2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was often mistaken for a luxury sedan due to its sleek design, reminiscent of the Audi A7. During its time on the road, it garnered numerous positive responses from onlookers. The updated model, which was 7 centimetres longer than its predecessor, featured a redesigned front grille and updated LED lighting, giving it a more refined and near-luxury appearance. Despite being slightly blockier than earlier versions, it maintained its Accord identity with a planted stance accentuated by a long, flowing roofline. The Accord Touring offered six exterior colours and came with 19-inch alloy wheels, with optional gloss-black Honda Performance Development wheels available at an additional cost. Inside, the Accord Hybrid Touring boasted a new dashboard design, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and features like Amazon Alexa and wireless Apple CarPlay.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback had a variable appearance, depending on the angle, lighting, and trim. The Sport Touring trim, with its 18-inch alloy wheels and Boost Blue colour, was particularly appealing, though the rear end was considered a bit stubby. The Civic Hatchback lineup in Canada included the Sport and Sport Touring trims, with prices ranging from $36,094 to $39,594. The Sport Touring trim justified its higher price with quality materials, elegant detailing, and advanced technology, including a metal honeycomb mesh dashboard and high-resolution digital instrumentation. The Civic Sport Touring was praised for its driving enjoyment, though it was noted to be loud on highways.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, delivering 204 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It was only available in front-wheel drive, unlike some competitors that offered all-wheel drive. The Accord Hybrid was smooth and efficient, seamlessly switching between electric and gas power. It provided sufficient power for highway merges and passing maneuvers, with a suspension that absorbed road imperfections well. The regenerative braking system was enhanced with six levels of regen, making it easier for drivers to adjust. Despite its increased length, the Accord was easy to park and offered agile handling.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback in Canada came with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The Sport Touring trim offered a choice between a six-speed manual and a CVT with paddle shifters and a Sport driving mode. The CVT, while not as fun as the manual, made good use of the turbo engine's torque. The Civic Sport Touring was lively and enjoyable to drive, adding excitement to daily commutes and errands. However, it was noted to be loud on highways. Fuel efficiency varied between the manual and CVT, with the latter offering slightly better figures. The test car averaged 7.8 L/100 km during evaluation.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's cabin adopted a layout similar to the Civic sedan and CR-V SUV, featuring a honeycomb mesh trim that concealed air vents. The dashboard housed a prominent infotainment screen, with buttons and dials for climate control and heated seats within easy reach. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Accord Hybrid had a traditional gearshift, replacing the previous button system, and a dedicated volume control knob. The front seats were redesigned for better support, providing comfort during long drives. Rear legroom and shoulder room were generous, though headroom was limited by the roofline. The trunk offered 473 litres of space, with a low load floor for easy access.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback, whether in Sport or Sport Touring trim, offered appealing features like dual-zone climate control, heated mirrors, and a power sunroof. The Sport Touring added leather upholstery and an eight-way power driver's seat. The driver's seat and steering wheel allowed for a perfect driving position, with the seat providing excellent long-distance support. The rear seat accommodated two adults or three children comfortably, with USB ports available in the Sport Touring trim. However, the lack of air conditioning vents in the rear was noted. The hatchback offered 693 litres of cargo space, significantly more than the Civic Sedan's trunk.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital instrument display. The infotainment system was intuitive, with easy-to-navigate graphics. The Touring trim included advanced tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. A 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports were also included.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback's Sport trim had a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system, which were basic compared to rivals. The Sport Touring trim upgraded to a 10.2-inch digital display and a 9-inch touchscreen, adding sophistication to the cabin. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, and wireless charging. A 12-speaker Bose sound system was standard, and the infotainment system was easy to use, with responsive voice recognition.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of active safety features, including a multi-angle rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Touring trim added parking sensors and a head-up display. The Accord Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and safety features.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. 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 rating from the NHTSA.