2023 Honda Accord vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic arrived with a familiar but refreshed presence in the auto market. Available in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trim levels, it ranged in price from $21,700 for the Civic LX to $28,300 for the Civic Touring, not including a $995 destination charge. A standout introduction was the new five-door hatchback, though the nostalgic two-door coupe was phased out.

Our detailed examination primarily involved a Civic Touring adorned in extra-cost Morning Mist Blue, bringing its total price to $29,690 with destination charges included. A brief evaluation of a Civic Sport with the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package and Platinum White Pearl paint estimated its price at just under $25,880.

At first glance, the redesigned 2022 Civic noticeably borrowed design cues from its larger sibling, the Accord sedan, becoming more conservative compared to its predecessor. For fans of the flashy, angular previous model, the new Civic might have seemed dull. In contrast, those who found the old Civic’s style too brash would have appreciated its more mature, tailored look.

Inside, Honda aimed for simplicity reminiscent of earlier Civics. This was evident in a minimalistic control layout complemented by a sophisticated metal honeycomb mesh spanning the dashboard, cleverly concealing the air vents. The redesigned interior materials, particularly in the Touring trim, manifested a level of maturity lacking in the previous generation.

In comparison, the 2023 Honda Accord embraced a more modern yet conservative aesthetic. The hybrid powertrain became standard for most trim levels, with only the base LX and step-up EX retaining a gas-only engine. Prices started at $27,295 for the Accord LX and $29,060 for the EX, with a destination charge of $1,095.

Our test Accord EX, priced at $30,705 with an optional safety package, featured Canyon River Blue paint which garnered compliments. Notably, the modernized appearance did away with much of the previous model’s chrome trim, opting for a more technical look. The EX trim offered a balanced aesthetic with a pewter wheel finish, standing between the sparkly silver wheels of the LX and the black wheels found on other trims.

Inside, the Accord EX boasted durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and stylish metal mesh dashboard trim integrated with the air conditioning vents. The digital instrumentation paired well with a touchscreen infotainment system, and the overall refinement reflected Honda’s meticulous attention to detail.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine choices in its redesigned sedan lineup, with sport-tuned Civic Si and Civic Type R models set to join later. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in LX and Sport trims delivered 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. While adequate, it paled in comparison to the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder available in EX and Touring trims. This engine, more powerful for 2022, produced 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque over a broad rev range from 1,700 rpm to 4,500 rpm, providing a compelling blend of performance and efficiency.

Both engines paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), though Honda used different CVTs for each. New Step Shift programming helped mimic traditional automatic transmissions' sound and feel, making the CVTs largely unobtrusive. The Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode to enhance responsiveness, paired with the Civic’s improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning, resulting in an engaging ride without compromising comfort. However, the Civic Touring returned only 30.4 mpg compared to the EPA estimate of 34 mpg, likely due to the fun driving experience.

In stark comparison, the 2023 Honda Accord LX and EX were equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. This engine, a carryover from the previous generation with slight refinements, included remote engine starting and an automatic start/stop system.

Though the discontinuation of the larger 2.0T engine meant the smaller turbo four was no longer a compromise, its performance proved merely adequate for the 3,280-pound EX. The CVT, while functional, replicated traditional automatic sensations under hard acceleration through programmed ratio changes, albeit less than convincingly.

The Accord’s MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension managed its front-heavy weight distribution well, and the dual-pinion, variable-ratio steering system provided good responsiveness and road feel. Ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes contributed to the car’s robust handling. Despite an average return of 28.7 mpg on our evaluation route, likely affected by extreme heat and continuous air conditioning use, better fuel economy would be expected under normal circumstances.

Driving in urban settings revealed the Accord’s ease of use, supported by excellent outward visibility and nimble handling. However, some CVT drone during highway acceleration remained noticeable. On twisty roads, the Accord’s dynamic tuning inspired confidence, though the tires showed limitations under stress. The Accord EX’s braking system performed admirably even under duress, a notable improvement over previous experiences with Honda brakes.

Comfort was a key strength of the 2022 Honda Civic, enhanced by redesigned front seats offering improved support. The Touring trim’s leather-lined, power-adjustable driver’s seat allowed for an ideal driving position, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. Low ground clearance posed entry and exit challenges for some, but rear legroom mitigated this issue somewhat, offering good thigh support despite a potentially too-reclined backrest angle. However, the absence of rear air conditioning vents and heated seats in Touring trim marked a disappointing omission.

The redesigned center console offered less storage flexibility but more accessible cupholders and fingerprint-resistant trim. The trunk provided 14.8 cubic feet of space, or 14.4 cubes in the Touring trim due to sound system components, with enough room for full-size suitcases and a split-folding backseat for added utility.

In comparison, the 2023 Honda Accord EX added several amenities over the LX trim, including heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Surprisingly, the EX also included a power sunroof, though it lacked height-adjustable front passenger seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB ports, which detracted from overall convenience.

Rear-seat passengers benefited from ample legroom and good thigh support, with easy ingress and egress. The trunk offered a significant 16.7 cubic-foot capacity, with self-opening lid for easy loading and a handle to close it, making it one of the standout features in the Accord’s functional design.

The 2022 Honda Civic incorporated advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment systems. The Touring trim featured a sophisticated 10-inch display offering customization and driving data, including a Vehicle Activity display that ensured drivers knew when their car lights were active, addressing a common safety concern.

Standard infotainment included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the screen recessed into the dashboard for better usability. While the LX had only four speakers, and the Sport and EX trims doubled this without impressing, the Touring’s 12-speaker Bose audio system offered a superior experience.

Touring also brought a larger 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone charging, alongside HD and satellite radio, and a navigation system. Despite slow initial load times, the system performed well, especially in voice recognition.

For the 2023 Honda Accord, standard tech in LX and EX trims included a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While these sizes were modest by contemporary standards, they offered adequate functionality. The infotainment suite included Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text-messaging support, HondaLink services, and two USB-C ports. The EX came with an eight-speaker audio system, though the lack of SiriusXM necessitated streaming alternatives like Pandora via Apple CarPlay.

While the physical controls and main function buttons on the infotainment system were generally user-friendly, the misidentified tuning knob proved a small but notable misstep.

The 2022 Honda Civic’s suite of Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) was notably enhanced with Traffic Jam Assist for adaptive cruise control, a forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The system’s new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sensors provided improved performance. Additionally, the Civic replaced the outdated LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning for EX and Touring trims, complete with rear cross-traffic alert for the latter.

Furthermore, the new vehicle architecture offered better collision protection, including new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A standard rear-seat reminder system further bolstered passenger safety.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda Accord also featured the Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features like a reversing camera with three views, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, and a driver monitoring system were standard. An optional $550 safety package for the EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Accord’s ADAS systems generally performed well, with clear communication of system status through graphics and headlight status displays. However, slight uncertainties on curves and a preference for a steering wheel vibration over lane-departure warning wobbles indicated room for improvement.