2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2021 Honda Civic

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained a similar exterior styling to its predecessor, but with a drag coefficient of 0.22, it was more aerodynamic than a Toyota Prius. The new model was 1.3 inches longer, with a 2-inch longer wheelbase, and slightly taller and wider. The car's size was imposing, complemented by the classic Mercedes hood ornament and grille. Standard 19-inch wheels were available, with optional 20-inch and 21-inch wheels. The interior was designed around the infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, with a minimalist approach that included rectangular air vents and the elimination of the rotary controller. The S-Class interior featured ambient lighting with 250 LED elements and 64 color options, connected to infotainment and driver-assist functions. Interior materials included Nappa leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim, and aluminum inlays, with a two-panel glass roof. However, the piano-black trim on the dashboard and steering wheel was prone to smudging and reflected sunlight. The car's luxurious features included power-adjustable front seats with 19 motors, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, and a large center console with ample storage space. The 2021 Honda Civic, available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, continued to impress with its practicality and design. The Civic sedan came in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $21,250 to $28,300. The test car, a Touring sedan in Cosmic Blue Metallic paint, cost $29,690. The Civic's interior was roomy, comparable to a decade-old midsize car, with quality materials and thoughtful detailing. The exterior styling, while polarizing, had become familiar with over a million units on the road. The Civic's interior featured an adventurous design, with a maximum infotainment screen size of 7 inches. The Touring trim's 18-inch wheels and Cosmic Blue paint added to its appeal. The car's cabin offered excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle, though rear air conditioning vents were absent. The center console provided remarkable storage space, with trays, cupholders, and a deep center bin. The Civic sedan's trunk was spacious, measuring 15.1 cubic feet, though the Touring trim's premium sound system reduced it to 14.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered two engine options: the S500 4Matic with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine producing 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, and the S580 4Matic with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 496 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both versions used a nine-speed automatic transmission and featured EQ Boost, a mild-hybrid system that added 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque for short bursts. The S500 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 did it in 4.4 seconds, with top speeds electronically limited to 130 mph. The S-Class came with standard air suspension and an optional E-Active Body Control suspension system. It was the first S-Class with rear-wheel steering, reducing the turning circle by seven feet. The S580 was fast and comfortable, with precise steering and minimal body roll in Sport and Sport+ driving modes. However, there was noticeable wind noise at highway speeds. The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque for the EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. The turbocharged engine provided a more enjoyable driving experience, with power starting at 1,700 rpm and extending to 5,500 rpm. The Civic's sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and precise steering made it a delight to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was a drawback, with a sloppy gear lever and droning noise. Despite this, the CVT contributed to impressive fuel economy, with an average of 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, beating the EPA estimate of 33 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered more front and rear headroom, as well as more rear legroom, than its predecessor. It had more front headroom than competitors but the least front legroom. Shoulder room was segment-leading, contributing to a spacious feel. Cargo space increased to 12.9 cubic feet, though it was still less than other luxury sedans. Optional extras like power-adjustable rear seats could reduce cargo space. The S-Class featured power-adjustable front seats with 19 motors, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The center console had a large storage bin, a wireless phone charger, and cupholders. Rear-seat passengers had a large console/armrest with cupholders and climate controls. The optional Executive Line package added power-adjustable rear seats, four-zone climate control, and a reclining right-rear seat. The 2021 Honda Civic sedan had a low seating position, making entry and exit a bit challenging. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger's seat lacked a height adjuster. Leather upholstery was standard from the EX-L trim. The Civic's interior was roomy, with excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle for rear passengers. However, rear air conditioning vents were absent. The center console provided ample storage space, with trays, cupholders, and a deep center bin. The Civic sedan's trunk was spacious, measuring 15.1 cubic feet, though the Touring trim's premium sound system reduced it to 14.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED central touchscreen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six USB ports. A 30-speaker Burmester audio system and a rear-seat infotainment setup with 11.6-inch touchscreens and a 7-inch tablet were available. The updated Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system had increased computing power and relied more on the touchscreen. Functions like climate control and seat massagers were integrated into the screen, but hard buttons for important functions remained. The augmented-reality head-up display (HUD) projected navigation directions, though it could be distracting. The digital instrument cluster had gorgeous graphics, but the steering-wheel touchpads were small and hard to use. The ambient lighting reacted to certain functions but seemed more like a gimmick. The S-Class allowed drivers to set up personal profiles accessed with biometric or facial recognition. Rear-seat occupants could send navigation directions to the main screen upfront. The 2021 Honda Civic's technology was showing its age. The LX trim had a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim added a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, an eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, and a 1.5-amp USB port. The EX trim included HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim added navigation with voice recognition, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Touring's voice recognition system required specific prompts, making it less user-friendly. The premium sound system was nice, but the eight-speaker setup was sufficient.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It featured a rear-passenger airbag and standard driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control, automated lane centering, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, traffic-sign recognition, a driver-attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. Mercedes claimed improvements in traffic-sign recognition and lane-keep assist. The new steering wheel had capacitive sensors, eliminating the need for steering inputs to detect driver presence. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering performed better than most competitors. The 2021 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and lane-keeping assistance. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera. The Civic offered LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, but it was only for the right side and had some drawbacks. The Civic lacked a traditional radar-based blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning. However, it had a 180-degree reversing camera view. Honda Sensing was effective but unrefined, causing some issues in traffic. The 2021 Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the Touring trim and five-star ratings from the NHTSA in every assessment.