2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was a striking vehicle that often drew comparisons to luxury sedans, particularly the Audi A7, due to its sleek and refined design. It featured a redesigned front grille, updated LED lighting, and a longer body, which contributed to its near-luxury appearance. The car's planted stance was enhanced by its long, flowing roofline, and it offered a choice of six exterior colours with 19-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Accord Hybrid boasted a modern dashboard design with a digital instrument display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, offering features like Amazon Alexa and wireless connectivity options. The interior was available in leather or cloth, with our test model showcasing a Canyon River Blue Metallic paint and black leather interior.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Si maintained a more understated, stealth-mode styling reminiscent of early pocket rockets. It featured LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The Civic Si's interior was more expressive, with red seat and door panel inserts, metal mesh trim, and a simple yet effective digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system. The car's sporty design was complemented by metal pedal covers and an aluminum shift knob. The Civic Si was available in various colours, though the eye-catching Blazing Orange Pearl was not offered in Canada.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering a total of 204 horsepower to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While it lacked all-wheel drive, the Accord Hybrid offered smooth and efficient performance, seamlessly switching between electric and gas power. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, providing a comfortable ride. The regenerative braking system featured six levels of regen, allowing for fine-tuning and ease of use. Despite its increased length, the Accord Hybrid remained agile and easy to park, making it a relaxing car to drive.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It featured a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature, enhancing the driving experience. The Civic Si's drivetrain included a helical limited-slip differential, larger brakes, and a dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system. The car offered Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, adjusting throttle response and steering effort. The Civic Si excelled in urban and suburban settings, providing a fun and engaging driving experience. However, it was not as quiet on the highway, and the braking system showed some issues during hot testing weather.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid's cabin adopted a layout similar to Honda's Civic and CR-V models, featuring a strip of honeycomb mesh trim that concealed the air vents. The interior offered dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats provided excellent support and comfort, while the rear seats offered generous legroom and shoulder room, though headroom was slightly compromised by the roofline. The trunk space was ample, with a capacity of 473 litres, making it easy to load and unload cargo.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced practicality with performance, featuring sport-bolstered front seats and a manual transmission. The interior included dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power sunroof. The back seat was surprisingly roomy, with generous legroom and a supportive cushion. The Civic Si offered 408 litres of cargo space, with a 60/40-split folding back seat for added versatility. However, the car lacked air conditioning vents for rear-seat passengers, and storage space in the back was limited.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless charging pad, Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, and a head-up display. The Touring trim included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus and easy navigation.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured a 9-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with onboard navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and HD Radio. The system was easy to use, with a physical Home button and steering wheel controls for volume and tuning. The Civic Si also included a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system, which delivered impressive audio quality.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a multi-angle rearview camera, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Accord Hybrid Touring added front and rear parking sensors and a head-up display. The car received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning high scores in crash tests and safety features.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with the Honda Sensing collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, some features proved irksome during testing, affecting the driving experience. The Civic Si received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.