2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a blend of affordability and engineering excellence typically reserved for higher-end brands like BMW. Available in sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles, the Civic's sharp design and low, wide stance made it visually appealing. The 2019 model year brought updates to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan featured new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille, while the hatchback received new bumper and light changes. Inside, the Civic boasted a simple yet high-quality interior with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid, available in standard, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, was praised for its stylish design and excellent proportions. 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 paint color, Sonic Gray Pearl. The Lunar Silver test vehicle had a dark undertone that avoided the typical brightness of silver metallic paint. Inside, the Accord's cabin was upscale, with simulated matte-finish wood trim, robust controls, and polished metallic accents. The only downside was the hard plastic upper rear door trim.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, while the hatchbacks in Sport or Sport Touring trims made 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R boasted 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick-shift. The Civic's powertrains were smooth and responsive, with the Si offering a thrilling driving experience. The EPA rated the Si at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, a generator/starter motor, and a separate electric drive motor powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. This setup produced a combined 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds. The Accord Hybrid offered three operational modes: EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive, along with selectable EV Mode, Econ Mode, and Sport Mode. The Touring trim had a 43-mpg rating due to its larger wheels, while other trims achieved 48 mpg in combined driving. The Accord Hybrid's powertrain was refined for 2021, offering improved throttle response and a more natural sound and feel during acceleration. The Touring trim averaged 42.8 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior featured a volume knob and better cupholders, with more sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console offered configurable storage. The Civic felt roomy for rear passengers, though it lacked rear air vents. The sedan's trunk had 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

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, a covered compartment with a wireless smartphone charger, and large door panel bins. The Accord Hybrid's trunk had 16.7 cubic feet of space, the largest in its segment, and 60/40 split-folding rear seats for added utility.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was 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-end trims. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch, a camera system for the right-side mirror, was also included. Automatic climate control was standard, and Honda Sensing was available on all trims, offering active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid made its 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard on all trims, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. The EX trim offered wireless connectivity for these platforms, along with improved USB port access and quick-charge USB ports for rear-seat passengers. The EX-L trim featured a premium sound system, while the Touring trim included navigation, HondaLink subscription services, and a WiFi hotspot. The system worked well but required specific voice commands for navigation.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R, which wasn't tested. It received the top "Good" rating in all six crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid aimed to earn a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS by redesigning its LED headlights and making them standard on all trims. The Accord Hybrid included a rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder system, with the Touring trim adding low-speed braking control. Honda Sensing was refined for smoother operation, with improvements to adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. However, the lane departure warning and low-speed automatic braking still needed further refinement.