2019 Honda Civic vs 2020 Lexus ES

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still offered a unique upscale style with its gloss-black upper grille, revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. Its silhouette was graceful, reminiscent of an Audi A7, with a long hood balancing the cabin and short tail. The Touring-trim featured chrome door handles and LED headlights that resembled tiny crystals, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The new Sport trim introduced a center-mounted exhaust and exterior elements from the performance-oriented Si trim, providing a sporty look at a lower cost. The Civic Hatchback, with its tall and aggressive rear end, and the Coupe model, offered distinct alternatives, while the Civic Type R was a race car-like option for speed enthusiasts. The interior maintained a high-tech yet simplified theme, with a central LCD screen and minimal buttons, offering a high-quality fit and finish despite some hard plastic surfaces in the rear.

The 2020 Lexus ES underwent a transformation from its earlier "boring" label to a more aggressive design, highlighted by a large spindle grille that complemented its larger proportions. The rear featured thin taillamps and a pronounced kink at the back of the side windows, adding to its sleek appearance. Inside, the ES elegantly blended modern technology with an organic aesthetic, featuring soft-touch materials and a large infotainment screen integrated into the dash. The interior was considered one of the best among luxury sedans, second only to Mercedes-Benz. The ES offered various trims, including the 350 FWD, Luxury, Ultra Luxury, and F Sport, each with unique features and options. The F Sport trim, in particular, added a sporty touch with a unique grille, dark window accents, and exclusive interior elements like aluminum trim and Circuit Red color options.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque for the LX and Sport sedans and coupes. The EX and higher trims, including the Touring, featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine with 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback models exclusively used the turbo engine, with the Hatchback Sport delivering 180 horsepower. The Si and Type R models provided more power, with the Si's 1.5-liter engine producing 205 horsepower and the Type R's 2.0-liter engine delivering an impressive 306 horsepower. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and refinement, with the turbo engine offering better mid-range acceleration. The manual transmissions were noted for their excellent clutch and shifter engagement, while the CVT impressed with its simulated gear ratios. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension were designed for sporty driving, providing a balanced and enjoyable driving experience.

The 2020 Lexus ES came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed for a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 131 mph. While not a high-performance machine, the ES provided confident acceleration and smooth highway driving. The ride was comfortable and refined, with the suspension effectively absorbing road bumps. The steering was light but precise, and the Dynamic Control Shocks contributed to the hushed ride. The F Sport trim offered an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) with adjustable dampers and additional drive modes, enhancing the driving experience. Although not a hot performer, the ES's upgraded suspension and paddle shifters allowed for more confident cornering. For those seeking more performance, the Lexus GS 350 F Sport and GS F offered rear-wheel-drive layouts and more powerful engines.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and shortcut buttons, improving usability compared to previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered surprising roominess, with optional heated outboard seats and adequate head- and legroom for long trips. The sedan's trunk provided 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Touring trim had slightly less due to a rear subwoofer. The coupe's trunk was smaller, and the hatchback offered the most cargo space, with up to 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console provided ample storage options, and visibility was good in all directions, especially in the sedan.

The 2020 Lexus ES boasted a spacious cabin with ample head- and legroom in both rows. The front seats could be adjusted to provide plenty of legroom for rear passengers, and rear-seat headroom was improved with the 2019 redesign. The front doors featured deep pockets, and the center console offered multiple retractable panels for storage. The trunk provided 16.7 cubic feet of space, which was average for the midsize luxury segment. However, the rear seats did not fold down, limiting the ability to transport larger items.

The 2019 Honda Civic's infotainment system, while good in 2016, had become outdated compared to newer Honda models. The system was slower and less organized, but the Garmin-based navigation stood out with better graphics and accurate voice input. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were redeeming features, and the 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim was improved. Honda's LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot, enhancing safety.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlled by a touch-sensitive pad in the center console. While not a touchscreen, the pad was intuitive once presets were set. The system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the CarPlay screen utilizing the entire display. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium audio system, with an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo. A head-up display was available, providing crisp graphics and customization options.

The 2019 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing as standard on all trims except the Si and Type R. This suite included forward-collision alert, emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rating for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash.

The 2020 Lexus ES included Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard, featuring forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety features included pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, and lane-tracing assist. The ES also had a full array of airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.