2023 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trim levels, beginning at $21,700 for the LX and extending up to $28,300 for the Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. Notably, a new five-door hatchback variant was also set to return later in the year, though the two-door coupe was a thing of the past. Our primary evaluation focused on a Civic Touring, dressed in Morning Mist Blue, an extra-cost paint that raised the sticker price by $395, culminating in a total cost of $29,690.

Additionally, a Civic Sport adorned with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) package was briefly sampled, costing an estimated $25,880. With just one glance, the redesigned 2022 Civic revealed itself as larger and more reminiscent of the wheelbase-longer Accord sedan. This new 11th-generation Civic was markedly more conservative and plain in appearance compared to its predecessor. Fans of the previous styling might regard this iteration as somewhat dull, but it definitely catered to those seeking a more mature, tailored look.

Honda aimed for a return to simplicity inside the 2022 Civic, adopting a minimalistic design for controls and layout. A striking metal honeycomb mesh spanned the dashboard to conceal the air vents, enhancing the interior's sophistication. The improved material quality was particularly apparent in the Touring trim, reflecting a maturity absent in the previous generation.

Fast forward to the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, the car made a significant impression during a week-long test drive that included scenic routes through New York's Hudson Valley and even a nostalgic stop in the village of Accord. At first glance, the 2023 Accord easily passed for a high-priced luxury sedan, regularly drawing positive attention and questions from onlookers. The car’s sleek design lines bore a striking resemblance to the Audi A7, regarded as a high compliment.

The 2023 model stretched nearly three inches longer, featuring a redesigned front grille and updated LED lights at both ends. Even though it maintained a familiar Accord appearance, the refined aesthetic and near-luxury feel were evident. The new, upright front grille, blacked-out LED headlights, and LED taillights spanning the rear accentuated its planted stance.

Starting at around $38,435, including a $1,095 destination fee, the Accord Touring could be customized in seven exterior colors and came with 19-inch alloy wheels featuring black accents. Optional gloss-black HPD wheels cost an additional $2,000, but the standard wheels were deemed sufficiently attractive. The hull boasted a flowing roofline tapering gracefully to the trunk, enhancing its overall sophistication.

Inside, the 2023 Accord mirrored the newer Civic's and CR-V's layout. It featured a strip of honeycomb mesh trim disguising the air vents and a user-friendly row of buttons for cabin temperature controls. A traditional gearshift replaced the prior iteration's button-operated system, making gear selection less of a guessing game. High-quality materials contributed to the car’s upscale feel.

Our test vehicle sported Canyon River Blue Metallic paint with a black leather interior. While cloth seats were standard in the Hybrid Sport trim, leather was standard in all other trims, with optional gray leather available depending on the exterior color.

As of 2022, the Honda Civic sedan offered two engine choices, both evolved from the previous generation. LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. While adequate, this engine was overshadowed by the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder in EX and Touring trims, which offered 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged engine provided a satisfying performance blend, with torque spread across a wide rev range from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm.

Both engines paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Honda used different CVTs for each engine, featuring the new Step Shift programming for better emulation of a traditional automatic transmission. The Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode to enhance responsiveness, complementing the enjoyable ride and handling characteristics. Honda’s efforts to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness made the Civic quieter, although our test drive returned a fuel economy of 30.4 mpg, which was below the EPA estimate of 34 mpg.

For the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, every variant sported a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering 204 horsepower to the front wheels via a CVT. The lack of an all-wheel drive didn't deter its smooth and efficient performance. During test drives, the Accord Hybrid switched seamlessly between electric and gasoline power, offering ample acceleration for highway merges and passing maneuvers. The suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections, balancing firmness and softness.

The enhanced regenerative braking system in the Accord Hybrid featured six levels of regen, improving the overall driving experience. The Accord’s agile handling made driving a pleasure in various environments, and despite its increased length, it remained easy to park.

In the 2022 Honda Civic, comfort was long a hallmark. The 2022 model introduced redesigned front seats that offered better support, a claim backed by experience. In the leather-lined Touring trim, the power driver’s seat provided a perfect driving position, complete with heating (though not ventilation). The front passenger seat didn't have a height adjuster but offered excellent thigh support. The low seating position could make entry and exit challenging; however, the rear seat provided ample legroom to ease this process.

Despite this legroom, the backrest angle might have felt too reclined for some. Rear passengers had access to two USB ports for charging but no air conditioning vents. Moreover, the Touring trim lost its heated rear seats for 2022. The redesigned center console offered less storage space and flexibility, trading off a deep storage bin for more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume remained generous, offering 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes in the Touring trim due to sound system components. The trunk could accommodate full-size suitcases, with a split-folding backseat adding utility.

By contrast, the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid adopted a layout consistent with newer Honda models like the Civic and CR-V. It featured a strip of honeycomb mesh trim concealing the air vents and a user-friendly row of buttons for cabin temperature control. The Touring trim came with heated and ventilated seats. The Accord Hybrid replaced its button-operated gearshift with a traditional lever, simplifying gear selection and offering a convenient hand rest when adjusting HVAC settings.

The frame design of the front seats had been adjusted for better support, providing comfort over long drives. The rear accommodations boasted generous legroom and shoulder room, outperforming direct rivals like the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. However, the tapering roofline impinged on overall headroom, which might inconvenience taller passengers.

Trunk space in the Accord Hybrid was impressive at 16.7 cubic feet, deeper and more accessible due to a low load floor. Bulkier cargo benefitted from this design, making loading and unloading easier.

Every 2022 Honda Civic came with digital instrumentation, with the display panel growing from seven inches to ten inches in the Touring trim. This larger panel offered greater customization and driving environment data, including a Vehicle Activity display that showed when lights, brake lights, and turn signals were on, addressing a common issue of modern cars driving with lights off. The standard infotainment system featured a 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, recessed for stability during use.

The base LX trim came with four stereo speakers, while the Sport and EX trims had eight, though they were unimpressive. In contrast, the Touring trim offered a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium audio system, delivering rich, satisfying sound. The Touring’s infotainment display expanded to 9 inches, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. Despite a slow initial load time, the system performed well, especially the voice recognition technology.

For the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, the non-hybrid model was equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display. The Accord Hybrid upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen with intuitive menus and easy navigation. The Touring trim featured wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless device charging pad, “Hey Google” virtual assistant, Amazon Alexa, a head-up instrument display, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, HD radio, and four USB ports.

In the 2022 Honda Civic, the Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver-assistance systems received significant upgrades. Standard features included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist, all operating more smoothly thanks to a new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors. The Civic also switched from the outdated LaneWatch system to a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. However, blind-spot warning was only available in EX and Touring trims.

The revised vehicle architecture aimed to provide better collision protection, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags included for the first time. Every 2022 Civic also featured a rear-seat reminder system that activated if a rear door was opened before driving.

The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a comprehensive set of active safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, pedestrian and cyclist detection, and a rear-seat reminder as part of the Honda Sensing bundle. The Hybrid Touring added a multi-angle rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, and a head-up instrument display. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were optional across all trims for $550.

Honda upgraded the airbags in the 2023 Accord to a next-generation design and engineered slimmer front A-pillars for better visibility. After early reviews, the Accord Hybrid received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, achieving high scores in crash tests, headlight effectiveness, crash avoidance, and mitigation, as well as child seat compatibility.