2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Honda Civic was available in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trims, with prices starting at $21,700 and going up to $28,300, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was also introduced, but the two-door coupe was discontinued. The Civic Touring, priced at $29,690 with destination charges, featured the new Morning Mist Blue paint, adding $395 to the cost. Another model, the Civic Sport, came with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, estimated at $25,880. The redesigned 2022 Civic had a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. The interior aimed for simplicity, featuring a minimalistic control layout and a metal honeycomb mesh across the dashboard to hide air vents. The materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflected a maturity not seen in previous models. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in its seventh generation, included trims like S 500, S 580, Maybach S 580, and Maybach S 680. The S 580e, a plug-in hybrid with 4Matic AWD, was the focus of this review. The S-Class exuded sophistication with clean lines and optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style bumpers and side skirts. The interior offered eight leather upholstery colors and five trim materials, with our tester featuring Sienna Brown and Black leather for an extra $3,110. The panoramic sunroof and superb fit and finish were highlights, along with the soft headrests that made for a luxurious ride.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) with Step Shift programming. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel. However, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA's estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580e combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and an electric motor, offering 56 miles of all-electric range. The car achieved an MPGe of 51 combined, with our test returning 53.9 mpg over nearly 400 miles, 223 of which were electric-only. The powertrain delivered 510 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, allowing the S 580e to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds. The air suspension provided a smooth ride, and rear-wheel steering enhanced maneuverability. The car transitioned seamlessly between electric and gas modes, though there was a slight jerk when downshifting into first gear.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured redesigned front seats offering better support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim. The power driver's seat was heated but not ventilated, and the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The back seat had ample legroom but a slightly reclined backrest angle. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents and heated rear cushions in the Touring trim. The new center console had less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with the Touring trim, which had a smaller trunk due to the premium sound system components. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and armrests. Power sunshades and soft-closing doors added to the luxury. The ambient lighting offered 64 colors, and the Energizing Comfort wellness program combined lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls. The center armrest provided ample storage, but the trunk space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet in the S 580e, compared to 12.9 cubes in the standard S-Class.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with a 10-inch display in the Touring trim offering greater customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display showed the status of the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The 12-speaker Bose audio system in the Touring trim provided a rich audio experience. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class had a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen with the MBUX infotainment system. The system featured a home screen map, natural-language AI assistant, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and augmented reality navigation. The optional head-up display also used augmented reality. The stoplight view feature showed a video of the intersection ahead. The car had wireless charging and USB-C ports, and the standard Burmester sound system provided excellent audio quality.

The 2022 Honda Civic came with the upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The new wide-view front camera and ultrasonic sonar sensors improved the system's performance. The Civic EX and Touring trims had a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, while the LX and Sport trims did not. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new front airbags and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was also standard. The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. The hands-on highway driver-assist system used adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. Crosswind Assist kept the car straight in strong winds, and Speed Limit Assist adjusted the cruising speed based on traffic signs. The S-Class had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.