2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota’s history in the United States spanned over 60 years, with the Camry standing as one of the three most important vehicles in the company’s history. The Camry earned its place as the default family sedan in the mid-1990s and continued to sell in respectable numbers. The 2022 Camry Hybrid, mostly a carryover from the previous year, featured a futuristic and expressive exterior design with a sneering face and muscular features. The interior was similarly futuristic, with a wild dashboard design and a spacious second row that was comfortable even for the middle seat. Toyota’s high level of fit and finish was evident in the Camry Hybrid’s exterior and interior.

Hatchback popularity faded in and out, and with consumers flocking to small crossover SUVs, hatchbacks were on a downward trajectory. However, Honda saw an opportunity with the redesigned 2022 Civic hatchback, which was poised to capture a significant market share. The new Civic hatchback, produced in an Indiana factory, featured a design similar to the Civic sedan from the front doors forward, with unique wheel designs and a different grille pattern. The interior of the Civic hatchback was modern, with sophisticated digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, and a handsome metal honeycomb dashboard detailing that hid the air vents. The Sport Touring trim added more advanced features, making it a more appealing option.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was designed for fuel efficiency rather than track days. The entry-level LE models achieved an impressive EPA-rated fuel economy of 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trim levels got 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. The hybrid system used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors, producing a total system output of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models. The Camry Hybrid handled well, thanks to a lower center of gravity due to the placement of the lithium-ion battery pack. However, keeping the car in EV mode was challenging, and there was occasional droning from the drivetrain.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trim levels featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, with the LX only available with a CVT and the Sport offering a choice between a CVT and a six-speed manual transmission. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims had a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, with peak torque available from 1,700 rpm to 4,500 rpm. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with a variable-ratio electric steering system and a suspension that used MacPherson struts in front and a multi-link independent design in the back. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, and the Sport Touring with the six-speed manual transmission was a favorite among driving enthusiasts. The Civic hatchback handled well, with firm suspension tuning and good steering and brakes, but it was not designed for aggressive driving on winding roads.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and general ease of use. The driving position was comfortable, with ample headroom and multiple storage options for the driver and front passenger. The second row was easy to access and offered a comfortable, roomy space with generous bottle holders and map pockets. The Camry Hybrid had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down second-row seats for oversized cargo. Toyota’s basic warranty covered the Camry Hybrid for three years/36,000 miles, with a powertrain warranty for five years/60,000 miles and a hybrid battery warranty for 10 years/100,000 miles.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was all about function, with a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and an innovative two-piece cargo shade. The back seat was a 60/40-split folding design, offering ample cargo space, though the load floor was not flat. All seating positions were comfortable, with sufficient legroom, but the front passenger seat lacked a seat-height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The driver’s seat had eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats were heated. The Civic hatchback featured black fabric seats in LX and Sport trims, with black leather upholstery in EX-L and Sport Touring trims. Automatic climate control was standard, with a dual-zone system in EX-L and Sport Touring versions.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was loaded with advanced technology features, including a premium audio system tuned by Harman International’s JBL division. The system, available on XLE and XSE models, featured nine speakers and sophisticated algorithms for extracting audio information from compressed digital sources. Embedded navigation was also available on XLE and XSE models, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard on all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE had a 9-inch touchscreen. Other standard features included Toyota’s smart key system, push-button start, automatic LED headlights, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10-inch color head-up display was available on XSE models, along with a bird’s-eye view camera, intelligent clearance sonar with rear cross-traffic braking, and multi-stage ventilated seats.

Every 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback had a new infotainment system. The LX, Sport, and EX-L trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen display with physical power/volume and tuning knobs, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport Touring trim added a 9-inch touchscreen display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 surround-sound audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls addressed a long-standing criticism of recent Honda infotainment systems. The Civic hatchback also featured digital instrumentation, with a 7-inch screen and traditional analog speedometer in lower trims, and a 10.2-inch display panel in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Camry Hybrid also had Toyota’s Star safety system, which included stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Camry Hybrid had 10 airbags, including driver and front passenger advanced airbag systems, side airbags, knee airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and side-curtain airbags. A blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The 2022 Camry Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was expected to receive the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with Honda Sensing, a collection of safety features that included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. New standard features included low-speed following capability and Traffic Jam Assist, available only with the CVT. A blind-spot warning system was available on EX-L and Sport Touring trims, and a rear cross-traffic warning system was available on the Sport Touring trim. All Civics included a rear-seat reminder system, rear seatbelt reminder, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Civic hatchback earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, thanks to its upgraded structure and next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE). However, the driver aids were not entirely transparent, with occasional hard braking and noticeable lane-keeping technologies.