2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Honda Civic was available in familiar LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trim levels, with prices starting at $21,700 for the Civic LX and reaching up to $28,300 for the Civic Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was also set to return later in the year, while the two-door coupe was discontinued. The primary evaluation vehicle, a Civic Touring in Morning Mist Blue, had a sticker price of $29,690, including destination charges. Another model, a Civic Sport with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, was estimated at just under $25,880.

The redesigned 2022 Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan and adopted a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor. The interior featured a minimalistic approach with a span of metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard to hide the air vents. Honda improved the interior materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a maturity that the previous Civic lacked.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its fantastic look from the 2021 model, following a complete makeover. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class continued to tell a different story with its sleek design and long profile. The seventh-generation S-Class, code-named “W223,” remained Mercedes-Benz’s flagship sedan, with no plans for additional body styles beyond the S500 and S580 sedans. The exterior was defined by its sleekness, with a long distance between the front axle and the dashboard, adding to its elegance.

The S-Class dashboard featured a waterfall of open-pore wood trim and a 12.8-inch touchscreen in the center stack. A separate 12.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel allowed the displays to occupy different planes, befitting their distinct functions. The cabin was dressed in high-quality materials, meticulously fitted and assembled, providing a luxurious and comfortable environment.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines in its redesigned sedan. The LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The EX and Touring trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) with new Step Shift programming to mimic the sound and sensation of a traditional automatic. The Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing the car’s responsiveness.

The Civic’s handling was enjoyable, with improvements in structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and improved steering feel. The ride quality remained comfortable, and the car was quieter on the road than its predecessor. However, the Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile driving loop, falling short of the EPA’s estimate of 34 mpg. The Civic’s predictable and trustworthy demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped for both serene weekday commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 test vehicle featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, providing up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque to the six-cylinder’s 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The S580 model had a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine with the same EQ Boost system. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and standard 4Matic AWD.

The S500 and S580 were quick off the line, with the S500 reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and the S580 in 4.4 seconds. Despite their weight, handling was flat and predictable, and braking was powerful. The S500 delivered up to 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/24 mpg combined, while the S580 was rated at 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. The S-Class provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, making it suitable for both business and pleasure.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered redesigned front seats with better support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim. The power driver’s seat created a perfect position behind the steering wheel, though it lacked ventilation. The back seat had more legroom than most in the segment, but the backrest angle might have felt too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost its heated rear cushions for 2022.

The redesigned interior featured a new center console with less storage space and flexibility than before. Trunk volume remained generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim. The split-folding backseat added utility, and a small handle on the inside of the lid helped with closing the trunk.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a roomy and comfortable cabin with ample storage and cargo space. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof. The 13.8-cubic-foot trunk provided lushly carpeted storage space. The cabin had six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row.

The driver and front passenger enjoyed heated and ventilated active multicontour seats with massage, memory, lumbar support, and comfort headrests. The Luxury Line added a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear armrests, rear-seat heating, and the “Energizing Comfort” system. The Executive Line (exclusive to the S580) upgraded the rear seats to active multicontour with headrests, occupant restraint protection, and neck and shoulder heating. The MBUX high-end rear-seat entertainment system included two 11.6-inch touchscreens with a full-HD camera and microphones.

The S-Class doors opened wide, making it difficult for some to reach and close them, but the soft-close feature prevented slamming. Mercedes-Benz’s basic and powertrain warranty covered the 2022 S500 for four years/50,000 miles.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display showed when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Touring trim offered a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound audio system in the Touring trim provided a rich audio experience.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with the latest MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen. The OLED screen offered superior image quality and energy consumption. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided crisp imagery and customizable visual themes. The optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The standard augmented video for navigation and the available augmented reality head-up display enhanced the driving experience.

The standard Burmester 3D Surround sound system provided high-fidelity sound, while the available Burmester 4D Surround system added headrest speakers. The EQ Boost system and available rear-axle steering added maneuverability to the S-Class, reducing its turning radius to less than 36 feet.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems, 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 EX and Touring trims included a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic’s vehicle architecture was stronger, and new front airbag designs offered improved head protection. The Civic also had a standard rear-seat reminder system.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was loaded with standard and available safety and advanced driver assistance systems. Significant features included Magic Vision Control, active distance assist Distronic adaptive cruise control, active stop-and-go assist, active steering assist, active brake assist, active speed limit assist, active blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, active parking assist, Pre-Safe Plus, and car-to-x communication. The S-Class also offered rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bags for added safety.