2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Acura TLX

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still brought its own brand of upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, with a long hood balancing a sizable cabin and short tail, which had unique wraparound LED lights. The Touring-trim test car came with chrome door handles and LED headlights that looked like hundreds of tiny crystals. For 2019, Honda introduced a new Sport trim with a center-mounted exhaust and some exterior flash reminiscent of the performance-oriented Si trim.

The Civic Hatchback, listed as a separate model, had a tall and aggressive rear end, while the Coupe model offered a more balanced alternative. The max-attack Civic Type R, available only in hatchback form, was essentially a race car with little in common with other Civics besides the H logo. Unique paint options like lime green or flat bluish gray made the Civic stand out in traffic. The interior maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, a thin center stack with minimal buttons, and clean, linear lines. Despite a starting price under $20,000, the Civic's fit and finish felt high quality.

The 2020 Acura TLX, after a design overhaul, emerged as a handsome, albeit somewhat anonymous, car. The A-Spec option package enhanced its styling with 19-inch wheels, revised bumper designs, side sill skirts, and oversized round exhaust outlets. The 2020 TLX PMC Edition, limited to 360 units, featured a dazzling Valencia Red Pearl paint and unique body-color and gloss black exterior accents. Hand-built in Acura’s Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, the PMC Edition was priced at $50,945, including a $1,995 destination fee. Non-PMC cars started at $33,995, with the Technology Package ($3,700) and A-Spec Package ($2,700) recommended for added comfort, convenience, and a racy appearance.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines. The LX and Sport sedans and coupes came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The sedans had a standard 6-speed manual transmission, while the coupe's manual was standard only on the Sport. EX and above trims, like the Touring, received a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback exclusively featured the turbo engine, making 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport with a standard manual. The Si and Type R models offered more power, with the Si boosting the 1.5-liter engine to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R producing 306 hp and 295 lb-ft from a heavily boosted 2.0-liter engine. All engines delivered smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension were impressive, making it a joy to drive.

The 2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition featured the top-performing powertrain, with a 290-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine, 9-speed automatic transmission, and torque-vectoring SH-AWD system. The standard TLX came with a 206-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels. The V6 engine provided a steady build-up of power, with 267 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at 4,500 rpm. The SH-AWD system could put up to 70% of total engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing the car's driving dynamics. The TLX's automatic transmission was well-behaved, and the paddle shifters were pleasing to use. The car's handling capabilities did not compromise ride quality, making it comfortable and quiet for daily driving. The TLX returned 23 mpg on the testing loop, matching the EPA's combined driving estimate.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and five shortcut buttons, making it easier to use than previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display in the instrument panel, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional two-stage heated outboard seats. Cargo space was significant, with the sedan offering 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk (14.7 in the Touring trim), the coupe offering 11.9 to 12.1 cubic feet, and the hatchback offering up to 25.7 cubic feet (46.2 with rear seats folded). The center console provided ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2020 Acura TLX's interior exuded quality and comfort, with supple leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and plenty of room for the driver and front passenger. Rear occupants enjoyed favorable accommodations, with air-conditioning vents and available heated rear cushions. Storage space was generous in frequency but not size, with the trunk measuring just 14.3 cubic feet, comparable to a compact car.

The 2019 Honda Civic's Android-based infotainment system felt dated compared to newer Honda models. However, it redeemed itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim no longer rattled the back window, and Honda's LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot. The Garmin-based navigation system offered better graphics and quick, accurate voice-based input.

The 2020 Acura TLX's dual-screen infotainment system was a major drawback. The top display was not a touchscreen, while the bottom display was, causing confusion and frustration. The navigation map's graphics were outdated, and the voice-recognition system was subpar. However, the Acura/ELS premium audio system sounded good, and the car featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The smartphone charger in the bin forward of the shifter and cup holders was a convenient addition.

The 2019 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing on all trims except the Si and Type R. This included forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The IIHS rated various 2016–2018 Civic models with its top Good rating in all six crash tests and Superior for crash-prevention features. The NHTSA awarded the 2019 Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash rating.

The 2020 Acura TLX, designed and engineered in the early teens, showed its age in IIHS crash-test ratings, with an Acceptable rating in the small overlap frontal-impact test on the driver’s side. However, it earned 5-star ratings in every NHTSA test, including the rollover test. The TLX featured adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation systems. A blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert was included on all but the base TLX. While effective, these technologies lacked the smoothness and sophistication of more modern systems.