2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, a compact car that had undergone a redesign half a decade prior, continued to evolve with subtle styling tweaks. The changes included body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, which collectively enhanced its aesthetic appeal. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint, stood out with glossy black detailing, often mistaken for the more aggressive Type R model. Inside, the Civic offered a mix of stitched leather, soft surfaces, and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The six-speed manual gearbox, previously exclusive to the Sport trim, was now available in the Sport Touring, priced at $28,980. Despite its cost, the Civic Hatchback provided a more affordable alternative to the Type R, with a base MSRP starting at $21,650.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class embraced a design philosophy known as "sensual purity," characterized by fluid, curvier forms. The E-Class featured a more aggressive front with squinted headlights and an inverted trapezoid grille, while the rear design echoed the W212 model with horizontal taillights. The standing hood ornament was no longer available, replaced by a large star emblem in the grille, which was more popular among buyers. The E-Class interior was a showcase of luxury, with rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber accents. The cabin was equipped with two 12-inch screens, a digital display, and new steering wheels with touch-sensitive controls. The E-Class interior was unmatched in its class, offering a lavish and modern experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque varied depending on the transmission, with 162 lb-ft for the CVT and 177 lb-ft for the manual. The Civic Hatchback offered a refined and quiet driving experience, with a softer ride compared to the Civic Si. It was more comfortable for daily use, with a quieter cabin and wider seats. Despite its softer demeanor, the Civic Hatchback was still fun to drive, offering confidence on winding roads. The EPA rated the Civic Hatchback at 32 mpg combined, and it achieved 32.7 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced electrified inline-six powertrains, with the E450 model featuring a hybrid system that provided extra power and torque. The E450's 3.0-liter inline-six engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with additional overboost from the battery. The AMG E53 model added a second turbo, delivering 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. The AMG E63 S, with a hand-built 4.0-liter V8 engine, produced 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque. The E-Class offered a balance of performance and comfort, with variable-rate air suspension and rear-biased AWD. Fuel economy varied, with the E53 sedan rated at 25 mpg combined and the E63 sedan at 18 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered practicality with 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the HR-V Touring. While it couldn't match the HR-V's maximum volume, the Civic Hatchback provided better acceleration and fuel efficiency. The driver's seat was low, but the Sport Touring's heated leather seats offered comfort and support. The center console featured a versatile storage area with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, though passengers lacked air-conditioning vents and tinted glass.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class provided a spacious cabin for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom. The coupe and convertible models offered less rear seat space, while the wagon featured a stowable rear-facing jump seat and more cargo space. The sedan had 13 cubic feet of trunk space, and the two-door models had 10 cubic feet. The E-Class All-Terrain wagon added ground clearance and body cladding. The redesigned infotainment system and touchpads on the steering wheel improved usability, though mastering the dual screens required practice.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. It lacked a tuning knob and advanced voice-recognition technology. Automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock were standard, providing convenience and peace of mind.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced the MBUX system with a touchscreen interface, gesture control, and natural voice processing. The system offered live camera feeds, massaging seats, and seat kinetics. While it didn't support OTA updates, it included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Optional driving assists allowed for limited autonomous driving. The instrument cluster offered customizable displays, providing a modern and interactive experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the system lacked refinement, and the Civic did not have a blind-spot monitoring system. The 2020 Civic Hatchback did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance, but it received top marks for crash-test performance.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the safest cars available, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for the sedan. The E-Class featured innovations like Pre-Safe Sound and side collision protection. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with additional driver-assist features available as options.