2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Toyota Camry

The 2022 Honda Civic was redesigned to feature a more conservative and plain appearance, reminiscent of the larger Honda Accord. This new look aimed to attract those who found the previous model's styling too bold, offering a more refined and grown-up aesthetic. Notable changes included a minimalistic interior with metal honeycomb mesh spanning the dashboard, elegantly concealing the air vents, and improved interior materials that reflected maturity, especially in the Touring trim. In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Camry, particularly the TRD model, stood out with its bold Cavalry Blue paint and aggressive styling elements like an aerodynamic body kit and red accent features. Although this design aimed to shake off the Camry's reputation for being staid, it ended up polarizing with features that seemed to try too hard, such as red gauge illumination and a glossy black grille that did not necessarily appeal to every taste. The interior design retained a focus on driver orientation but lacked the sophistication expected at its price point.

Honda's 2022 Civic featured two engine choices. The base LX and Sport trims carried a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower, while the EX and Touring trims boasted a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder producing 180 horsepower. Both engines were coupled with a CVT that included new Step Shift programming to emulate traditional automatic transitions, enhancing the driving experience without sacrificing fuel efficiency. The Toyota Camry TRD sported a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 301 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was designed with track-tuned enhancements such as stiffer sway bars, TRD shocks, and performance tires to provide an exhilarating driving experience. Despite its considerable power, the Camry TRD maintained a reasonable fuel economy, even during vigorous driving across mountain ranges.

The Civic's interior focused on comfort with redesigned front seats and a spacious backseat, though it lacked rear air conditioning vents. Practical features like a large 14.8 cubic foot trunk and a user-friendly interior layout catered well to everyday usability, although some storage flexibility was sacrificed in the 2022 redesign. Toyota's Camry TRD, on the other hand, offered a similar sporty driving position without enhanced seat bolstering but provided ample comfort through power-adjustable front seats. The fixed rear seatback in the TRD model meant sacrificing some utility for structural rigidity, giving it a slightly less flexible cargo capacity compared to the Civic.

Technologically, the Honda Civic shined with a sophisticated 9-inch touchscreen in the Touring trim, supporting wireless connectivity options and a premium Bose audio system. Customizable digital instrumentation further enhanced the driving experience by informing the driver of vehicle statuses efficiently. The Camry TRD, while equipped with modern connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, still relied on a smaller, less advanced 7-inch touchscreen as standard, with the option to upgrade. The audio system from JBL, although respectable, did not reach the auditory heights of Honda's Bose setup.

Honda enhanced the 2022 Civic with an updated Honda Sensing suite, which became more refined and added features like Traffic Jam Assist. New airbag designs and structural enhancements also aimed at improving safety in collisions. Toyota's 2022 Camry continued to impress with its safety features, earning top marks from safety rating agencies. The inclusion of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ added robust driver assistance capabilities, although some functions like lane-keeping assist could be overly assertive.