2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 model year brought familiar trim levels for the Honda Civic sedan: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. Prices ranged from $21,700 for the base LX up to $28,300 for the top-of-the-line Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. Honda reintroduced a five-door Civic hatchback later in the year but discontinued the two-door coupe. The specific test vehicle was a Civic Touring in Morning Mist Blue, upping the sticker price to $29,690, including destination charges.

Additionally, a brief evaluation of a Civic Sport model showcased Honda's Performance Development (HPD) appearance package and extra-cost Platinum White Pearl paint, pushing the price to around $25,880. The redesign made the new Civic resemble the larger, longer-wheelbase Accord, offering a more mature and conservative look compared to the previous year. It shed its styling quirks for a tailored, refined appearance.

Internally, Honda aimed for simplicity reminiscent of classic Civics, reflected in a minimalistic design and a span of metal honeycomb mesh elegantly hiding the air vents. Interior materials saw a notable upgrade, emphasizing a maturity previously absent in the Civic, especially in the Touring trim.

By contrast, six years since the eighth-generation Toyota Camry launched in 2018, familiarity with its styling seemed to grow, partly due to fresh design elements like the 2023 lineup's Reservoir Blue paint and the Nightshade Edition’s matte-bronze 19-inch wheels. The Nightshade Edition was exclusive to SE trim, available with the traditional 2.5-liter four-cylinder or hybrid configuration, and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or, for non-hybrid models, all-wheel drive (AWD). It featured black accents like headlight and taillight trims, TRD mesh grille, and black badges. Available in Reservoir Blue, Ice Cap, or Midnight Black, any color imparted a striking aesthetic to the car.

However, inside, the Camry's slightly dated SE-spec interior persisted, offered by Toyota for over half a decade. Though Toyota claimed the Camry Hybrid had impeccable fit and finish, the reality included cheap-looking plastic materials. The trunk and door closures also felt insubstantial, adding to a generally shoddy impression due to substantial road noise and mediocre interior components. Starting prices for the new Camry Hybrid hovered just over $29,000, reaching closer to $35,000 with top-level trims and options.

The Camry SE Hybrid Nightshade Edition was priced lower, at $32,983 with destination, including upgrades like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto-dimming mirrors, and all-weather floor liners.

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan featured two improved engines for that year, while sport-tuned Civic Si and Type R models were expected to return. LX and Sport trims offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, satisfying but slightly underpowered compared to the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine available in EX and Touring trims. The turbocharged variant offered 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque across a broad rev range.

Both engines came with continuously variable transmissions (CVT), distinct for each type but incorporating new Step Shift programming to replicate a more traditional automatic transmission feel. Sporting the Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness and matching the lively ride and handling. Structural rigidity improvements and revised four-wheel independent suspension tuning brought fun driving experiences without sacrificing ride quality. Despite the Civic Touring's impressive handling, a 95-mile loop returned 30.4 mpg—below the EPA estimated 34 mpg.

The joy of driving the Civic stemmed from its consistent and predictable performance, making it a trusted companion in all driving scenarios.

In the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid, buyers had three powertrain choices: a popular 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 202 to 206 horsepower (depending on FWD or AWD), a 301-hp 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid setup in the test vehicle. The hybrid used a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine paired with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, delivering a net output of 208 horsepower and simulating a CVT.

The hybrid system featured six programmed ratios and paddle shifters in sporty Hybrid SE and Hybrid XSE trims, with driving modes including Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport. Eco mode had an Auto Glide Control feature for gas savings. Yet, real-world fuel economy proved disappointing—falling short of the 46 mpg EPA rating, with an actual average of 33.4 mpg.

Costing $2,130 more than the standard powertrain, the Camry Hybrid's value in fuel savings required careful driving. However, performance was solid, with the hybrid’s electric assist providing strong acceleration and well-isolated drivetrain noise. Regenerative braking felt natural, and the sport suspension delivered decent handling with comfortable ride quality.

