2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, introduced in 2017, harkened back to the smooth, rounded body style of earlier generations. While some critics felt it could use a few more edges, the E-Class maintained a recognizable and respectable family resemblance to the larger S-Class and smaller C-Class. Available in sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet, the E-Class catered to conservative buyers with its versatile design. The sedan, in particular, looked especially rich with its hood ornament and thin-laced chrome grille, a nod to Mercedes tradition. LED lighting added a delicate touch, and the car's proportions always hit a visual sweet spot, whether on 17-inch wheels or 20s with ground effects and quad exhausts.

The cabriolet version of the E-Class showcased the fluid, creaseless form best, with a contrasting soft top that revealed a sumptuous interior. The E-Class delighted with multi-tone leathers, aluminum, and deep-polished wood. Two feet of high-res digital screens stretched across the dash, complemented by four circular air vents and a row of knurled silver toggles for climate control. Ambient lighting in 64 colors added to the luxurious feel, and features like heated armrests and massaging seats made it a place for solitude. Even the base model felt several cuts above other cars in its segment.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, redesigned half a decade ago, continued to evolve with subtle styling tweaks for 2020. The huge fake air intakes received body-color crossbars, the grille was updated, and the headlights took on a smoked appearance. New wheel designs also debuted. The top-of-the-line Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint, garnered admiration and even some mistaken identity as a Type R.

Inside, the Sport Touring trim featured stitched leather on the steering wheel, soft surfaces, and quality materials, though hard plastic was still present. The six-speed manual gearbox, now available with Sport Touring trim, added to the driving experience. Despite its compact size, the Civic Hatchback impressed with its bank-vault-door thunk and immediate reduction in ambient noise. The Sport Touring's MSRP was $28,980, but the base model started at $21,650, making it accessible to a range of buyers.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a range of powertrains, starting with the E350, which replaced the E300. The E350 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The revised turbo design provided quicker response, and the E350 held its gears longer, making it more responsive. However, the E350's performance above 40 mph left something to be desired, especially for passing maneuvers.

For those seeking more power, the E450 with a 3.0-liter V6 and twin-turbochargers delivered 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The E450 provided effortless performance, with light steering and a supple suspension. AMG models, such as the E53 and E63 S, offered even more power and performance. The E53 featured a hybrid setup with 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, while the E63 S boasted a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy varied, with the E63 S rated at 16/23 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque measured 162 pound-feet with the CVT and 177 pound-feet with the 6-speed manual transmission. The Civic Hatchback's engine was quiet, refined, and well-mannered, providing plenty of power for front-wheel-drive.

While the Civic Hatchback Sport and Sport Touring were not as performance-oriented as the Civic Si, they offered a softer, more compliant ride, wider seats, and a quieter cabin. The Civic Hatchback was still fun to drive, with confidence-inspiring handling. Fuel economy was impressive, with the EPA rating the test car at 32 mpg in combined driving, and actual testing yielding 32.7 mpg.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a complicated COMAND infotainment system, which could be unwieldy on the car's large screens. The lack of touchscreens was a significant drawback, making it difficult to change settings while driving. However, the E-Class excelled in functionality, with seat and seat climate controls on the door panels and ample space in every dimension. The coupe had a usable rear seat, and the wagon included a rear-facing jump seat for small children. The digital dash, when set up properly, was clear and high-resolution.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the HR-V Touring. While it couldn't match the HR-V for maximum volume, the Civic Hatchback provided better acceleration and fuel efficiency. The driver's seat was low, but once settled in, the Sport Touring's heated leather front seats offered ample thigh support. The center console storage area was brilliantly designed, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort and legroom were good, though the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted rear glass could make passengers uncomfortable.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class boasted advanced technology, including a semi-automated driving system that could steer, change lanes, and sense obstacles. The V2X system communicated with nearby Mercedes models about road hazards. The dash could be reconfigured in three designs, and the Burmester stereo offered surround-sound modes. Some features, like the Energizing Comfort Package, were more novelty than necessity. Overall, the E-Class was overengineered with useful tech and some fun novelties.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. Automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock were standard. While the Civic Hatchback wasn't a technology powerhouse, it included practical features like keyless entry and automatic locking.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The coupe and cabriolet models were not tested but were expected to perform similarly. The E-Class included innovative safety features like Pre-Safe Sound, side bolster inflation during a side collision, and crosswind countermeasures. Forward emergency braking, driver attention monitoring, and blind-spot monitoring were standard, with additional driver-assist features available as options.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback included the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving-assistance and collision-avoidance features as standard. This suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, the Civic lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, relying instead on the LaneWatch system. The Civic Hatchback received top marks for crash-test performance but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance.