2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Toyota Crown

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 also 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 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. Its interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a more mature look.

The 2023 Toyota Crown was a full-size sedan with a footprint similar to the discontinued Toyota Avalon, but it rode four inches higher, giving it a distinctive presence on the road. Its styling was more widely accepted than the old Honda Accord Crosstour or AMC Eagle crossover. The Crown featured a massive grille, mostly aesthetic, with a narrow slit above for actual air inlets, flanked by angular wraparound headlights. The side profile was complemented by large wheels and a black trim piece along the doors. The rear was rounded with a bold taillight strip. The top Platinum trim offered a two-tone color option, adding a unique flair. Inside, the Crown boasted a modern digital instrument panel and a large touchscreen, with a mix of hard plastics and cushioned touchpoints, giving it a near-luxury feel.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options 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, while 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 Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel made it enjoyable to drive, with the Touring trim offering quicker acceleration. Despite its fun driving dynamics, the Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop, falling short of the EPA's 34 mpg estimate.

The 2023 Toyota Crown offered two hybrid powertrains across its XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims. The base powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid electric motor, delivering 236 horsepower and on-demand all-wheel drive. The top Platinum trim featured the Hybrid Max powertrain, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and a more powerful rear electric motor, producing 340 horsepower. The base hybrid used a CVT, while the Hybrid Max had a six-speed automatic transmission. The Crown's ride quality prioritized comfort, with the Platinum trim adding an adaptive suspension. Despite engine noise, the cabin remained quiet, and the Crown's driving experience was enjoyable, though some electronic driver aids were intrusive.

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 for the driver. The Civic's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging, but the back seat offered ample legroom. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost heated rear cushions. The redesigned interior included a new center console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, with a split-folding backseat adding utility.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's base XLE trim featured fabric seat upholstery with SofTex faux-leather trim, while the Limited and Platinum trims offered full leather coverings. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though firm cushioning could cause discomfort over time. The Crown's taller ride height provided a better view of the road, but not as commanding as an SUV. The rear seats offered ample legroom and adequate headroom, with a panoramic sunroof in higher trims enhancing the sense of space. The Crown had a traditional trunk with a capacity of 15.2 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors but still useful.

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 Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The Touring trim also featured a 12-speaker Bose audio system, providing a rich audio experience.

The 2023 Toyota Crown came standard with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and quick responses. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, along with a wireless charging pad. The base audio system had six speakers, while higher trims offered an 11-speaker JBL premium system. The infotainment system supported over-the-air updates and featured a voice-recognition system activated by saying "Hey Toyota." A digital key feature allowed smartphone unlocking, standard on the Platinum trim and optional on the Limited.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also had a new wide-view front camera and ultrasonic sonar sensors. The EX trim included a blind-spot warning system, while the Touring trim added rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2023 Toyota Crown's safety features included frontal and cross-traffic collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitor, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and a rear-seat-passenger reminder. The Platinum trim added a semi-automated parallel parking system. The adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were well-tuned, but some Proactive Driving Assist features were intrusive. Crash test results were not yet available.