2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 BMW 3 Series

Five years prior, Honda had redesigned the Civic—a contender against the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla, among others. By 2020, many were still acclimatizing to its appearance. Appreciating this compact car often required viewing it from the right angle and lighting.

Honda tweaked the styling for the 2020 version. The massive faux air intakes featured body-color crossbars, reducing their prominence. The grille design was refreshed, and the headlights adopted a smoked look. New wheel designs made their debut, although this was not a pressing necessity.

The test car, clad in top-tier Sport Touring trim, had Platinum White Pearl paint, creating a striking contrast with the glossy black details. Accompanied by family members, several men in the group expressed their approval, mistaking it for a Type R due to its exterior appeal.

Inside, the Sport Touring trim boasted stitched leather on the steering wheel, soft surfaces, and high-quality materials. Although hard plastic remained, the overall experience was impressive once inside. The six-speed manual gearbox available in the Sport Touring raised its price to $28,980, including the destination charge from its UK factory.

Despite being considered expensive by some, the Sport Touring’s MSRP was $8,250 less than a Type R’s. The base MSRP was $21,650 for LX trim, with Sport at $22,750, EX at $24,150, and EX-L at $25,350.

BMW, meanwhile, reverted to a traditional, familial styling approach by 2021. The G20 3 Series, designed to resemble smaller versions of the 5 Series and 7 Series, aimed to replicate the design legacy of the E30 3 Series but missed the iconic mark of its predecessor. The large, unusually shaped grille fit better on larger sedans but felt out of place on the smaller 3 Series.

Our test car, featuring M 19-inch wheels and blue-painted brake calipers from the M Sport trim package, provided some visual appeal, but it was otherwise underwhelming. The interior design was pleasing, though compromised by inferior materials. With as much plastic trim as a basic economy car, the minimalistic use of leather—optional, with synthetic Sensatec material standard—failed to resonate as truly luxurious, even with an optional heated steering wheel.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with Sport or Sport Touring trims, differed significantly from the Civic Si, particularly in engine performance, ride, and handling. It had a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 174 horsepower for LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower for Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque was at 162 lb-ft (CVT) and 177 lb-ft (manual transmission).

The engine was potent, refined, and silent, although the transmission’s long clutch travel and gearbox throws differed from the Civic Si. The Civic Si offered a tighter feel and more power, with a helical limited-slip differential for spirited cornering.

The Civic Hatchback Sport and Sport Touring were more comfortable for daily driving, with softer suspensions, quieter cabins, and a less aggressive demeanor. The Hatchback, despite lacking the Si’s firmness, remained enjoyable and engaging on winding roads. Fuel efficiency was commendable at 32 mpg combined, with actual results hitting 32.7 mpg.

Conversely, the 2021 BMW 3 Series came with three engine choices: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the base 330i generating 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft torque; a 330e plug-in hybrid merging a weaker version of the engine with electric assist for 288 hp and 310 lb-ft; and a robust M340i with a turbo inline-six producing 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. All engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel or xDrive all-wheel drive.

Our 330e test car, with its battery pack and hybrid setup, had a zero to 60 mph time matching the gasoline 330i at 5.6 seconds, though BMW quoted 5.7 seconds for the AWD 330e xDrive. The transition between electric and gasoline power was less smooth, and despite maintaining BMW's trademark chassis solidity, it lacked engagement.

Though SUVs had become popular, they were more costly and less fuel-efficient than compact cars. The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, exceeded the HR-V Touring’s 23.2 cubic feet. Despite the HR-V's superior maximum volume (57.6 cubic feet vs. 46.2 cubic feet), the Civic’s performance and efficiency made it a preferable choice.

Sitting low in the Civic Hatchback wasn’t as convenient, but the Sport Touring trim’s heated leather seats made up for it. The exceptional center console storage, configurable to hold large water bottles, was a highlight. Rear-seat comfort was good, but passengers missed having air vents and found the black leather bench seat sweltering.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series, a small luxury sedan, performed reasonably well for its segment. Rear headroom was generous, while front headroom, though not as ample as the Infiniti Q50’s, was above average. Rear legroom was adequate but could be cramped. With 17 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models, the 3 Series beat competitors. However, the 330e’s battery reduced this to 13.2 cubic feet, and the trunk’s configuration required a long reach.

BMW’s cockpit setup still prioritized driver convenience, with a well-positioned touchscreen, low hood line, and abundant side glass providing excellent visibility.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment in all but the base LX trim, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, text-messaging support, navigation, and a premium 12-speaker sound system in Sport Touring trim. It was missing advanced voice recognition and a larger screen similar to competitors. Notable features included automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, ensuring peace of mind when locking the car.

BMW's standard iDrive infotainment in the 2021 3 Series included an 8.8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and USB ports. While gasoline models supported both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the 330e was limited to CarPlay. The optional Live Cockpit Professional enhanced the system with a digital instrument cluster, navigation, and a head-up display. High-quality graphics and responsive controls differentiated BMW’s system from rivals, with multiple input options including gesture controls.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite—forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with CVT-equipped models featuring low-speed follow. The aging system had some inconsistencies, like abrupt braking with adaptive cruise and limited blind-spot monitoring via LaneWatch.

The 2021 BMW 3 Series earned the IIHS “Top Safety Pick” with excellent crash-test ratings but had mixed headlight scores. Standard safety included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional options like the Driving Assistant Professional Package added advanced features like lane-keep assist and automated lane centering, with a stop-and-go function for adaptive cruise control.