2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Looking back at the 2021 Honda Civic’s history, the car's segment-defining versions arrived roughly every decade. Honda had a knack for passionately setting new bars for the competition and then taking a break to let the dust settle. The 1973 original, the dramatic 1984 model, the segment-defining 1992 model, the futuristic 2006 model, and the polarizing 2016 model all left indelible marks. For 2021, while rumors about the redesigned 2022 Civic suggested it might be more like a scaled-down Honda Accord than a groundbreaking reset of the compact segment, the excellent 2021 model still held its ground. Available in four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, the 2021 Civic bid farewell to the two-door coupe and temporarily shelved the sporty Civic Si, taking the manual transmission with it.

The Civic’s styling remained a point of contention half a decade after its release, eliciting both love and hate. Our Touring sedan with Cosmic Blue Metallic paint cost a little extra but struck a chord with its beauty. The Touring’s 18-inch wheels accentuated its looks, yet, depending on the angle or lighting, its appeal occasionally wavered.

Transitioning to the interior, the Civic's adventurous 2016 design had, over time, worn its age, especially evident in the relatively small 7-inch infotainment screen. Nonetheless, the cabin exuded quality and thoughtful detailing aligned with Honda’s trend-setting 10th-generation ethos. The materials and design still managed to make a statement, even if a bit dated.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class exterior styling managed to cohesively incorporate elements from other Mercedes models, ensuring it was unmistakable from any angle. The front droop of the CLA-Class came together with the squared-off rear end and thin S-Class taillights, creating a stylish sedan clearly identifiable as a Mercedes. The cab-rearward proportions, with a long hood and short rear deck, emphasized its RWD platform, making it stand out against its FWD CLA-Class and A-Class siblings.

LED headlights and taillights were standard across all trims, with an option to upgrade to Mercedes’ Digital Light system that adjusted to curves and projected warning icons. The headlights could even highlight lane markings or illuminate construction zones and pedestrians without causing blindness.

Inside, the C-Class took cues from its flagship S-Class, with a freestanding touchscreen and instrument cluster, prominent air vents, and elaborate speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system. Nightclub-style ambient lighting with 64 color options added a touch of flair. All these elements worked in harmony to create a luxurious ambiance that justified choosing this over a mainstream brand. However, it was notable that, despite the luxury tag, standard upholstery was MBTex synthetic leather, with Nappa leather available on higher trims.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two primary engine choices. LX and Sport trims sported a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT driving the front wheels. Adequate for daily driving, the real treat lay in the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. Producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque starting as low as 1,700 rpm, this engine endowed the Civic with all the power it needed. The driving experience was further enhanced by its sophisticated suspension, precise steering, and optional 18-inch wheels, making it a delight to drive.

Unfortunately, the CVT marred the experience somewhat. A sloppy gear lever feel and the infamous CVT drone detracted from the otherwise engaging drive. Even with paddle shifters and a Sport mode, the CVT's performance felt more frustrating than satisfying. However, fuel economy was a strong point, with the car delivering an impressive 34.8 mpg average on a 140-mile loop, outpacing the EPA's estimate of 33 mpg combined.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine kicking out 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, it promised a refined drive. Visualized as the starter, the mild-hybrid system could add up to 20 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque for short bursts, propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, with a top speed electronically capped at 130 mph.

For those seeking more power, the Mercedes-AMG C43 upped the ante with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine sourced from the SL-Class sports car, delivering 402 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. This sporty variant cut the 0 to 60 mph time down to 4.6 seconds and offered higher top speed options.

Driving the C300 felt powerful yet showed some rough edges. Turbo lag was unexpectedly present despite the electric assist, and the transmission occasionally exhibited rough shifts and held onto gears too long. Yet, riding quality met luxury-car standards, handling bumps and potholes with aplomb. On winding roads, the C300 proved entertaining with good body control and precise steering, though it required more effort than the best sports sedans to navigate corners deftly.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan sat low, making entry and exit a bit of a workout, but once inside, the comfort was undeniable. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, while the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustability, even with a manual lever. Leather upholstery complemented the EX-L trim upwards, ensuring a plush environment. The rear seats were spacious for grown-ups, featuring excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle, although rear air vents were notably absent.

Storage was a strong point, with a highly practical center console featuring trays, expansive cupholders, and a deep center bin with a sliding armrest. The trunk boasted 15.1 cubic feet of space, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

The new 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan offered a bit more space than its predecessor, with front headroom increased by 0.1 inch and rear headroom by 0.4 inches. Rear-seat legroom expanded by 0.8 inches, leading its segment in front-seat headroom and rear-seat legroom. The C-Class seats provided comfort with enough bolstering for spirited driving, while thick rear pillars justified the car’s array of driver aids to handle blind spots. However, the dashboard trim produced distracting glare in direct sunlight, and the placement of the wireless charging pad interfered with cupholder usage.

The C-Class trunk offered 17.9 cubic feet, surpassing rivals, with a wide opening making loading and unloading easy. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear bench added versatility, though Mercedes did not provide cargo-space figures with the seat folded down.

Technologically, the 2021 Honda Civic showed its age. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and an inadequate 1.0-amp USB port. Moving up to the Civic Sport added an upgraded infotainment system with a 7-inch HD touchscreen, eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, more powerful USB ports, and connected services.

The EX trim offered HD Radio and SiriusXM, while the Touring trim upped the ante with navigation, voice recognition, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Though the voice recognition was basic and required specific prompts, running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto allowed for a more user-friendly experience. The eight-speaker setup could suffice for most, even if the Touring’s premium audio was superior.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class mirrored the flagship S-Class's infotainment system with a freestanding 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen angled towards the driver. Even the base C300 Premium included these screens, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The mid-tier Premium added a Burmester 3D surround sound system, and the top Pinnacle featured a head-up display and augmented-reality navigation.

The MBUX infotainment system’s “Zero Layer” setup allowed for multiple functions to be displayed simultaneously, reducing menu navigation to one tap. Voice recognition was top-notch, as were the touch controls grouped by function on the steering wheel. The optional augmented-reality navigation system used a front-camera feed with overlaid arrows to show turns, proving more helpful than traditional systems.

The 2021 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing, an array of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera.

Available starting with EX trim, LaneWatch used a right mirror-mounted camera to display a live feed on the infotainment screen when signaling right. This system had several limitations, including potential camera damage, divided attention for the driver, and a lack of a radar-based blind-spot warning system—or rear cross-traffic alert. Honda Sensing was effective yet occasionally abrupt, and competitors from Hyundai, Nissan, and Toyota offered smoother ADAS experiences.

The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS for Touring trim, thanks to its top-rated LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded it five stars in every assessment, marking it as one of the safest cars on the road.

For the 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at publication. While the 2021 C-Class had earned a Top Safety Pick+, this didn’t automatically transfer to the 2022 model. However, the C-Class came loaded with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with safe exit assist, a driver-attention monitor, Pre-Safe, and Pre-Safe Sound.

Optional safety features expanded to include lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system, park assist, and adaptive cruise control available in two levels. Car-to-X communication allowed networked vehicles to share information, like warning about potholes, which worked effectively during testing.