2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Toyota Camry

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 a sizable cabin and short tail featuring distinctive wraparound LED lights. The Civic Touring model boasted chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The introduction of the Honda Civic Sport trim brought a centre-mounted exhaust and exterior flair similar to the Si trim, but at a more affordable price. The Civic Hatchback, with its tall and aggressive rear end, and the Coupe model, offered unique paint options that stood out in traffic. Inside, the Civic maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen, minimal buttons, and high-quality fit and finish, despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2020 Toyota Camry marked a return to form for the model, with a renewed attention to detail elevating its quality and appeal. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with a bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty appearance. Design cues borrowed from BMW added to its allure, and with 13 exterior colour options, the Camry aimed to be fashionable. Inside, the Camry used high-quality materials and a driver-focused dashboard design, making even the lower trims feel premium. The driver's seat could genuinely be called a "cockpit," and the leather and wood in higher trims reinforced the idea of a top-of-the-line Toyota being on par with an entry-level Lexus. While the Camry wasn't a luxury car, it offered a compelling package for its price point.

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. 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 continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback models exclusively used the turbocharged engine, producing 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport trim. 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 noted for their excellent clutch and shifter engagement, while the CVT impressed with its ability to simulate gear ratios without straining the engine. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension setup made it a joy to drive, offering a balance between sportiness and comfort.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with four distinct powertrains, including a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), a 3.5-litre V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-litre V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering smooth and powerful performance. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivered 203 hp (206 in XSE trim) and was also paired with an eight-speed automatic. The lighter weight of the four-cylinder models improved steering feel, making the XSE trim particularly enjoyable to drive. The TRD model featured a specially tuned and lowered suspension, offering a firmer ride. The Camry's AWD system, similar to that used in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's torque to the rear wheels when needed, improving traction in slippery conditions. The Camry's fuel efficiency varied depending on the drivetrain, with the front-drive models achieving a combined rating of 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres, while AWD models consumed slightly more.

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 allowed control of the central display, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional heated seats and adequate head- and legroom for long trips. The Civic's cargo space was generous, with the sedan offering 428 litres in the trunk (416 litres in the Touring trim), the coupe providing 343 litres, and the hatchback offering up to 727 litres, expandable to 1,308 litres with the rear seats folded. The centre console provided ample storage options, and visibility was good in all directions, especially in the sedan.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to drive, with most controls conveniently placed. The centre console housed the shifter, cupholders, a cell phone tray, and a storage bin. Despite the styling changes, front legroom and hip room increased from the previous generation. However, rear legroom and overall passenger volume decreased, leaving the Camry with a tighter backseat compared to competitors like the Accord. The trunk offered 428 litres of cargo space, equivalent to the Honda Civic. The addition of AWD did not compromise the Camry's trunk or passenger space, as Toyota made structural modifications to accommodate the system.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while once competitive, had become dated compared to newer Honda models. The system's graphics and menu organization lagged behind, but the Garmin-based navigation system stood out with its superior graphics and voice input. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The Touring trim featured a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo, and certain trims offered Honda's LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto compatibility, joining Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and a three-month SiriusXM trial as standard features. The infotainment system, while functional and responsive, had low-resolution graphics and inferior navigation software. The standard 7-inch screen could be upgraded to an 8-inch version, and most models included USB-A charging ports. An optional Qi wireless charging pad was available, but USB-C ports were not. Higher trims offered a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display. Remote Connect, a smartphone-based service for locking, unlocking, and starting the vehicle, was included with certain trims.

The 2019 Honda Civic came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features on all trims except the Si and Type R. This suite included forward-collision alert, emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top ratings from the IIHS for crash tests and crash-prevention features, and the NHTSA awarded it five stars in most categories, with a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash.

The 2020 Toyota Camry included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, featuring a pre-collision system, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. Safety Connect, an emergency assistance service, was included with most trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. The Camry received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. A recall for leaking engine coolant affected some models with the 2.5-litre engine.