2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Lexus ES

The 2020 Lexus ES had evolved significantly from its earlier iterations, shedding its "boring" label with a more aggressive design. The introduction of a larger spindle grille in 2016, which expanded further in the 2020 model, complemented the car's increased proportions, creating a cohesive and bold front-end appearance. The rear of the ES was more understated, featuring sleek taillamps and a distinctive kink in the side windows that added visual interest to the sedan's elongated profile. Inside, the ES offered a luxurious cabin with a blend of modern technology and soft-touch materials, highlighted by a large infotainment screen integrated into the dashboard. The interior was often compared favorably to luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, with trims ranging from the base 350 FWD to the sporty 350 F Sport, each offering a variety of features and options for customization.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback presented a more compact and sporty aesthetic, with subtle styling tweaks for the year. The Civic's design included body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, giving it a refreshed look. The Sport Touring trim, in particular, stood out with its Platinum White Pearl paint and glossy black accents, drawing attention and admiration. Inside, the Civic Hatchback's Sport Touring trim offered stitched leather, soft surfaces, and a quiet cabin, despite the presence of some hard plastics typical of compact cars. The manual gearbox option added a sporty touch, and the overall design was practical and comfortable, making it a popular choice for those seeking a balance between style and functionality.

The 2020 Lexus ES was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 302 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the ES to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, with a top speed of 131 mph. While not a high-performance vehicle, the ES provided confident acceleration and a smooth ride, thanks to its Dynamic Control Shocks. The F Sport variant offered an optional Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) for enhanced driving dynamics, including a Sport+ mode for a more engaging experience. Despite its Camry and Avalon roots, the ES's upgraded suspension and paddle shifters added a touch of excitement to its driving characteristics.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in Sport and Sport Touring trims, featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. This powertrain produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims, with torque figures varying slightly between the CVT and manual transmission options. The Civic Hatchback offered a refined and quiet engine, with a softer ride compared to the Civic Si. While not as performance-oriented as the Si, the Civic Hatchback provided a fun and confidence-inspiring driving experience, with a commendable fuel economy of 32 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Lexus ES boasted a spacious interior, offering ample head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cabin featured practical storage solutions, including deep door pockets and a versatile center console. With 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, the ES provided adequate cargo capacity for a midsize luxury sedan, though the lack of fold-down rear seats limited its versatility for larger items.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a practical and spacious interior, with 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing some SUVs like the Honda HR-V in terms of storage capacity. The Civic's low seating position provided a sporty feel, while the Sport Touring's heated leather seats ensured comfort. The center console was cleverly designed for maximum utility, accommodating various storage needs. Rear-seat comfort was good, though the absence of air-conditioning vents and tinted glass could lead to discomfort in warmer conditions.

The 2020 Lexus ES featured the Lexus Remote Touch system, controlling either an 8-inch or 12.3-inch display. While not a touchscreen, the system was intuitive with practice, and the inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard was a welcome update. The ES also offered a 10-speaker premium audio system, with an optional 17-speaker Mark Levinson stereo, and a head-up display for added convenience.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in all but the base LX trim, offering features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. While lacking some advanced technology like a larger screen or sophisticated voice recognition, the Civic included practical features like automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock for added convenience.

The 2020 Lexus ES was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and dynamic radar cruise control. Additional safety features included a full array of airbags, traction control, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured the Honda Sensing suite as standard, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the system showed some limitations in refinement, and the Civic lacked a blind-spot monitoring system, relying instead on the LaneWatch camera 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 headlight performance.