2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a touch of luxury typically reserved for higher-end brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elongated, elegant body with a svelte roofline, while the hatchback had a quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with body panel creases, wide headlights, and sweeping LED taillights accentuating its low and wide stance. The interior was simple yet sophisticated, with soft-touch materials and high-quality switchgear. The 2020 model year brought updates like new wheels, LED fog lights, and revised bumpers, enhancing its already appealing design.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was praised for its stylish and proportionate design, with minor front styling changes that included a new grille and revised headlights. The Touring trim level featured new 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, adding to its upscale appearance. The Accord's cabin was remarkably upscale, with simulated matte-finish wood trim and polished metallic accents. The interior was spacious, offering a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated and ventilated front seats in the Touring trim. The Accord Hybrid's trunk was a generous 473 litres, providing ample cargo space without compromising utility. Overall, the Accord Hybrid's design and interior were both functional and luxurious.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower, while the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine on higher trims delivered 174 to 180 horsepower. The Civic Si and Type R models offered even more power, with 205 and 306 horsepower, respectively. The Civic's engines were smooth and responsive, with the CVT providing seamless acceleration. The Si model featured adaptive dampers and a stiffer ride, making it a thrill to drive. However, the Si's fuel efficiency was slightly impacted by a shorter final-drive ratio, with ratings of 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 on the highway.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system offered three operational modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive, allowing for efficient power delivery. The Accord Hybrid's fuel efficiency was impressive, with a combined rating of 5.0 L/100 km. The car's powertrain was refined for 2021, offering improved throttle response and a more natural driving experience. The Accord Hybrid's suspension was tuned for athletic handling, and the brake-by-wire regenerative braking system provided excellent feel and response.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on the EX hatchback. The steering wheel featured controls for the central display and instrument panel, while the centre console provided configurable storage options. The Civic's rear seats were roomy, though lacking rear air vents. The sedan's trunk offered 416 litres of cargo space, while the hatchback provided 728 litres behind the rear seats and 1,302 litres with them folded down.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, featuring a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated and ventilated front seats in the Touring trim. Interior storage was generous, with a large centre console bin and a covered compartment with wireless charging. The Accord Hybrid's trunk was a substantial 473 litres, accommodating full-size suitcases and offering 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the interface was complex. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, and LaneWatch, a camera system for blind spot monitoring. Automatic climate control and Honda Sensing were standard on all models, with additional features like leather upholstery and LED headlights on higher trims.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard across all trims. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with improved USB port access and wireless charging on the Touring trim. The Touring also featured a head-up display and navigation with voice recognition. However, the voice command system required specific prompts for successful operation.

The 2020 Honda Civic was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests except for the Type R. The NHTSA awarded the Civic five stars in most categories, with a four-star rating for the passenger frontal crash on the coupe.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to achieve a Top Safety Pick+ rating by redesigning its LED headlights. It included standard blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rearview camera. The Touring trim added low-speed braking control and front and rear automatic emergency braking. Honda Sensing was refined for smoother operation, though some features, like lane departure warning, could be improved.