2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Acura TLX

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 set to return later in the year, but the two-door coupe was discontinued. The primary evaluation vehicle, a Civic Touring in Morning Mist Blue, had a sticker price of $29,690, including destination charges. Another model, a Civic Sport with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, was estimated at just under $25,880. The redesigned 2022 Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan and had a more conservative appearance compared to the previous model. The interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a more mature look.

The 2022 Acura TLX had a wide and long stance, making it appear larger than its competitors. It was more than three inches wider than the BMW 3 Series, with a nearly three-inch wider track at the rear and almost two inches at the front. The TLX featured thin headlights, a five-sided grille, and large tailpipes, giving it a substantial yet fuss-free appearance. The Type S added exclusive features like Tiger Eye Pearl paint, Performance Red Pearl, and 20-inch Y-spoke gray wheels inspired by the Acura NSX. The interior of the TLX was snug, with impressive detailing and a Scandinavian airport lounge vibe in the upper trims. The Type S models had faux-suede inserts, red stitching, and a flat-bottom steering wheel with real metal shift paddles.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) with new Step Shift programming. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improvements in structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel. The Civic Touring returned 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile driving loop, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 34 mpg. The Civic's predictable and trustworthy demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2022 Acura TLX featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or Super Handling-All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), which improved stability and handling precision. The Type S model had a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine with 355 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque. The TLX's double-wishbone front suspension, adaptive dampers, and SH-AWD system made it balanced and predictable on the track. The Type S had a subdued exhaust note and summer P Zero tires that emitted extra noise on the highway. Fuel economy for the Type S was 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the regular TLX with SH-AWD achieved 21/29/24 mpg.

The 2022 Honda Civic's redesigned front seats offered better support, with the leather-lined Touring trim providing a power driver's seat and heated front seats. The back seat had more legroom than most in the segment, but the backrest angle might feel too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents and heated rear cushions in the Touring trim. The new center console had less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with the Touring trim, with a split-folding backseat adding utility.

The 2022 Acura TLX's interior was tight for four passengers, with decent headroom but limited legroom in the back seat. The front seats were comfortable, with the Type S offering a thigh extension and adjustable side bolsters. The touchpad interface for the infotainment system required acclimation, and the pushbutton gear selector took time to get used to. The climate control was straightforward, and the trunk space was 13.5 cubic feet, smaller than the Honda Civic's. The TLX's double-wishbone suspension took up more space, limiting trunk and cabin space.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel with greater customization and a Vehicle Activity display. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim had a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition technology was significantly improved over the previous generation.

The 2022 Acura TLX had a simple and quick infotainment interface, but the typefaces were small and hard to read. The head-up display was available only with the Advance Package, which also included 360-degree cameras, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The ELS Studio audio system with 17 speakers was included, along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and 12-way heated front seats. The Technology Package linked the climate control to the navigation system and included standard features like "Jewel Eye" LED headlights and a full suite of driver assistance features called AcuraWatch.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also had a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert in the EX and Touring trims. The car's architecture was stronger, with new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A standard rear-seat reminder system was also included.

The 2022 Acura TLX was rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a five-star overall score from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included knee airbags, a unique passenger airbag, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors were included in the Technology Package and higher trims.