2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Acura TLX

A few years ago, Acura revamped the TLX midsize sedan's design, resulting in a more appealing, albeit somewhat anonymous, appearance. The 2020 TLX, especially with the A-Spec option package, featured enhancements like 19-inch wheels, revised bumpers, side sill skirts, and oversized exhaust outlets. The limited-edition TLX PMC Edition, hand-built in Ohio, stood out with its Valencia Red Pearl paint and unique exterior accents. Priced at $50,945, the PMC Edition was the pinnacle of the TLX lineup, while non-PMC models started at $33,995. CarGurus recommended the Technology and A-Spec packages for a well-rounded TLX under $40,000, though the powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine and SH-AWD were exclusive to higher trims.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, redesigned half a decade ago, received subtle styling tweaks for 2020, including body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint and glossy black detailing, garnered admiration for its sporty look. Inside, the Sport Touring trim offered stitched leather, quality materials, and a bank-vault-door thunk that impressed. Priced at $28,980 with a six-speed manual gearbox, the Sport Touring trim was $8,250 less than the Type R. The base LX trim started at $21,650, with the Sport, EX, and EX-L trims offering various features and price points.

The 2020 Acura TLX PMC Edition boasted the top-performing powertrain, featuring a 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 9-speed automatic transmission, and a torque-vectoring SH-AWD system. This setup provided a steady build-up of power, with 267 pound-feet of peak torque arriving at 4,500 rpm. The SH-AWD system could direct up to 70% of engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing the car's agility. The TLX's automatic transmission was well-behaved, and the paddle shifters added to the driving experience. The car's sophisticated dampers and heavy steering contributed to its solid road feel. Despite its performance capabilities, the TLX remained comfortable and quiet for daily driving, returning 23 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with its turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque ranged from 162 to 177 pound-feet, depending on the transmission. The Civic Hatchback's engine was quiet and refined, though the manual transmission's clutch travel and gearbox throws were long. The Civic Si offered a tighter, more powerful driving experience, but the Civic Hatchback Sport and Sport Touring trims provided a more comfortable ride, wider seats, and a quieter cabin. The Civic Hatchback returned 32.7 mpg in combined driving, slightly exceeding the EPA rating of 32 mpg.

The 2020 Acura TLX offered a luxurious interior with supple leather, heated and ventilated front seats, and ample room for front passengers. Rear occupants enjoyed air-conditioning vents and available heated seats. However, the trunk space was limited to 14.3 cubic feet, more akin to a compact car than a midsize sedan.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback provided 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing the Honda HR-V Touring's 23.2 cubic feet. While the Civic Hatchback couldn't match the HR-V's maximum volume, it offered better acceleration and fuel efficiency. The Civic's low seating position made entry and exit less convenient, but the Sport Touring's heated leather front seats provided comfort. The center console storage area was versatile, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, though the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted glass could make it uncomfortable in hot weather.

The 2020 Acura TLX's dual-screen infotainment system was a major drawback, with a non-touchscreen top display and a touchscreen bottom display. The layout was confusing, with some climate controls on the touchscreen and others as physical buttons. The voice-recognition system was subpar, and the navigation graphics were outdated. However, the Acura/ELS premium audio system and smartphone charger were positives, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with digital instrumentation, Bluetooth, and a volume knob. The Sport Touring trim included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, navigation, a quick-charging USB port, and a 12-speaker premium sound system. While the Civic's technology wasn't cutting-edge, it offered useful features like automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock.

The 2020 Acura TLX, designed in the early 2010s, showed its age in safety ratings. It didn't qualify for a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to an Acceptable rating in the small overlap frontal-impact test. However, it earned 5-star ratings from the NHTSA. The TLX included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation. A blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert was available on higher trims. The adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems lacked refinement, making the car more enjoyable to drive without them.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. Adaptive cruise control with low-speed following was also standard. However, the lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control lacked smoothness. The Civic didn't offer a blind-spot monitoring system or rear cross-traffic alert, relying on LaneWatch for the right-side blind spot. The Civic received top crash-test ratings but didn't earn a Top Safety Pick due to Poor headlight performance.