2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata had evolved significantly from its early days when it closely mimicked the Honda Accord. Over the years, Hyundai refined the Sonata, adding unique design elements and improving quality. The seventh-generation Sonata, redesigned for 2020, featured a distinctive wide grille, rounded front fascia, and sloped rear roofline. Inside, the Sonata offered a functional and spacious cabin with comfortable leather seats in the Limited trim, though the tan upholstery color was not universally appealing. The Sonata N Line added sporty touches like a body kit, gloss black accents, and unique N-brand sport seats, giving it a more aggressive look and feel.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture a significant share of the hatchback market, especially as other automakers phased out their models. The redesigned Civic hatchback, produced in Indiana, shared its front design with the Civic sedan but featured a unique rear. Inside, the Civic hatchback offered a modern and sophisticated cabin with digital instrumentation and high-quality controls. The Sport Touring trim added more advanced features like a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, standard on SE and SEL trims. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Both engines paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sonata N Line stood out with a 290-horsepower, turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission, and sport suspension. All Sonatas were front-wheel drive, and the ride quality was smooth and quiet.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Sport and Sport Touring trims offered a choice between a CVT and a six-speed manual transmission. The Civic hatchback's suspension and steering provided a firm yet comfortable ride, and the brakes were effective, though not suited for repeated hard use. The turbocharged engine delivered a satisfying driving experience, especially with the manual transmission.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's cabin offered 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, classifying it as a "Large Car" by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were among the best in the segment, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults. The 16-cubic-foot trunk was spacious, accommodating a complete set of rolling luggage. The Sonata also featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, allowing the car to drive itself forward or backward with the press of a button on the key fob.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality with a 24.5-cubic-foot trunk and a two-piece cargo shade. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and the EX-L and Sport Touring trims featured black leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata's infotainment system varied by trim level. The base SE trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The Limited trim also included Highway Driving Assist and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, physical knobs, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim added a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic hatchback also included digital instrumentation, with the Sport Touring trim featuring a 10.2-inch display panel.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came equipped with a comprehensive safety package, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Rear Occupant Alert system. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assistance. The Limited trim included a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The Sonata received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings in all six crash tests from the IIHS.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured the Honda Sensing collection of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims added a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning system. The Sport Touring trim with a CVT also included Low-Speed Braking Control. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS.