2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, a compact car rivaling the Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla, underwent subtle styling tweaks that year. The redesign included body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, enhancing its visual appeal. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint, stood out with glossy black detailing, often mistaken for the more aggressive Type R. Inside, the Civic offered stitched leather on the steering wheel and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The six-speed manual gearbox, previously exclusive to the Sport trim, was now available in the Sport Touring, priced at $28,980. Despite its cost, the Civic Hatchback provided a more affordable alternative to the Type R, with a base MSRP of $21,650 for the LX trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was praised for its elegant design, showcasing a flair for proportion and style. Minor front styling changes included a new grille, revised bumper, and new headlights. The Touring trim featured new 19-inch aluminum wheels and a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. The test vehicle, an Accord Touring in Lunar Silver, boasted a dark undertone that avoided the typical brightness of silver metallic paint. The interior, with its Black color scheme, exuded an upscale feel, featuring simulated matte-finish wood trim and polished metallic accents. The Accord's cabin was spacious, with logically arranged controls and excellent outward visibility, making it a comfortable and practical choice for drivers.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque varied between 162 lb-ft with the CVT and 177 lb-ft with the manual transmission. This power allowed the front-wheel-drive Civic Hatchback to move with authority, offering a quiet and refined driving experience. While not as performance-oriented as the Civic Si, the Hatchback provided a softer ride, wider seats, and a quieter cabin, making it more enjoyable for daily driving. The EPA rated the test car at 32 mpg in combined driving, with actual testing achieving 32.7 mpg.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric drive motor, producing 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. This setup allowed for quick acceleration, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. Most trims achieved 48 mpg in combined driving, while the Touring trim, with larger wheels, earned a 43-mpg rating. The powertrain operated in three modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive, with additional driver-selectable modes for customization. Honda refined the hybrid powertrain for improved throttle response and a more natural sound, achieving an average of 42.8 mpg during testing. The Accord Hybrid Touring offered excellent handling and a compliant ride, with a brake-by-wire regenerative braking system providing a responsive feel.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the Honda HR-V Touring. While it couldn't match the HR-V's maximum volume, the Civic's performance and fuel efficiency made it a compelling choice. The driver's seat provided ample thigh support, though the passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The center console storage area was versatile, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, but the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted glass could make it uncomfortable for passengers.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid impressed with its spacious interior, offering a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and a large back seat. The Touring trim included heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Interior storage was generous, with a large center console bin and a covered compartment for hidden storage. The Accord Hybrid's trunk, at 16.7 cubic feet, was larger than any competitor in its segment, accommodating full-size suitcases and featuring 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. While it lacked a tuning knob and voice-recognition technology, it included automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock for convenience.

In 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. EX trim and higher offered wireless connectivity and quick-charge USB ports. The EX-L trim added a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system required specific prompts for voice commands, which could be challenging for some users.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, relying on LaneWatch for the right-side blind spot. The Civic received top marks for crash-test performance but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance.

For 2021, the Honda Accord Hybrid aimed for a Top Safety Pick+ rating by redesigning its LED headlights. It included a rear-seat reminder, rear seatbelt reminder, and low-speed braking control in the Touring model. The Honda Sensing suite featured refinements for smoother operation, though some aspects, like lane departure warning, could be improved. The low-speed automatic braking system required recalibration for better performance.