2021 Honda Civic vs 2022 Toyota Camry

Reflecting on the 2021 Honda Civic's lineage, it was clear that standout models arrived about every decade. Following the original 1973 model, significant releases came in 1984, 1992, 2006, and then in a more polarizing form in 2016. With each cycle, Honda seemed to pour immense energy into setting new benchmarks, suggesting it might need breaks in between these major innovations.

In 2021, we still had the excellent 10th-generation Civic available in various formats, including a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback, and the performance-oriented Civic Type R. The two-door Civic coupe had been discontinued, and the sporty Civic Si was on hold until the next generation. There was also the absence of a manual transmission in the sedan lineup. For our review, we focused on the Civic sedan in Touring trim with a Cosmic Blue Metallic paint job, enhancing its visual appeal.

When the 10th-generation Civic hit the market, its divisive styling drew mixed reactions. However, as the years passed, its presence on the road became a staple. The Touring trim, complemented by this striking blue paint and sleek 18-inch wheels, often looked impressive. Unfortunately, under certain lighting or angles, it could evoke second thoughts.

Inside, the Civic's cabin, once daring in 2016, had started to show signs of aging, particularly with a maximum infotainment screen size of 7 inches. Yet, the cabin retained quality materials, adventurous designs, and thoughtful detailing in line with its trend-setting role.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD, meanwhile, managed a notable feat—turning heads for a Camry. Credit was due to its eye-catching Cavalry Blue paint, exclusive to the performance-tuned TRD model. This new hue was among a few updates for 2022, alongside new standard features like heated side mirrors and dual-zone automatic climate control, among others. The SE Hybrid trim was now also available with a new Nightshade Edition package.

With 13 versions to choose from, the Camry lineup was diverse, ranging from $26,000 for a base LE to just under $37,000 for the upscale XSE. Powered by choices of a four-cylinder, V6, or a fuel-efficient hybrid, the TRD model, priced at $35,470, was equipped with a beefier 3.5-liter V6 engine, 19-inch matte-black wheels, red accents, and a slew of performance-oriented features.

Its cabin design remained unique, with a lower-slung, sporty feel, though the red gauge illumination and mismatched red interior elements were questionable choices. Overall, despite its acquired taste in styling, the Camry TRD successfully shed its past monotonous design criticisms to present itself as an interesting, performance-focused sedan.

Evaluating the performance of the 2021 Honda Civic depended largely on the chosen powertrain. The base LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. While this setup satisfied many, the true gem was the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque available from low revs.

This turbo engine, standard on EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, provided more spirited driving dynamics. If paired with a manual or dual-clutch transmission, the Civic could have been thoroughly exhilarating. The sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and delightful steering combined for a composed and enjoyable ride.

The CVT was the only significant drawback, feeling sloppy and droning during gear shifts. Nevertheless, it offered commendable fuel efficiency, achieving an average of 34.8 mpg, outperforming the EPA's 33 mpg estimate.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD offered a different kind of performance with its robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, churning out 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive. Sport transmission and driving modes, along with paddle shifters, enabled more dynamic driving experiences.

The Camry TRD boasted track-tuned driving dynamics, reinforcing torsional rigidity with thicker braces and tweaking suspensions with stiffer sway bars, springs, and TRD shocks. Responsive brakes and a sport dual exhaust system were also part of the package, enhancing its driving appeal.

Despite yearning for an all-wheel-drive option, the Camry TRD felt solid, secure, and confidently planted. Its suspension transmitted expressive feedback, maintaining comfort for daily use while delivering excellent brake performance even during rigorous driving.

In summary, while the Civic leaned towards a balanced, efficient, and agile drive, the Camry TRD embraced a powerful and sporty persona, delivering impressive performance for the money.

The 2021 Honda Civic, even for a car, sat quite low, making ingress and egress a more physical endeavor. Once seated, comfort was notable, though rear passengers suffered on hot days due to a lack of rear air vents. Up front, the driver's seat in most trims offered eight-way power adjustments, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustments, which could have enhanced accessibility.

Passengers found the rear seats surprisingly accommodating for a compact car. Adequate thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle made longer journeys feasible, though rear air vents would have been an appreciated addition. The Civic's center console was highly practical, offering multiple storage spaces, including a deep center bin with a sliding armrest.

Cargo space was generous for its class, with the Civic sedan's trunk measuring 15.1 cubic feet. The Touring trim's premium sound system reduced this slightly to 14.7 cubic feet but still remained commendable.

Conversely, the 2022 Toyota Camry TRD featured sporty red accents and embroidery but lacked additional seat bolstering. This, surprisingly, wasn't a significant issue due to the car's low-slung driving position and firm grips provided by the fabric seat inserts and tall center console. Both front seats offered power height adjustments for added comfort.

The Camry's back seat comfortably fit two adults despite not being the roomiest in the midsize segment. A downside in the TRD was the absence of folding rear seats due to enhanced structural rigidity, which restricted trunk access from the cabin. With 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, it paralleled the Civic's offering, albeit the smallest in the midsize class. However, generous in-cabin storage helped to mitigate this limitation.

In conclusion, while both cars provided practical and functional interiors with generous storage solutions, the Civic's low seating and the Camry's limited trunk access from the cabin had specific trade-offs.

The 2021 Honda Civic started to show its age in the technology department. The base LX trim offered minimal technological features with a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a low-power USB port. Upgrading to the Sport trim brought a 7-inch touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink services, and a more powerful USB port.

The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim included navigation with voice recognition and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Despite these offerings, the voice recognition system felt rudimentary, and many drivers might prefer using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation and digital assistants.

The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard. While small by modern standards, it featured physical volume and tuning knobs, providing a tactile, user-friendly interface. It supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. It also included subscription services like Safety Connect and WiFi Connect, with complimentary trial periods.

An optional 9-inch touchscreen retained the physical buttons and knobs and added more subscription services and a 9-speaker JBL premium audio system. Despite the bass-heavy and sometimes brassy sound quality typical of JBL systems, it was a good upgrade at its price point. Advanced navigation and voice recognition technologies were not available in the TRD model, but integrating smartphone connectivity allowed using Siri or Google Assistant effectively.

Overall, while both vehicles offered a range of technological features, the Camry TRD stood out with its more substantial base infotainment system and additional subscription services.

Honda equipped every 2021 Civic with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This package included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance systems, automatic high beams, and a multi-angle reversing camera.

The Civic also offered LaneWatch starting from the EX trim, monitoring the right side lane. However, this camera-based system had limitations, lacking comprehensive radar-based blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warnings. Honda Sensing, while effective, could sometimes behave erratically and might disrupt the driving experience.

Safety ratings were commendable, with the Civic achieving a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS (specifically for the Touring trim) and five-star ratings across all NHTSA evaluations.

The 2022 Toyota Camry featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, a comprehensive ADAS package. This system included advanced adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance, which collectively allowed semi-autonomous driving assistance on highways. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Camry TRD.

While generally effective, the Camry's lane-keeping technologies could occasionally misinterpret road markings and be too assertive. The adaptive cruise control's speed adjustments in curves were sometimes unnecessary, leading to minor irritations.

Toyota's Safety Connect was standard, offering free access for the first year. It equipped the Camry with automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator, among other features.

The Camry also scored high in safety assessments, earning a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all NHTSA evaluations.