2021 Honda Civic vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had become synonymous with its identity over the years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to embrace its unique styling, which some found unappealing, even in the trendy 2020 Edition with blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured an unconventional layout with a central strip of displays for instrumentation, a dashboard-mounted toggle lever for transmission controls, and a narrow center console. The interior's gloss-black trim was prone to attracting dust and fingerprints, adding to the car's quirky charm. The Prius was available in several trims, including L Eco, LE, XLE, 2020 Edition, and Limited, with an optional AWD-e system for the LE and XLE trims. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid offered a different styling and trim options. As a five-door hatchback, the Prius provided utility similar to a crossover SUV, with prices ranging from $24,525 to $32,650, excluding destination charges.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Civic continued to build on its legacy of segment-defining models, offering a more conventional yet appealing design. Available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, the Civic lineup saw the discontinuation of the two-door coupe and a temporary hiatus for the sporty Civic Si. The Civic sedan came in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices starting at $21,250 and reaching $28,300, excluding destination charges. The Touring trim, with its Cosmic Blue Metallic paint and 18-inch wheels, added a touch of elegance to the Civic's design. While the interior had aged since its daring 2016 debut, it still featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing. The Civic's cabin was spacious, akin to a midsize car from a decade ago, offering comfort and practicality for passengers and cargo alike.

The 2021 Toyota Prius prioritized fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-wheel-drive models earned a 52 mpg rating, while AWD-e versions managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition, however, fell short of expectations, averaging 47.5 mpg on the testing loop. The Prius combined a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. While not particularly powerful, the electric motor's 120 pound-feet of torque provided a lively feel during acceleration. The Prius offered various driving modes, including EV Mode for electric-only driving at low speeds, and regenerative braking to enhance efficiency. The TNGA platform contributed to the Prius's handling capabilities, allowing it to navigate curvy roads with some enthusiasm, though the powertrain drone and lack of road feel in the steering detracted from the driving experience.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options, with the LX and Sport trims featuring a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The more desirable turbocharged 1.5-liter engine, available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, delivered 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for the Civic. The Civic's sophisticated suspension and steering systems contributed to its enjoyable driving dynamics, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) was a drawback, with its droning noise and unsatisfactory paddle shifters. Despite these issues, the CVT contributed to the Civic's commendable fuel economy, averaging 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five passengers comfortably. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging, and the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery tended to trap sweat. The rear seats provided adequate space for adults, though the absence of air-conditioning vents was a drawback. Cargo space varied by trim, with the rear hatch offering between 24.6 and 27.4 cubic feet of storage, expandable to 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan also sat low to the ground, requiring some effort to enter and exit. Once inside, the Civic offered a comfortable experience, with the driver's seat providing eight-way power adjustment. The rear seats accommodated adults comfortably, though the lack of rear air-conditioning vents was a downside. The Civic's center console offered impressive storage options, with trays, cupholders, and a deep center bin. The 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 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, as well as shortcut buttons for main-function menus. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Toyota's Safety Connect and WiFi Connect were also standard, with generous free trial subscriptions. However, the sound quality of the stereo speakers was lacking, and road noise often overwhelmed it. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen. Unfortunately, this system did not benefit from the Android Auto upgrade available on the standard system. The digital instrumentation housed in a strip at the top of the dashboard appeared dated, with unimpressive graphics.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology offerings showed signs of aging, with the LX trim providing a basic 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 1.5-amp USB port. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim included navigation with voice recognition, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Touring's voice recognition system required specific prompts, and the premium sound system was a nice addition, though the eight-speaker setup was sufficient for most needs.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) as standard, offering adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a road-sign recognition system. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. While the TSS 2.0 systems generally performed well, the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance added an artificial feel to the steering. Safety Connect services were also standard, providing automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator function. The 2021 Prius had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the IIHS gave it favorable marks, though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick designation.

The 2021 Honda Civic featured Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and a Lane Keeping Assist System. Automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera were also standard. The Civic offered LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, starting with EX trim. However, LaneWatch had limitations, such as only covering the right side and requiring drivers to reference both the infotainment system and side mirror. The Civic lacked a traditional radar-based blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning, though the 180-degree reversing camera view helped compensate. Honda Sensing was effective but could be abrupt and indecisive. The 2021 Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the Touring trim and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all assessments.