2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a beacon of opportunity amidst the declining popularity of hatchbacks, as many automakers shifted focus to small crossover SUVs. Honda's redesigned Civic hatchback aimed to capture a significant portion of the remaining market share, with production taking place in Indiana, making it one of the few compact cars still manufactured in the U.S. The Civic hatchback's design closely mirrored the Civic sedan from the front doors forward, but from the rear, it presented a distinct vehicle. Despite its appeal, the Civic hatchback still exhibited a visual imbalance, with a tendency to appear front-heavy. Inside, the Civic hatchback shared its interior design with the sedan, featuring sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays in the Sport Touring trim, although the CVT shifter operation slightly detracted from the overall sense of sophistication.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a bold new design language for BMW's luxury line, featuring a striking front-end with an oversized grille and split lighting elements. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, while the rear end boasted distinctive horizontal taillights. Inside, the 7 Series offered a modern and minimalistic interior with a broad horizontal layout and a futuristic curved glass pane housing the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials used were of premium quality, with options like light gray cashmere wool-blend upholstery adding a cozy feel. The rear seats, especially with the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package, exuded luxury, offering a reclining passenger-side seat and a theater screen that folded down from the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT or a six-speed manual transmission in the Sport trim. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims upgraded to a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a suspension system that provided a firm yet comfortable ride. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, offering a smooth driving experience, while the six-speed manual transmission was praised for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic hatchback excelled in fuel economy, with real-world testing nearly matching the EPA estimates.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two powertrains at launch. The base 740i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 760i xDrive upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The 7 Series provided a smooth and powerful driving experience, with the V8-powered 760i xDrive offering quick and fluid acceleration. The ride quality was slightly stiffer compared to rivals, but the handling was sportier, making it an excellent choice for drivers who appreciated performance alongside comfort.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback prioritized functionality, offering a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space with an innovative two-piece cargo shade. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, although the load floor was not flat. The interior provided comfortable seating with sufficient legroom, but some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and the absence of rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, with heated front seats and a dual-zone climate control system in higher trims.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, which could be cumbersome to use. Inside, the front seats were generously padded with numerous power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seats offered ample space, with the lounge seating option providing a reclining passenger-side seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen added a wow factor, although its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, with a wide and deep area for larger objects. Interior storage was adequate, with wireless charging, cupholders, and USB ports available for both front and rear passengers.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came equipped with a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen display with physical knobs and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs addressed previous criticisms, and the voice recognition system worked effectively.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced iDrive 8, the latest version of BMW's infotainment system, operable via touchscreen, central dial, or voice commands. While basic functions were easy to use, the system became complicated with deeper menu navigation. Voice controls helped mitigate this complexity, but they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System provided excellent audio quality. The optional theater screen presented challenges with inconsistent touchscreen inputs, and the iDrive system felt less intuitive compared to previous iterations.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims added a blind-spot warning system, while the Sport Touring also included a rear cross-traffic warning system. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with improved driver aids compared to previous models.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control provided smooth acceleration and braking, and the highway driving assistant automated driving functions up to 85 mph, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.