2023 Honda Accord vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a bold contender in a market where hatchbacks were losing ground to small crossover SUVs. With several automakers discontinuing hatchbacks in North America, Honda saw an opportunity to capture a significant share of the remaining market. The redesigned Civic Hatchback, produced in Indiana, was one of the few compact cars still manufactured in North America. It shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured unique elements from the front doors to the rear, giving it a distinct appearance. Despite its stubby rear, the Civic Hatchback offered a modern and sophisticated interior, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which included digital instrumentation and high-quality controls.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Accord adopted a more conservative and technical look, moving away from the chrome-heavy design of its predecessor. The Accord EX, the only gas-only variant in Canada, featured a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that garnered compliments. Inside, the Accord EX offered durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and a stylish metal mesh dashboard trim. The interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with a focus on refinement and attention to detail. However, some features like rear air conditioning vents and a power-adjustable front passenger seat were missing in the EX trim, which were available in higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and a more energetic turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The latter was available in the Sport and Sport Touring trims, providing accessible torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The Civic Hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission option. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, offering a smooth driving experience, while the manual transmission was praised for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic Hatchback delivered a satisfying driving experience, with firm suspension tuning and responsive steering, although it was not designed for aggressive driving on winding roads.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, powered the front wheels and provided adequate performance for the 1,493-kilogram vehicle. The Accord's suspension and steering systems offered good response and road feel, making it easy to drive in urban and suburban environments. The Accord's brakes performed well even under duress, although the Michelin Energy tires felt squishy during spirited driving. The Accord EX's fuel efficiency was slightly below expectations during testing, but it was expected to improve under different weather conditions.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, offering a generous 693-litre trunk and a two-piece cargo shade for easy loading. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, although the load floor was not flat. The Civic Hatchback provided comfortable seating with sufficient legroom, although some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and the Sport Touring trim included heated outboard rear seats and black leather upholstery.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX came with heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. However, it lacked a power-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. The Accord's back seat offered excellent leg support and legroom, making it comfortable for passengers. The 473-litre trunk was spacious and easy to load, with a handle to close the lid without getting dirty fingers.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen in the LX and Sport trims, while the Sport Touring trim boasted a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic's infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical knobs for sound controls and a shelf for hand support while using the touchscreen. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a more comprehensive display in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2023 Honda Accord EX included a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. The EX trim had an eight-speaker audio system but lacked SiriusXM satellite radio. The Accord's infotainment system featured physical controls, although the tuning knob was a function control, which could be confusing. Overall, the Accord EX offered basic but functional technology.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The Civic Hatchback also featured new frontal-impact airbags and Advanced Compatibility Engineering for improved crash protection. It earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, indicating excellent safety performance.

The 2023 Honda Accord also came with Honda Sensing, offering a comprehensive set of advanced driving assistance systems. These included adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Accord's safety features performed with accuracy and refinement, and it also earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, ensuring high levels of safety for occupants.