2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. The sedan body style was the focus, with the hatchback and performance-oriented Si and Type R models reviewed separately. In Canada, the Civic's pricing started at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and went up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Civic Touring, tested in Morning Mist Blue, cost $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the HPD appearance package, was estimated at $31,467. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord, adopting a more conservative and mature look. Inside, Honda aimed for simplicity, with a minimalistic control layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, which reflected a newfound maturity.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata, in its seventh generation, had evolved from its early days of mimicking the Honda Accord. Over time, Hyundai infused the Sonata with more flair and personality, setting it apart from its competitors. The Sonata featured a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline, offering a distinctive look that divided opinions. Inside, the Sonata provided a functional and spacious cabin with seating for five. The Limited trim boasted comfortable leather seats, though the tan upholstery was not to everyone's taste. The Sonata N Line offered a sportier appearance with a body kit, gloss black accents, and N badging. Its cabin featured dark chrome trim and red stitching, adding personality to the sporty model.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options, both improved from the previous generation. The LX, EX, and Sport trims featured a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim came with a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with different CVTs for each engine. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on a 150-kilometre loop.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had a split personality in terms of performance. The base engine, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder, produced 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, making 180 hp and 195 lb-ft, powered the Sport and Luxury trims. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata N Line, with its 290-hp turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension, offered a more aggressive driving experience. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Sonata provided a smooth ride and competent handling, with a quiet cabin.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined seats with power adjustments for the driver. The Civic's low seating position made entry and exit challenging for some, but the back seat offered ample legroom. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, but the Touring trim included heated rear seats. The redesigned interior had a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. The Civic's trunk offered 419 litres of volume, or 408 litres with the Touring trim, due to the premium sound system components.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata boasted 2,956 litres of passenger space, classifying it as a "Full-size Car" by Natural Resources Canada. The Sonata offered excellent front-seat headroom and legroom, with average shoulder room. The rear seat was adequate for two adults, but a third passenger might find it cramped. The Sonata's 453-litre trunk was spacious, accommodating a three-piece set of rolling luggage. The Remote Smart Parking Assist feature, available on the Ultimate grade, allowed the Sonata to park itself with the press of a button, though it was more of a novelty than a necessity.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display showed when the headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system performed well, with excellent voice recognition technology.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment technology varied by trim. Base SE versions had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the N Line and Ultimate Hybrid trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Pairing an iPhone via Bluetooth was easy, and the Bose audio system provided excellent sound quality. The Sonata offered good value for its infotainment features.

The 2022 Honda Civic came with the upgraded Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced its LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata featured a comprehensive package of safety features, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist. The Sonata received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crash tests. The Sonata's child-seat anchors received an "Acceptable" rating.