2022 Honda Civic vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to sport this look, which many found unappealing, even in the trendy 2020 Edition with blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured a unique and somewhat awkward layout, with instrumentation in a strip of displays near the windshield and unconventional transmission controls. The dashboard design wrapped dramatically into the door panels, and the narrow center console was prone to collecting dust and fingerprints. In contrast, the 2022 Honda Civic adopted a more conservative and mature appearance, resembling the larger Accord sedan. This 11th-generation Civic was less flashy than its predecessor, appealing to those who preferred a more tailored look. Inside, Honda aimed for simplicity, resulting in a minimalistic control layout and improved interior materials. The dashboard featured a span of metal honeycomb mesh to hide the air vents, adding a touch of elegance. The Civic's interior reflected a newfound maturity, especially in the Touring trim.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-wheel-drive models managed 52 mpg, while the AWD-e versions achieved 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 gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. While this wasn't much for the 3,020-pound vehicle, 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 speeds under 25 mph, and regenerative braking to capture energy during deceleration. The TNGA platform contributed to a lower center of gravity and improved handling, making the Prius surprisingly agile on curvy roads. The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. The turbocharged engine provided a satisfying blend of performance and efficiency, with power delivered smoothly across a broad rev range. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) featuring Step Shift programming for a more traditional automatic feel. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode for enhanced responsiveness. Improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel made the Civic enjoyable to drive, with the Touring trim offering quicker acceleration. Despite its fun-to-drive nature, the Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop, falling short of the EPA's 34 mpg estimate.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery could be sticky. 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. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, with 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The 2022 Honda Civic continued its tradition of comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather upholstery and a power driver's seat, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's low seating position could make entry and exit difficult, but the rear seats offered more legroom than most competitors, aiding in easier access. The rear seats provided excellent thigh support, though the backrest angle might feel too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air-conditioning vents, and the Touring trim no longer included heated rear seats. The redesigned center console offered less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubic feet with the Touring trim, which had a smaller trunk due to the premium sound system components.

The 2021 Toyota Prius featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons to main-function menus. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. However, the standard stereo speaker sound quality was poor, 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 support Android Auto. The digital instrumentation on the dashboard looked dated and lacked sophistication. The 2022 Honda Civic boasted digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim featuring a 10-inch display panel offering greater customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display showed the status of the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals, ensuring drivers were aware of their lighting status. The standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Sport and EX trims had eight speakers, while the Touring trim offered a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound audio system. The Touring trim also featured a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and navigation. The system performed well, with excellent voice recognition technology.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included 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 road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Prius favorable marks, though it lacked a Top Safety Pick designation due to headlight and front-passenger protection issues. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the 2021 Prius for crashworthiness. The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors improved the system's performance. The Civic replaced the old LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert for the EX and Touring trims. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard. However, the base LX and Sport trims lacked blind-spot warning, a significant oversight for younger drivers.