2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Toyota Camry

When buyers considered the 2019 Toyota Camry, they had to choose between standard and sporty styling, and then decide among a 4-cylinder, a V6, and a hybrid powertrain. Trim levels varied based on the engine selection, including L, LE, XLE, SE, and XSE. The review focused on the Camry XSE equipped with a V6 engine, featuring Toyota's Driver Assist package, carpeted floor mats, and two-tone Blue Streak paint with a Midnight Black roof. The sticker price was $39,669, including the $955 destination charge. While the Camry XSE V6 was quick and entertaining to drive, it wasn’t the recommended trim. For the best value, the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine in LE trim was suggested. The Hybrid, though offering excellent gas mileage, was more expensive and took nearly a decade to realize any savings at the pump.

The styling of the Camry, especially in XSE trim, was daring but not cohesive, with forms that looked oversized on the car’s proportions. Toyota's design themes worked better on the larger Avalon and the less expensive Corolla. Inside, the Camry XSE had high-quality materials and upgraded upholstery, but some elements like the windshield pillars and switchgear felt out of place. The front fascia and side mirrors creaked under pressure, and the front doors made a tinny noise when closed, affecting the perceived quality.

The 2020 Honda Civic was the crown jewel in Honda's lineup, offering a $20,000 compact car with a bounty of choices and engineering excellence. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each with a sharp design. The sedan had a svelte roofline, while the hatchback's tall rump was quirky. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over to 2020. The Civic Si sedan featured new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, standard LED headlights, an updated grille, and a new rear bumper. The hatchback also received new bumper and light changes, plus new wheels.

Inside, the Civic had a simple interior with soft-touch rubbers and high-quality switchgear. The hard plastics were acceptable, and the gloss-black trim and metal shift knob added to the aesthetic appeal. Interior styling changes for 2020 included new dash accents on the hatchback and a thin red line on the Si's instrument panel. The Si also had revised sport seats with red bands woven into the fabric.

The 2019 Toyota Camry's standard 203-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was suitable for daily driving, but the available 301-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine offered a thrilling experience. The V6 added significant weight to the front end but didn't limit handling. The 8-speed automatic transmission provided quick, satisfying shifts in Sport mode. The Camry XSE, with its sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch aluminum wheels, offered responsive handling without traditional sport-sedan stiffness, making it a comfortable daily driver and a competent canyon carver. The steering was firm and natural, and the brakes stood up to repeated abuse, though the pedal exhibited a dissatisfying "thunk." The Camry XSE achieved 21.9 mpg during testing, short of the EPA's 26-mpg rating.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered four engines and two transmissions across its lineup, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The EX and above trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 making 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchbacks in Sport or Sport Touring making 180 hp. The Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R had 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick-shift. The Civic Si offered a balanced, direct driving experience with adaptive dampers and precise steering. The Si's EPA rating was 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, while most Civic models with the CVT hit at least 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

The 2019 Toyota Camry had ample storage, including a large center console bin and a hidden compartment under the wireless charging pad. However, the glove box was small, and the door-panel storage pockets were narrow. The trunk measured 15.1 cubic feet, smaller than other midsize cars, and lacked a grab handle. The front seats offered 8-way power adjustment and heating but no ventilation. The rear seats were snug, with narrow door openings and a low seating position, making entry and exit difficult. Rear air-conditioning vents were only available in upper trim levels. The climate control system was effective, even in extreme heat.

The 2020 Honda Civic had a deep center console storage bin with configurable item trays and cupholders. The three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel. The Civic felt roomy for rear passengers, with two-stage heated outboard seats but no rear air vents. The sedan's trunk offered 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback provided 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2019 Toyota Camry's dashboard layout was smart and intuitive, with the Entune 3.0 infotainment system offering Apple CarPlay and a 6-month/2GB subscription to WiFi Connect service by Verizon. However, it lacked Android Auto. The Qi-compatible wireless charging pad securely held the phone, and the navigation system worked well but was slow to load traffic data. The 9-speaker JBL premium sound system lacked clarity, and the 10-inch head-up display was visible even with polarized sunglasses.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, slow, and complex compared to newer Honda models. The 7-inch touchscreen, standard on all models except the base LX, included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The navigation on top-end trims was Garmin-based and accurate. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot, and Honda Sensing included active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams. Leather seats and rain-sensing wipers were available on higher trims.

The 2019 Toyota Camry excelled in safety, earning 5-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It included a standard Toyota Safety Sense suite with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Camry also came with a standard subscription to Safety Connect for the first three years.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured Honda Sensing with forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Improvements to the optional LED headlights earned the Civic a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories except the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe, which received four stars.