2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Acura TLX

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, redesigned half a decade ago, showcased a bold yet polarizing design that took some getting used to. This model aimed to compete with the likes of the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla. For 2020, Honda made subtle tweaks to the styling—body-color crossbars softened the large fake air intakes, a new grille was introduced, and the headlights adopted a smoked look. New wheel designs also debuted. The test car in Sport Touring trim, dressed in Platinum White Pearl paint, impressed onlookers with its glossy black detailing, often mistaking it for a high-performance Type R. Inside, it featured stitched leather on the steering wheel and quality materials, though hard plastics reminded users of its compact mainstream roots. Despite this, the bank-vault-door thunk on closing the door, and significant noise reduction impressed.

In contrast, the 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan in a crowded premium class. It stood out with an assertive stance, a steeply raked windshield, fastback-style roofline, and an integrated tail spoiler. The TLX's face, dominated by an explosive grille pattern centered around a big Acura logo and squinting “jewel eye” LED headlights, gave it a bold look. Twin trapezoidal tailpipes underlined its sporty intent. The paint quality, tasteful badging, and hints of chrome added a premium touch. Inside, the TLX showcased a “sport sedan cockpit” design with clusters of functions and high-quality materials—metal if it looked like metal, leather if it looked like leather. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen, neatly mounted at the top of the center stack, added a modern touch to the well-thought-out interior.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in Sport and Sport Touring trims, was not to be mistaken for a more practical Civic Si. Powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, it produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque ranged from 162 lb-ft with the CVT to 177 lb-ft with the 6-speed manual transmission. This front-wheel-drive hatchback could move with authority while maintaining quiet and refined engine manners. However, the transmission’s clutch travel and gearbox throws were notably long. Unlike the Civic Si, the Si Hatchback offered a softer, more compliant ride that was less frenetic, making it easier to live with daily. The EPA rated the Civic Hatchback at 32 mpg in combined driving, with the test car achieving 32.7 mpg.

The 2021 Acura TLX made a strong case for itself in the premium sport sedan class with its new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), the TLX achieved fuel economy ratings of 22/31/25 mpg for FWD and 21/29/24 mpg for AWD. Integrated technology in the TLX, including drive-by-wire and shift-by-wire systems, allowed for distinct driving modes—Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual—each tuning the ride behavior accordingly. The TLX felt nimble and solid, with greater rigidity and weight distribution adding to its balanced and substantial feel over various road surfaces. The launch event in Michigan confirmed its eager, sprightly character and inspiring handling, with Sport mode providing a more satisfying drive.

For people considering a compact car over an SUV, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback presented a compelling argument. Offering 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, it slightly outperformed the Honda HR-V Touring in this respect. While the HR-V offered more maximum cargo volume (57.6 cubic feet vs. 46.2 cubic feet), the Civic Hatchback delivered better acceleration and fuel efficiency. True, the driver’s seat sat low, making entry and exit less convenient compared to an SUV, but once inside, the heated leather front seats provided ample comfort. The rear seats offered surprisingly good legroom, though the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted rear glass made for a sweltering ride on hot days. A brilliant center console storage area between the front seats added practicality to the Civic Hatchback's interior.

The 2021 Acura TLX benefited from performance-oriented design decisions that positively impacted its form and function. The shift-by-wire transmission controls, inspired by the NSX, freed up space in the center console, allowing for a neatly positioned infotainment interface, a mini touchpad, and practical storage solutions. Two large cupholders were conveniently tucked to the passenger’s side. The rear seat provided comfortable accommodation for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom for average-sized individuals, while the split-folding second row allowed for increased access to the trunk. The TLX offered 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space with a wide and deep opening, making it practical for luggage and daily use. Both front seats came with 12-way power adjustability and available perforated Milano leather, along with standard heated seats.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with a stylish dashboard featuring digital instrumentation and, on all but the LX trim, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This system included Bluetooth, a volume knob, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, text-messaging support, a navigation system, a quick-charging USB port, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim level. However, the lack of a tuning knob and voice-recognition technology that worked consistently were notable drawbacks. Standard automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock provided practical convenience features.

In comparison, the 2021 Acura TLX stood out with its extensive technology suite. On the performance side, the TLX featured advanced systems like Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. These systems worked seamlessly in the background, enhancing the driving experience without driver intervention. Interior technology included multiple ambient lighting themes, a customizable 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D premium audio system, Acura’s navigation system with voice recognition, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, SMS Text Messaging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Advance Package added a head-up display, compatible with polarized sunglasses, and included a G-Meter and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback included Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving-assistance and collision-avoidance features. This suite comprised forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, Road Departure Mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed following. However, the lane-keeping assist lacked smoothness, and the adaptive cruise control occasionally braked without reason. The lack of a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert was a notable omission, with only the right-side blind spot covered by LaneWatch. The Civic Hatchback did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating due to poor headlight performance but received top marks for crash-test performance.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with the AcuraWatch suite of driver assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Additional safety features included pedestrian injury mitigation, ACE body structure, ultra-high-strength steel front door stiffener rings, multiple airbags, ABS, vehicle stability assist with traction control, auto high-beam headlights, and a multi-angle rear-view camera. New safety technologies for 2021 included a next-generation front-passenger airbag, passenger knee airbag, pedestrian sensing and autonomous emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and a driver attention monitor. Available upgrades included rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera. While the 2021 TLX hadn't been tested by safety organizations yet, Acura targeted high safety ratings.