2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a level of engineering excellence typically found in more expensive brands like BMW. Despite being a $20,000 compact car, it came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each with a sharp design that belied its small footprint. The sedan featured a sleek roofline similar to the coupe, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2019 model year brought upgrades to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan and coupe received new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille, among other enhancements. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button. In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class maintained a classic exterior styling with a drag coefficient of 0.22, making it more aerodynamic than a Toyota Prius. The new S-Class was slightly larger than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase and increased height and width. The car's size and classic Mercedes hood ornament and grille added a hint of ostentation. The interior was designed around a large infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, with a minimalist approach that eliminated many analog controls. Ambient lighting with 250 LED elements and a choice of 64 colors added a luxurious touch. Interior materials included Nappa leather upholstery and open-pore wood trim, although the piano-black trim was prone to smudging and reflections.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport models featured 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. Higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback versions making 180 hp. The Civic Si boosted the 1.5-liter engine to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R delivered an impressive 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R were exclusively available with a manual transmission. The Civic Si featured adaptive dampers and a stiffer ride, while the Type R was remarkably composed despite its high power. Fuel economy for the Si was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered two engine options: a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine in the S500 4Matic, producing 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 in the S580 4Matic, delivering 496 hp and 516 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and featured EQ Boost, a mild-hybrid system that added 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque for short bursts. The S500 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 achieved it in 4.4 seconds. The S-Class came with standard air suspension and an optional E-Active Body Control suspension system. Rear-wheel steering was also available, reducing the turning circle by seven feet. The S580 was fast and comfortable, with precise steering and minimal body roll in Sport and Sport+ driving modes.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured a practical interior with a volume knob and better cupholders introduced in 2019. The hatchback had additional sound insulation, and the EX hatchback models included an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The steering wheel had controls for the central display and digital instrument panel, while the center console offered configurable storage. Rear passengers enjoyed considerable room, although the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight. Cargo space was generous, with 15 cubic feet in the sedan, 12 cubic feet in the coupe, and up to 46 cubic feet in the hatchback with the rear seats folded down. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class provided more front and rear headroom and rear legroom than its predecessor. Cargo space increased to 12.9 cubic feet, although some optional extras could reduce this. The front seats were highly adjustable with 19 motors, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The center console featured a large storage bin, wireless phone charger, and cupholders, while rear-seat passengers had their own console with cupholders and climate controls. The optional Executive Line package added power-adjustable rear seats and four-zone climate control, making the S-Class suitable for chauffeur service.

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 trims. The Civic Si featured Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, and a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Honda Sensing was standard on all trims, offering active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams. Leather upholstery and rain-sensing wipers were available on higher trims. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six USB ports. A 30-speaker Burmester audio system and rear-seat infotainment setup with 11.6-inch touchscreens were optional. The updated MBUX infotainment system offered increased computing power and a more touchscreen-reliant interface. The S-Class also featured an augmented-reality head-up display and biometric or facial recognition for personal profiles. Some tech features, like the ambient lighting and digital instrument cluster, were more gimmicky than useful.

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 and received five stars in all categories from the NHTSA, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it featured a rear-passenger airbag and a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control, automated lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Mercedes claimed improvements in traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist, and the new steering wheel with capacitive sensors enhanced safety.