2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Toyota Crown

The 2022 Honda Civic presented a more mature and conservative design compared to its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the larger Accord sedan. This 11th-generation Civic was noted for its tailored and grown-up appearance, which might have seemed a bit plain to fans of the previous model's styling. The interior of the Civic embraced simplicity, with a minimalistic layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim. A notable feature was the metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard, elegantly concealing the air vents. The Civic's interior reflected a newfound maturity, offering a more refined experience than before.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Crown stood out with its elevated ride height and distinctive styling, reminiscent of a crossover. The Crown's front end featured a massive grille, mostly for aesthetics, with actual air inlets above it. The angular wraparound headlights and sporty aggression of the front design aimed to attract a broad range of customers. The side profile was complemented by large wheels and a black trim piece along the doors, while the rear boasted a bold taillight strip. Inside, the Crown offered a modern cabin with a digital instrument panel and a large horizontal touchscreen. The mix of hard plastics and cushioned touchpoints gave it a sturdy feel, though it fell short of luxury standards.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options, both improved from the previous generation. The base engine, a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder, delivered 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, providing adequate performance for daily driving. However, the turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine in the Touring trim was the star, producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. This engine offered a satisfying blend of performance and efficiency, with a broad torque range from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) featuring Step Shift programming for a more traditional automatic feel. The Civic's handling was praised for its responsiveness and enjoyable ride, with improvements in structural rigidity and suspension tuning. Despite its fun-to-drive nature, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations during testing, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres.

The 2023 Toyota Crown offered two hybrid powertrains. The base powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a hybrid electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. The Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine and a more powerful rear electric motor, producing 340 horsepower. The base hybrid used a CVT, while the Hybrid Max had a six-speed automatic transmission. The Crown's ride quality prioritized comfort, with the Platinum trim adding an adaptive suspension. While the Crown's performance was adequate, the base hybrid's CVT and engine noise detracted from the experience. The Hybrid Max offered quicker acceleration but still lacked the sporty feel of some competitors.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering excellent support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim. The power driver's seat allowed for a perfect driving position, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's low ride height made entry and exit challenging for some, but the rear seat provided ample legroom. The interior featured a new centre console with more accessible cupholders and a smaller storage bin. Trunk space was generous at 419 litres, though the Touring trim's premium sound system reduced it to 408 litres. The split-folding backseat added utility, and a small handle inside the trunk lid facilitated closing.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's interior offered fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim in the base XLE trim, while the Platinum trim featured full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though firm cushioning could cause discomfort over time. The driver's view was largely unobstructed, but the rearview was narrow. The Crown's taller ride height provided a slightly better view of the road. The rear seats offered ample legroom and adequate headroom, despite the tapering roofline. The trunk had a capacity of 360 litres, smaller than some competitors, but the wide and low opening made loading easier. Remote releases for the rear seatbacks added convenience.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a larger 10-inch display. This display provided greater customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display was a standout feature, showing when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were active. 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 connectivity, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a navigation system. The system's voice recognition technology was notably improved, though load times were slightly slow.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch multimedia infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. The base audio system was adequate, but the 11-speaker JBL premium system was available for audiophiles. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and featured a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A digital key feature allowed smartphone access, and a Wi-Fi hotspot with remote monitoring was available. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system.

The 2022 Honda Civic boasted an upgraded Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard features included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, 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 vehicle's architecture was strengthened for improved collision protection, and new front airbag designs offered better head protection. Rear side-impact airbags were introduced, and a rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's safety features included frontal and cross-traffic collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitor, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and a rear-seat-passenger reminder. These features were part of the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system. While the adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were well-tuned, some Proactive Driving Assist features were intrusive. Crash test results from NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time of publication.