2021 Honda Civic 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's resemblance to the larger S-Class and smaller C-Class made it a recognizable and respectable member of the Mercedes family. Available in sedan, wagon, coupe, or cabriolet forms, 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.

Inside, the E-Class cabriolet stood out with its contrasting soft top and sumptuous interior. The multi-tone leathers, aluminum, and deep-polished wood created a luxurious environment. 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. The ambient lighting, available in 64 colors, added a delightful touch, cycling to match the driver's mood. Features like heated armrests, massaging seats, and striking colors made the E-Class a place for solitude and comfort. Even the base model, with leatherette and standard seats, felt a cut above its competitors.

The 2021 Honda Civic, a segment-defining model, continued to impress with its four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats. For 2021, Honda discontinued the two-door coupe and put the sporty Civic Si on hiatus. The Civic sedan came in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $21,250 to $28,300, excluding a $995 destination charge. Our test car, a Touring sedan in Cosmic Blue Metallic, cost $29,690.

The 10th-generation Civic, introduced in 2016, had a polarizing design that people either loved or hated. Over time, it became a familiar sight on the roads. The Touring trim, with its 18-inch wheels and appealing blue paint, looked great from some angles but could appear less attractive from others. Inside, the Civic's cabin featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing, though the maximum infotainment screen size of 7 inches showed its age. Despite this, the Civic remained a trend-setter with its adventurous design and practical features.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class offered a range of engines, starting with the E350's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produced 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, provided quicker response and held gears longer than previous models. In Comfort mode, the E-Class was relaxed, but Sport and Sport+ modes kept the engine in its power band. However, the E350's performance above 40 mph was lacking, making passing maneuvers challenging.

For more power, the E450's 3.0-liter V6 with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque was a better choice. This twin-turbo V6 offered effortless performance and smooth handling. The AMG E53, with its hybrid setup, delivered 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, while the extreme AMG E63 S boasted a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. All-wheel drive was standard on most models, with fuel economy ranging from 19 to 32 mpg, depending on the powertrain and body style.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While adequate, the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, was the preferred choice. It delivered 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, providing a more spirited driving experience.

The Civic's sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and precise steering made it enjoyable to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the CVT detracted from the driving experience with its droning and ineffective paddle shifters. Despite this, the Civic's fuel economy was impressive, averaging 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a complex COMAND infotainment system, which could be unwieldy on the car's large screens. The lack of touchscreens was a significant drawback, making it challenging to adjust settings while driving. However, the E-Class excelled in functionality with seat controls on the door panels, ample space, and clear sightlines. The coupe had a usable rear seat, and the wagon offered a rear-facing jump seat for small children. The front passenger footwell net was a handy feature for securing water bottles.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan sat low to the ground, making entry and exit a bit of a workout. Once inside, the driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Leather upholstery was standard from the EX-L trim onward. The Civic's interior was roomy, with excellent rear seat thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle. The center console provided ample storage space, and the trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class boasted advanced technology, including a semi-automated driving system, V2X communication, and customizable digital displays. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Burmester stereo and multi-contour seats added to the luxury experience. Some features, like the Energizing Comfort Package, were more novelty than necessity, but overall, the E-Class was packed with useful tech.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology showed its age, especially in the base LX trim, which had a 5-inch LCD screen and basic Bluetooth. The Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an eight-speaker sound system. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM, while the Touring trim included navigation and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Despite these upgrades, the Civic's voice recognition system was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system was nice but not essential.

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

The 2021 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Civic also offered LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, starting with the EX trim. However, LaneWatch had limitations, such as only monitoring the right side and requiring the driver to reference two locations. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the Touring trim and received five-star ratings in all NHTSA assessments.