Nonetheless, the Camry Hybrid SE Nightshade’s stability control could be overly sensitive during spirited driving, indicating an inherent cautiousness in design. Though not as delightful to drive as a Honda Accord, the Camry Hybrid SE Nightshade still provided an enjoyable experience, barring the fuel efficiency woes.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering improved support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim. The power driver’s seat ensured a perfect driving position with heated but non-ventilated seats. Conversely, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment but was compensated by excellent thigh support.

Despite the low-sitting position making entry and exit challenging, the rear seat provided commendable legroom and thigh support. However, the backrest’s reclination might not suit everyone. Rear passengers had USB charging ports but no dedicated air conditioning vents—a notable lapse. Touring trim also saw the elimination of heated rear seats.

The new center console traded previous flexibility for a more conventional layout, resulting in reduced storage space but improved usability. Trunk capacity remained generous, with 14.8 cubic feet (or 14.4 cubes for Touring due to premium sound system components). Full-size suitcases fit comfortably, aided by a split-folding backseat for additional utility.

For the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid, simplicity and durability characterized its interior, with user-friendly controls. Most models had dual-zone automatic climate control, and depending on the trim, offered heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

The test vehicle featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a manually adjustable but height-adjustable passenger seat. The driver’s seat was comfortable for long drives, with an ergonomic steering wheel. SofTex artificial leather and durable fabric seat inserts were used, though SofTex didn’t feel very soft.

Rear passengers experienced adequate comfort, albeit with limited space compared to competitors like the Honda Accord. Lack of rear air conditioning vents was a downside, particularly on warm days. The Camry provided decent cabin storage, though many areas lacked lining, increasing potential rattles.

Trunk space was 15.1 cubic feet, slightly below midsize sedan class standards and significantly less than an Accord. Still, practicality was upheld with the ability to fit full-size suitcases on their sides, though the lack of an interior handle meant occasionally dirty fingertips from closing the lid.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured 7-inch digital instrumentation on base models, expanded to 10 inches in the Touring trim. The larger display allowed better customization and included a Vehicle Activity display to inform drivers about headlight, taillight, brake light, and turn signal statuses—mitigating the common issue of driving without proper lights at night.

Infotainment variations ranged from a standard 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integrated into the dashboard for stability, to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless versions, HD radio, satellite radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging in Touring. A significant upgrade was the 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound audio system in the Touring trim, offering rich sound due to early Bose collaboration in the car’s design. Despite a slow load time at start-up, the system excelled with advanced voice recognition technology.

In comparison, the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid offered 7-inch or 9-inch touchscreen displays, both compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM satellite radio and several connected service plans like Safety Connect and Remote Connect were available. The larger 9-inch system facilitated connected navigation and a 9-speaker JBL premium sound system option.

The test car had the basic 7-inch setup with straightforward physical knobs and buttons, although protruding knobs would have improved usability. Voice recognition had mixed success, capable of tuning to specific SiriusXM stations but failing generalized requests. Additionally, an available 7-inch driver information center and 10-inch head-up display enriched the driver’s experience, though they were absent in the test model.

The 2022 Honda Civic’s upgraded Honda Sensing suite offered an impressive lineup of standard features, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control (Level 2), forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and improved Lane Keeping Assist. With a new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors, the system’s accuracy and refinement were significantly enhanced. The Civic also transitioned from the LaneWatch system to a proper blind-spot warning system in upper trims, with rear cross-traffic alert in the Touring.

The car's structure was fortified for better collision protection, featuring new front and rear side-impact airbags and a standard rear-seat reminder system. However, blind-spot warning was not standard on LX and Sport trims, which were more likely to attract younger, less experienced drivers, creating a glaring safety gap.

Toyota equipped the 2023 Camry Hybrid with standard features like 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This system included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure and lane-keeping aids, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and Intersection Support. Optional features were blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Nevertheless, TSS 2.5 lacked the smoothness and refinement found in more advanced systems. Adaptive cruise control over-braked in tight curves, and lane-keeping aids struggled with road variations and freeway exits, resulting in a less subtle driving experience. Crash-test ratings remained strong, with NHTSA awarding five-star ratings across the board. The Camry Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for 2022, though future evaluations threatened changes with a Poor rating in the updated side-impact crash test.