2023 Toyota Prius 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. Despite the trend, Honda saw potential in the redesigned Civic hatchback, aiming to capture a significant share of the remaining market. Manufactured in Indiana, it was one of the few compact cars still produced in North America. The Civic hatchback shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured unique elements from the front doors back, giving it a distinct appearance. The interior boasted sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which added a modern touch. However, the CVT shifter operation slightly detracted from the overall sense of sophistication.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Prius underwent a complete transformation, finally embracing a stylish design that had been absent in previous models. The new Prius featured a sleek exterior with a blend of curves and edges, giving it a futuristic look. The wheels were pushed further into the corners, enhancing both handling and aesthetics. The interior, while slightly smaller in some dimensions, offered increased legroom and a comfortable cabin. The Limited trim included a fixed glass roof, adding a sense of openness. Despite a reduction in cargo space, the Prius maintained a functional and organized interior with thoughtful touches like wireless smartphone charging and USB-C ports.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower. The latter provided a more energetic driving experience, with peak torque available 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 turbocharged 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 firm yet comfortable ride, with good steering and braking performance. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with real-world testing nearly matching official estimates.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with a more powerful electric motor and lithium-ion battery, delivering 196 total horsepower in AWD models. This was a significant improvement over the previous model's 121 horsepower. The Prius offered impressive fuel economy, with ratings of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 4.7 on the highway. The new powertrain provided ample acceleration, making the Prius feel more athletic and responsive. The revised suspension and longer wheelbase contributed to agile handling, while the brakes, though slightly squishy, performed adequately. Overall, the Prius offered a comfortable and engaging driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, with a generous trunk capacity of 693 litres and a two-piece cargo shade for convenience. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. The interior provided comfortable seating with sufficient legroom, though 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 heated front seats were standard in Canada. The Sport Touring trim added heated outboard rear seats and black leather upholstery, enhancing comfort and style.

The 2023 Toyota Prius, despite its larger exterior, had a slightly smaller interior in some dimensions. Headroom was reduced due to the sloping roofline, but legroom increased, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Limited trim featured a fixed glass roof, adding a sense of openness. Cargo space decreased to 575 litres, and rear visibility was somewhat compromised by the loss of the split rear window. The cabin included thoughtful touches like wireless smartphone charging and USB-C ports, while the cargo area offered small underfloor storage cubbies. The Prius maintained a functional and organized interior, though some improvements could be made.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with a new infotainment system. The LX and Sport trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen display with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls was a welcome improvement. Digital instrumentation was standard, with the Sport Touring offering a more comprehensive 10.2-inch display panel. The voice recognition system worked effectively, enhancing the overall user experience.

The 2023 Toyota Prius offered an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the XLE models, while the Limited trim featured a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The navigation system required a subscription to Toyota’s Drive Connect for real-time updates. A 7-inch digital instrument cluster was standard, though it was criticized for being too busy. The Limited trim included wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker JBL audio system, and a digital rearview mirror. Subscription-based connectivity bundles provided additional features like remote access and cloud navigation.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist, though these were only available with the CVT. A blind-spot warning system was standard in Canada, with rear cross-traffic warning available on the Sport Touring trim. The Civic hatchback earned a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS, reflecting its strong safety performance.

The 2023 Toyota Prius featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and lane-departure alerts. The Proactive Driving Assist system used radar and cameras to detect obstacles and adjust speed accordingly. All safety features were standard across all trims. The Prius also included stability control, traction control, and eight airbags. The Limited trim offered hands-free automatic parallel parking. The Prius received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS, though a rating from the NHTSA was not yet available.