2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 BMW 2 Series

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was a departure from the traditional two-door coupe design, adopting a four-door layout with a sloping roofline. This change aligned with a broader trend among German automakers, where the term "coupe" was used more liberally. The Gran Coupe shared its platform with the BMW X1, X2, and Mini models, featuring a front-wheel-drive bias, unlike the rear-wheel-drive setup of the 2 Series Coupe and Convertible. The exterior design echoed the styling of the larger 8 Series, with modern and athletic front-end features, but the rear design struggled to maintain the aesthetic of its two-door counterparts. Inside, the Gran Coupe offered a modern cockpit with solid fit-and-finish, though not as elegant as some competitors. The model came in various trims, with the 228i xDrive Gran Coupe offering features like power-folding heated side mirrors, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.8-inch iDrive touchscreen.

The 2020 Honda Civic was celebrated as the crown jewel of Honda's lineup, offering a range of body styles including sedan, coupe, and hatchback. The Civic's design was sharp and visually stimulating, with a low and wide stance accentuated by body panel creases and LED lighting. The 2019 updates to the Civic's exterior carried over to 2020, with enhancements to grilles, bumpers, and wheels. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and a pleasing layout. The Civic Si featured sport seats and a revised instrument panel, while the hatchback offered new dash accents. The Civic's design and build quality were praised for their engineering excellence, providing a visually appealing and functional experience for drivers and passengers alike.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series offered a range of powertrains, with the 228i featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive. The 228i's performance was solid for everyday driving, though turbo lag was noticeable. The M235i variant provided a more powerful 301 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. The Coupe and Convertible models offered even more power, with the M240i boasting a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine delivering 335 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque. The 228i Gran Coupe's steering was sharp, but its front-wheel-drive layout lacked the natural feel of the rear-wheel-drive models. The ride quality was firm, making it less suitable for rough roads.

The 2020 Honda Civic lineup featured four engines and two transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or optional CVT. Higher trims, including the EX, came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback variants offering 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R delivered an impressive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Civic's engines were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, with the Si and Type R offering thrilling driving experiences. The Si's adaptive dampers and precise steering provided a balanced and engaging ride, while the Type R's performance was exhilarating. The Civic's fuel economy was commendable, with most models achieving over 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offered supportive and comfortable front seats, with ample legroom for the driver and front passenger. However, this came at the expense of rear-seat legroom, making the second row suitable only for occasional use. The cockpit layout was straightforward, with easy-to-locate climate controls. The center console and cupholders were on the smaller side, requiring the use of in-door cupholders for larger bottles. The Gran Coupe provided 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing competitors like the Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The Coupe and Convertible offered 13.1 and 11.8 cubic feet of cargo space, respectively, with the Convertible's space reduced to 8.8 cubic feet with the top down.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior improvements included a volume knob and better cupholders, with additional sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Civic's steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, with a conventional PRNDL shifter and electronic parking brake. The center console offered configurable storage with sliding and removable trays. The Civic's rear seats were spacious, though lacking rear air vents. The trunk space was generous, with 15 cubic feet in sedan trims, 12 cubic feet in coupes, and up to 46 cubic feet in hatchbacks with seats folded down.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series Coupe and Convertible came with a 6.5-inch iDrive display, while the Gran Coupe featured a larger 8.8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The test model included a fully-digital instrument panel with customizable navigation display and a head-up display. BMW's infotainment system was user-friendly, with touch functionality and helpful center console buttons for easy navigation.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on all models except the base LX. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with Garmin-based navigation on top trims. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, which could be turned off, and featured a 450-watt stereo, push-button start, keyless entry, and heated front seats. LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot, and Honda Sensing offered advanced safety features. Automatic climate control was standard, with leather and rain-sensing wipers on higher trims.

The 2020 BMW 2 Series came with standard safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, automatic parking assistance, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. The driver-assist systems were seamless and customizable.

The 2020 Honda Civic included Honda Sensing, which offered forward collision warning, emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crash tests except for the Type R. The NHTSA awarded the Civic five stars in all categories, except for a four-star rating in the passenger frontal crash test for the coupe.