2021 Lexus IS vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2021 Lexus IS made a bold statement with its athletic proportions and elegant stance. Its design captured motion even while stationary, with a fast roofline and a compact, sporty cabin. The new spindle grille and narrow headlights added to its assertive look, while flawless paint, chrome, and panel gaps were expected from a Lexus. Inside, the dash was tastefully simple, with a retro hi-fi feel to the center stack. The interior matched the exterior with bold, assertive choices and modern aesthetics, though the analog clock felt outdated. The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture a significant market share with its redesigned model, produced in Indiana. It shared the front design with the Civic sedan but had a unique rear. The hatchback's design solved the visual weight issue over the front wheels, though it still had a stubby rear. Inside, the Civic hatch mirrored the sedan, with Sport Touring trim adding sophisticated digital displays and high-quality controls. The CVT shifter operation was slightly janky, but overall, the interior was modern and appealing.

The 2021 Lexus IS brought serious sport to the luxury sedan category, tested and developed at the Toyota Technical Center Shimoyama. The IS 300 RWD featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The IS 300 AWD had a 3.5-liter V6 with 260 hp and 236 lb-ft, while the IS 350 models boasted 311 hp and 280 lb-ft from the same V6. RWD models had an eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD models had a six-speed automatic. The IS reached a top speed of 143 mph, with 0-60 mph times ranging from 6.9 seconds for the IS 300 RWD to 5.6 seconds for the IS 350 RWD. Fuel efficiency varied, with the IS 300 RWD achieving 21/31/25 mpg, the IS 300 AWD at 19/26/22 mpg, the IS 350 RWD at 20/28/23 mpg, and the IS 350 AWD at 19/26/22 mpg. The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual in the Sport. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 hp and 177 lb-ft, available with a CVT or manual transmission. The Civic hatch was front-wheel drive only, with a variable-ratio electric steering system and ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes. The Sport and Sport Touring trims had 18-inch wheels, while the LX had 16-inch and the EX-L had 17-inch wheels. The CVT worked well with the turbo engine, and the manual transmission was a delight to use. The Civic hatch offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with good steering and braking performance. Fuel economy was impressive, with the Sport Touring CVT achieving 33 mpg combined and the manual at 31 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lexus IS focused on driver-centered form and function, with a great driving position and comfortable, supportive seats. The F Sport trim's bolstered seat was standard in IS 350 models, with heating and ventilation. The IS used perforated NuLuxe fabric, a synthetic upholstery that was eco-friendly, lightweight, and easy to clean. Storage space was ample, with various compartments and a decent glovebox. The second row was comfortable for two but cramped for three, with legroom negotiable with front-seat occupants. The trunk offered 10.8 cubic feet of space, with a temporary spare stored beneath the load floor. The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in function, with a generous 24.5 cubic feet trunk and an innovative two-piece cargo shade. The back seat had a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, with sufficient legroom, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The driver’s seat had eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats were heated. The Civic hatch offered black fabric seats in LX and Sport trims, and black leather in EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in higher trims.

The 2021 Lexus IS finally included a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touchpad remained but was no longer the default option. Lexus Enform services were generously included with free trial periods, such as Safety Connect, Service Connect, WiFi, and Remote. The Navigation Package included Dynamic Navigation and Destination Assist for the first three years. The Mark Levinson 17-speaker, 1,800-watt premium surround-sound audio system was a recommended option, offering superb sound quality and a CD player. The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims had a 7-inch touchscreen with physical knobs and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, wireless charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs addressed previous criticisms, and a small shelf provided a place to steady your hand while using the touchscreen. The voice recognition system worked well, and the digital instrumentation included a 7-inch screen in lower trims and a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring.

The 2021 Lexus IS had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it was expected to perform well based on the previous generation. The IS came with Lexus Safety System+ 2.5, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-tracing assist, adaptive cruise control, and intelligent high beams. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a backup camera, LED lights, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect with a three-year trial. The IS had four-channel/four-sensor anti-lock braking with power-assisted disc brakes. The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with Honda Sensing, an improved safety system with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available in higher trims. All Civics had a rear-seat reminder, rear seatbelt reminder, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Civic hatch earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, the highest possible rating. The driver aids worked well but were sometimes too aggressive.