2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

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 set to return to the lineup, while the two-door coupe was phased out. The Civic Touring model, tested in the new Morning Mist Blue color, had a sticker price of $29,690, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with extra-charge Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development appearance package, was estimated at just under $25,880. The redesigned 2022 Civic had a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a more mature look.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a new design language for BMW's luxury line, including the all-electric i7 and X7 SUV. The front-end styling featured an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements, with LED accent lights giving it a focused squint. The profile maintained the familiar 7 Series silhouette, while the rear end had distinctive horizontal taillights. The interior boasted a modern and minimal design with a broad horizontal layout, a faceted crystal-like accent strip, and a curved pane of dark glass housing the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials quality was excellent, with options like light gray cashmere wool-blend upholstery adding a cozy feel. The rear seats offered a premium luxury aura, especially with the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package, which included a reclining passenger-side seat and a theater screen.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines in its redesigned sedan. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The EX and Touring trims came with 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 (CVT), with different CVTs for each engine. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel. The Touring trim was quicker to accelerate, and the Civic was quieter on the road than its predecessor. However, the Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop, falling short of the EPA's estimate of 34 mpg.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series initially offered two powertrains. The base 740i had a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The 760i xDrive featured a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, delivering 536 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. The 760i xDrive could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive provided quick and fluid acceleration, with smooth gear changes and a soft brake pedal. The handling was sportier than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, with a slightly stiffer ride. The Sport mode firmed up the air suspension for sharper cornering and more responsive steering.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined seats with power adjustments and heating, but not ventilation. The back seat had more legroom than most in the segment, though the backrest angle might feel too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost its heated rear cushions. The redesigned interior had a new center console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. The trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, with a split-folding backseat adding utility.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had power-operated doors, which could be frustrating to use. The front seats were generously padded with plenty of power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious, with the lounge seating option adding a reclining passenger-side seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk held up to 13.7 cubic feet of cargo, with a wide and deep space for larger objects. Interior storage was adequate, with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and small door pockets.

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 setup 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 provided a satisfying audio experience.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series came with iDrive 8, the latest version of BMW's infotainment system. It could be operated via touchscreen, a central dial, or voice commands. The system was easy to use for basic functions but complicated for deeper settings. Voice controls helped reduce on-screen frustrations, and an 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System was standard. The optional theater screen had some challenges, with inconsistent touchscreen inputs. iDrive 8 was less intuitive than previous versions, with a complex array of settings and menus.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard features included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic EX and Touring trims had a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A standard rear-seat reminder system was also included.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign reader, adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and safe exit warnings. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control was smooth, and the highway driving assistant automated braking, acceleration, and steering at speeds up to 85 mph.