2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained a familiar exterior styling, but with a drag coefficient of 0.22, it was more aerodynamic than a Toyota Prius. The new model was slightly larger than its predecessor, with a 1.3-inch increase in length and a 2-inch longer wheelbase. The classic Mercedes hood ornament and grille added a touch of luxury, while the standard 19-inch wheels (with optional 20-inch and 21-inch wheels) provided a solid stance. The interior was designed around a prominent infotainment touchscreen and digital instrument cluster, with a minimalist approach that included rectangular air vents and the elimination of the rotary controller. The ambient lighting system featured 250 LED elements and 64 color options, creating a vibrant atmosphere. High-quality materials like Nappa leather and open-pore wood trim were standard, but the piano-black trim was prone to smudges and reflections.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture the remaining market share for hatchbacks, with a design that closely resembled the Civic sedan from the front doors forward. The rear, however, featured a unique design that attempted to balance the visual weight. Inside, the Sport Touring trim offered sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, with metal honeycomb dashboard detailing that concealed the air vents. The CVT shifter operation was slightly janky, but overall, the interior felt high-quality. The Civic hatchback was practical, with a 24.5 cubic feet trunk and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. The driver’s seat offered eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats were heated. However, the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and no rear air conditioning vents were minor drawbacks.

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 engine generating 496 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Both models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and EQ Boost, a mild-hybrid system that added 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque for short bursts. The S500 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the S580 achieved the same in 4.4 seconds, with both models having a top speed electronically limited to 130 mph. The S-Class came with standard air suspension and an optional E-Active Body Control suspension system. Rear-wheel steering, which could turn the wheels up to 10 degrees at low speeds, was also a first for the S-Class. The S580 was fast and comfortable, with precise steering and minimal body roll in Sport and Sport+ driving modes.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback 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 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque for the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, providing a smooth and quiet operation. The Sport Touring trim with a six-speed manual transmission offered a more engaging driving experience, with short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a suspension system that included MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent design in the rear. The Sport and Sport Touring trims rode on 18-inch wheels, while the LX and EX-L had 16-inch and 17-inch wheels, respectively. The Civic hatchback provided a firm yet comfortable ride, with responsive steering and brakes.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered more front and rear headroom, as well as more rear legroom, compared to its predecessor. It also had more front headroom than competitors but the least front legroom. Shoulder room was segment-leading, contributing to a spacious feel. The trunk space increased to 12.9 cubic feet, but it was still less than other luxury sedans. The power-adjustable front seats had 19 motors for adjustment, heating, ventilation, and massage, with tiny pillows on the head restraints. The center console featured 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 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space, with a two-piece cargo shade that didn’t need to be removed. The back seat was a 60/40-split folding design, but the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, with sufficient legroom. The driver’s seat had eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats were heated. The Sport Touring trim featured black leather upholstery, while the LX and Sport trims had black fabric seats. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. However, the front passenger seat lacked a seat-height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came with 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 a pair of 11.6-inch touchscreens and a 7-inch tablet were available. The updated MBUX infotainment system had 50% more computing power and relied more on the touchscreen. The system was easy to use, with hard buttons for important functions and a voice-control system that worked from all seats. The augmented-reality head-up display projected navigation directions, but the digital instrument cluster’s steering-wheel touchpads were small and hard to use. The ambient lighting reacted to certain functions, but it seemed more like a gimmick.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims had a 7-inch touchscreen display with physical power/volume and tuning knobs, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim added a 9-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 surround-sound audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls addressed a long-standing criticism. The voice recognition system worked well, and the digital instrumentation included a 7-inch screen with a traditional analog speedometer, while the Sport Touring had a 10.2-inch display panel.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or 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. The traffic-sign recognition could detect stop signs and red lights, and the lane-keep assist could read road edges. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering performed better than most competitors, handling highway curves and reacting smoothly to traffic changes.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with the Honda Sensing collection of safety features, including 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 capability and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available on the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. All Civics had a rear-seat reminder system, rear seatbelt reminder, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Civic hatchback earned a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS. The driver aids worked better than previous versions, but sometimes the car braked too hard or the lane-keeping technologies were too obvious.