2023 Acura TLX vs 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2023 Acura TLX faced challenges beyond the consumer shift to SUVs, including pandemic-related supply chain constraints and fluctuating car prices, which made it difficult for Acura to offer attractive lease deals. Unlike some competitors, Acura did not resort to selling its vehicles to rental fleets, making the TLX a rare sight on the road. The TLX Type S, with its striking Tiger Eye Pearl paint and performance enhancements, was priced at approximately $67,500 in Canada, including delivery fees. The TLX's design, inspired by a concept vehicle, featured a long, low, and lean profile with a rear-wheel-drive appearance, though this impacted rear-seat space and cargo capacity. Inside, the TLX's layered dashboard emphasized style over practicality, with a control layout that required adaptation. The Type S model, equipped with a turbocharged V6 engine and Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, was the most expensive TLX variant, while the base TLX A-Spec with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and SH-AWD started at $54,729 in Canada.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback, like the character Gwen from Seinfeld, could appear either dowdy or sporty depending on the angle, lighting, and trim. The Sport Touring trim, with its 18-inch alloy wheels and Boost Blue colour, was mostly appealing, though the rear end appeared slightly stubby. The Sport Touring sat at the top of the Civic Hatchback lineup in Canada, with base prices ranging from $36,094 to $39,594, including destination charges. The Civic Sport Touring's interior impressed with quality materials, elegant detailing, and technology, such as the metal honeycomb mesh on the dashboard and high-resolution digital screens. The Civic Hatchback offered a sporty alternative to the practical Civic sedan, with the Sport Touring trim providing a balance of style and functionality.

The 2023 Acura TLX offered a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard SH-AWD in Canada. The engine's fuel economy was rated at 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.1 on the highway, and 9.8 combined. The TLX featured multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with the Type S adding a Sport+ mode. The SH-AWD system provided mechanical torque vectoring, enhancing power, grip, and control. The Type S model came with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine delivering 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, along with performance enhancements like a sport automatic transmission, adaptive suspension, and Brembo brakes. The Type S could accelerate to 60 mph in five seconds and had a top speed of 250 km/h. Its fuel economy was estimated at 12.3 L/100 km in the city, 9.4 on the highway, and 11.0 combined. Despite its weight, the Type S was fun to drive, though the brake-by-wire system occasionally caused a disconnect between driver inputs and braking response.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback in Canada featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, offering a sportier alternative to the Civic sedan. The Sport Touring trim allowed for a choice between a six-speed manual and a CVT with paddle shifters and a Sport mode. The test car had the CVT, which, despite some high-rpm groaning, effectively utilized the engine's torque. The Civic Sport Touring felt light and lively, providing an enjoyable driving experience in various situations. The manual transmission version was expected to average 8.5 L/100 km in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 7.5 combined, while the CVT version achieved 7.7 L/100 km in the city, 6.3 on the highway, and 7.1 combined. The test car averaged 7.8 L/100 km during evaluation. The Civic Hatchback was fun to drive, though it was loud on the highway, and the CVT version was less engaging than the manual.

The 2023 Acura TLX Type S in Canada featured an Ebony interior with premium Milano leather and artificial suede inserts. The U.S.-spec test car had an Orchid interior with optional carbon fibre trim, which was not available in Canada. The Type S model's flat-bottom sport steering wheel had analog gauges with low-contrast red markings, making them difficult to read. The TLX's front sport seats were 16-way power-adjustable, with automatic heating and ventilation, and a heated steering wheel was standard. While front seat comfort was excellent, the rear seat was cramped, with narrow doors and limited legroom. The TLX's trunk offered 382 litres of cargo space, comparable to a compact car, but a flat trunk floor and enclosed hinges maximized usability.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback, whether in Sport or Sport Touring trim, offered appealing features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power sunroof. The Sport Touring added leather upholstery and an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The test car's power driver's seat and adjustable steering wheel allowed for a perfect driving position, with the seat providing excellent long-distance support. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seat was spacious enough for two adults or three children, with good support and USB quick-charge ports in the Sport Touring trim. The Civic Hatchback offered 693 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, significantly more than the Civic Sedan's trunk.

The 2023 Acura TLX's technology, particularly the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system, was a source of frustration. The 10.2-inch display was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of the TTI touchpad, steering wheel controls, and voice recognition. The TTI's one-to-one relationship with the display screen proved distracting, and the system occupied valuable centre console space. Standard infotainment features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, a wireless charging pad, navigation, and a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D audio system. However, the TLX did not support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback's Sport trim had a basic 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system, while the Sport Touring offered a 10.2-inch digital display and a 9-inch touchscreen. The upgraded system added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, and wireless charging. A 12-speaker Bose audio system was standard with the Sport Touring trim. The Civic's technology was user-friendly, with easy pairing of smartphones and responsive voice recognition.

The 2023 Acura TLX came standard with driver aids like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Type S added rain-sensing wipers, a wiper de-icer, and a surround-view camera. The TLX's Advanced Engineering Compatibility body structure and eight airbags contributed to its safety. The IIHS awarded the TLX a Top Safety Pick+ rating, and the NHTSA gave it a five-star overall crash-test rating.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback featured Honda Sensing, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sport Touring trim added rear cross-traffic alert and parking sensors. The Civic Hatchback received Good ratings in most IIHS assessments and a five-star overall crashworthiness rating from the NHTSA.