2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 Toyota Prius

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback returned to the Civic lineup after a brief hiatus. This 11th generation Civic hatch gets an attractive redesign and is enjoyable to drive with a sporty turbo engine available. Meanwhile, the 2023 Toyota Prius also received a full redesign. Toyota gave it a much-needed style makeover along with more power and improved driving dynamics, while maintaining excellent fuel economy.

Performance ratings give the Civic hatchback an 8 out of 10 score, with the Prius rated slightly lower at 7 out of 10 by CarGurus reviewers. The 2022 Civic hatchback offers two engine choices. Most models have a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but upgraded turbocharged variants pump out 180 eager ponies. Buyers choosing the 6-speed manual transmission will enjoy its smooth, precise action. The available continuously variable transmission (CVT) works well also. Handling leans more toward compliant daily driving than all-out performance. Toyota equips the 2023 Prius with 194 horsepower from its hybrid powertrain. This gives the Prius much quicker acceleration than before, hitting 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. The ride quality proves comfortable and the handling relatively agile. Engine drone does intrude during heavy throttle applications. Braking feels a little soft overall, but that’s typical for a hybrid.

Interior space and versatility ratings give the 2022 Civic Hatchback an 8 out of 10 score, with the 2023 Prius rated at 7 out of 10 by CarGurus experts. Abundant cargo room pairs with a clever two-piece cargo cover in the hatchback. Total cargo capacity is right around 49 cubic feet. Rear seat room suits most adults fine, but rear climate vents are missing. The Prius sees reduced interior dimensions all around versus its predecessor, including less rear headroom and cargo volume. But smart storage solutions like a wireless phone charging tray/cubby make good use of the space Toyota provides.

According to CarGurus experts, technology ratings put both the 2022 Civic hatch and the 2023 Prius on even ground, with identical scores of 8 out of 10. A 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard on most Civic hatchback models. Upgrading to the top Sport Touring trim nets buyers a feature-packed 9-inch touch display and excellent 12-speaker Bose audio. Physical tuning and volume knobs smartly complement the Honda system's touch inputs. Every 2023 Prius has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, too. An 8-inch screen is standard, with a larger 12.3-inch display optional. Crisp graphics and quick response times impress, but navigation requires an annual paid subscription. There are also a few other bothersome subscription services bundled in.

Both the 2022 Civic hatchback and 2023 Prius earn Top safety Pick+ awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and score an impressive 9 out of 10 in this category per CarGurus. The extensive Honda Sensing safety suite sees improved performance for 2022. Upgraded components like next-gen front airbags also help the Civic Hatchback ace IIHS evaluations. All trims have adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, but blind-spot monitoring is unfortunately restricted to upper trims. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 assists Prius drivers with a comprehensive roster of high-performing active safety gear. Features like radar cruise control, pedestrian detection, and proactive lane centering work seamlessly. All Prius models also get eight airbags and stability/traction control.

Cost effectiveness ratings give the advantage to the 2023 Toyota Prius, reflected in its higher score of 6 out of 10 according to CarGurus, with the Civic hatchback rated significantly lower at just 4 out of 10. The 2022 Civic hatchback reserves premium features like a Bose stereo, leather seats, and blind spot monitoring exclusively for range-topping (and priciest) Sport Touring trim. This limits value, especially since lower LX and Sport models will likely comprise the majority of sales. But prices still compare reasonably to remaining rivals. An upgraded hybrid powertrain and more upscale styling prompted a price walk for the 2023 Prius. But good value remains when factoring generous standard equipment on all trim levels. Plus, fuel costs will be less over months and years given the stellar Prius mpg figures.