring a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and available larger 18-inch alloy wheels. Its silhouette was graceful, with a long hood balancing a sizable cabin and short tail, complemented by wraparound LED lights. The Touring model boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights resembling tiny crystals. The introduction of the Honda Civic Sport trim added a centre-mounted exhaust and exterior elements reminiscent of the Si trim. The Civic Hatchback had a tall, aggressive rear end, while the Coupe offered a more balanced alternative. The interior maintained a high-tech theme with a central LCD screen, minimal buttons, and high-quality fit and finish, despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2020 Honda Civic continued to impress with its sharp design across sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles. The sedan featured a svelte roofline and elongated body, with body panel creases and wide headlights enhancing its low and wide stance. The hatchback's tall rump was quirky, while the Type R was an exaggerated, anime-like vehicle. The 2020 model carried over the upgraded grilles, bumpers, and wheels from 2019, with additional matte-black wheels and LED lighting options on the Si. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button. The Si featured new sport seats and a red-accented instrument panel.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines, starting with a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, available in the DX, LX, EX, and Sport sedans, as well as the LX and Sport coupes. A six-speed manual transmission was standard in Canada, with a CVT optional on certain trims. The Touring models and all hatchbacks featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the Hatchback Sport offering 180 hp. The Si and Type R models delivered higher performance, with the Si's 1.5-litre engine producing 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R's 2.0-litre engine reaching 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 transmission was noted for its excellent clutch and shifter feel, while the CVT impressed with its simulated gear ratios. The Civic's handling, steering, and suspension provided a sporty yet comfortable driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic continued to offer four engines and two transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base engine was the same 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft, with a six-speed manual standard and a CVT available on most trims. The Touring trims and hatchbacks featured the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the Sport and Sport Touring hatchbacks offering 180 hp. The Si and Type R models maintained their high-performance specs, with the Si's 1.5-litre engine at 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R at 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The 2020 model introduced a shorter final-drive ratio for improved acceleration, though it slightly impacted fuel efficiency. The Civic Si was noted for its adaptive dampers and balanced handling, while the Type R offered thrilling performance. The Civic's powertrains were described as flawless, with the manual transmission providing a tight, enjoyable shifting experience and the CVT delivering responsive performance.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability over previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display, with analog gauges for fuel and coolant. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional heated seats and standard heated front seats on most trims. Cargo space was generous, with the sedan offering 428 litres (416 litres on Touring), the coupe 343 litres, and the hatchback up to 1,308 litres with seats folded. The centre console provided configurable storage options, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2020 Honda Civic improved with more sound insulation in the hatchback and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on EX hatchback models. The steering wheel controlled the central display and digital tachometer, with a conventional PRNDL shifter. The centre console offered configurable storage, and the rear seat was roomy, though lacking air vents. Cargo space remained ample, with the sedan offering 416 litres, the coupe 343 litres, and the hatchback up to 1,302 litres with seats folded. The Civic's interior was praised for its practicality and comfort.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system was considered outdated compared to newer Honda models, though it offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Garmin-based navigation system on higher trims was a standout, with accurate voice input. The Touring model featured a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo, and LaneWatch provided a live feed of the right-side blind spot.

The 2020 Honda Civic continued with the same infotainment system, offering standard Bluetooth and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Si model introduced Active Sound Control, though it could be turned off. The Si also included push-button start, keyless entry, and a power moonroof. LaneWatch remained a useful feature, and Honda Sensing was standard on all trims, providing advanced safety features.

The 2019 Honda Civic included the Honda Sensing suite on all trims except the Si and Type R, offering features like 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 2020 Honda Civic also featured Honda Sensing, with improved LED headlights earning it a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The Civic received top "Good" ratings in crash tests, and the NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories, with a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger frontal crash.