2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2021 Honda Civic had a history of segment-defining models, with notable versions released in 1973, 1984, 1992, 2006, and 2016. The 10th-generation Civic, introduced in 2016, continued to polarize opinions with its bold styling. By 2021, the Civic was available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, though the coupe and Civic Si were discontinued. The Civic sedan came in various trims, with the Touring trim featuring a striking Cosmic Blue Metallic paint. Despite its daring design, the interior showed signs of aging, particularly with its 7-inch infotainment screen. However, the cabin still boasted quality materials and thoughtful detailing.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class maintained its sleek and elegant design from the previous year's complete makeover. The S-Class, rooted in a long history dating back to 1954, represented the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz's sedan lineup. The seventh-generation S-Class, code-named W223, was available in S500 and S580 sedan variants. The exterior featured a long, low profile with a significant distance between the front axle and dashboard, exuding elegance. The interior was a masterpiece of luxury, with a 12.8-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and high-quality materials throughout. The S-Class dashboard, adorned with open-pore wood trim, added to the car's sophisticated appeal.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The base LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While adequate, the real excitement came with the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. This engine delivered 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, providing a spirited driving experience. The Civic's sophisticated suspension and responsive steering made it enjoyable to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the CVT's droning and unsophisticated gear lever detracted from the overall experience. Despite this, the Civic excelled in fuel economy, averaging 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, particularly the S500 model, featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost. This system added up to 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque to the engine's 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque. The S580 model boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine with the same EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD. Despite their weight, the S500 and S580 were quick, with 0-60 mph times of 4.9 and 4.4 seconds, respectively. The S-Class offered a smooth and responsive driving experience, with impressive fuel economy for its class, achieving up to 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined for the S500.

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, while the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Leather upholstery was standard from the EX-L trim onward. The rear seats provided excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle, though the absence of rear air conditioning vents was a drawback. The Civic's center console offered ample storage space, and the trunk was spacious, with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space (14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system).

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled in interior comfort and luxury. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The trunk offered 13.8 cubic feet of space, and the cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply. The front seats were equipped with heating, ventilation, massage functions, and memory settings. The Luxury Line added features like a heated steering wheel and rear-seat heating, while the Executive Line (exclusive to the S580) catered to chauffeured passengers with advanced rear-seat amenities. The S-Class's doors opened wide, making entry and exit easy, and the soft-close feature added a touch of convenience.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology was showing its age. The base LX trim had a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a more powerful USB port. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim included navigation, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. However, the voice recognition system in the Touring trim was unsophisticated, and the eight-speaker setup was often sufficient.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was a technological marvel. The 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen was the centerpiece of the MBUX infotainment system, offering superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The augmented video for navigation and available augmented reality head-up display (HUD) enhanced the driving experience. The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system delivered high-fidelity audio, with an available 4D Surround system adding headrest speakers. The S-Class also featured advanced powertrain and chassis technologies, including EQ Boost and rear-axle steering.

The 2021 Honda Civic came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and lane-keeping assistance. The Civic also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera. LaneWatch, available from the EX trim, used a camera to monitor the right lane but had limitations. The Civic lacked a traditional radar-based blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning. Despite these shortcomings, the 2021 Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety features. Magic Vision Control adjusted windshield spray for optimal visibility. Driver assistance features included adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, and Pre-Safe systems. The S-Class also featured car-to-x communication, sharing warning messages about road conditions. For executive passengers, the S-Class offered rear-passenger airbags, rear-seat belt bags, and advanced headrests with occupant restraint protection.