2022 Honda Civic vs Accord

Sedans might seem like a thing of the past, but Honda proves that they are still very much needed. Single folks, those without kids, or those with small families might want to avoid going for a fuel-consuming SUV and stick with a sedan instead. The 2022 Honda Civic and 2022 Honda Accord are two such standouts in the sedan segment with size being their one key difference. But which one is the better buy?

The 2022 Honda Civic has been redesigned for the model year, thus marking its entry into the 11th generation. After 50-plus years on the market, the Civic is showing no signs of slowing down in terms of popularity. The new Civic is a little more conventional than its predecessor, but it seems more refined and upscale, thus suiting a lot of buyers.

There is a wireless charging pad on the Touring and Si trim levels, as well as a 9-inch touchscreen display and a digital instrumentation panel. Sedan and hatchback styles are both available for the body, and you do get quicker acceleration from the base 4-cylinder engine.

The 2022 Accord lets you select between a few different engines that blend power and fuel efficiency. This sedan's sporty handling makes for an entirely engaging drive for the segment, plus there are numerous advanced driver aids that come standard and will help keep you safe on the road. On top of all that, some seriously high-end materials deck out the spaciously designed cabin, creating an air of luxury as you go up the trim level ladder.

Of course, the Accord isn't perfect. The Accord's cabin isn't as well muted from sound as other mid-size sedans, and the driver's seat's low-set position makes it troublesome for some folks to enter and exit the vehicle.

Size and Styling

The 2022 Honda Civic is smaller than the Accord and is considered a small sedan - or hatchback, if you opt for that body style. Inside, there are supportive front seats, and the available leather upholstery is breathable so as to keep you cool on hot days. It is worth noting here that the seats lack adjustable lumbar support, which might be an issue for people with lower back pain.

Overall, the Civic's cabin is attractively designed. Its primary controls are placed within the driver's reach and are easy to figure out. The cabin is quite spacious, as the front seats can comfortably accommodate taller folks and the rear seats are suitable for average-sized adults. The legroom in the back is indeed spacious, and head space is also pretty decent.

Outward visibility is clear enough as it is assisted by the thin front roof pillars and door-mounted side-view mirrors. This design frees up your forward view. The back window is on the shorter side, but there is a standard multi-angle rearview camera that lets you see whatever is behind you while you are backing out of a parking spot.

As for the 2022 Honda Accord, this mid-size sedan seats five comfortable and offers an attractive cabin layout. The Accord's interior has a modern design to it, complete with some high quality soft-touch materials. There is plenty of room fore and aft, and the easy-to-use infotainment system and control layout is welcoming. There are plenty of physical buttons, although the steering wheel controls aren't as intuitively laid out; they require some time to get used to.

The cabin is open and inviting. However, taller drivers will probably need to adjust their seats because their knees might bump up against some of the vehicle's hard plastics. The wide and tall doorsills take away from ease of entrance and exit from the Accord. There is an absolute abundance of leg space, although taller folks will find themselves needing to duck to get in and sit down.

Drivability

Sedans should feel secure in their handling and provide an overall sense of stability - and that is what both of these vehicles do. The 2022 Honda Civic's available turbocharged engine can get from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds, which is slightly quicker than average for this segment. Off the line, it might feel a tiny bit sluggish, but its power builds up as you go so that you don't feel like you have to floor it like you do on the base 4-cylinder engine. The Civic's continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is well-tuned, providing the vehicle with ample and uninterrupted power. When you need it, the CVT can quickly deliver some power.

The Civic remains composed and even sporty, creating confidence in the driver and even making the drive somewhat engaging. The tires do make a fair bit of noise, but they grip the road surface quite well. The solid brakes aid in this, too. The new Civic is easy-going and doesn't require much effort from the driver, which is what small sedan buyers are looking for.

Now, with the 2022 Honda Accord, there is a high degree of comfort packed into the design. The adaptive suspension and 19-inch wheels on the Touring trim level will not really improve the ride quality though, and the adaptive shock absorbers aren't the most helpful. The regular suspension, shock absorbers, and smaller wheels should suffice though. You will hear some tire noise on the highway, but the cabin otherwise remains insulated from exterior noise.

The 2022 Honda Accord's standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine generates a power output of 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. Matched up to a CVT that deliver power to the front wheels, you get a good amount of power delivery. The Sport 2.0T and Touring trims get their power from a turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder that serves 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. and gets paired with a traditional 10-speed automatic transmission. There is also a hybrid option if you wish to go that route.

The base powertrain gets the Accord from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8 seconds flat - a time that is typical for the segment. However, the available 2.0-L turbo engine gets the Accord moving more swiftly. You get a speedy response to all of your inputs. The CVT tries to lower engine rpms as much as it can to conserve fuel, but it smoothly transmits power to the wheels exactly when you need it. Braking and cornering feel secure. While steering doesn't provide much feedback, it is well weighted for the driver's hands and feels pretty accurate.

Comfort, Options and Performance

Comfort is paramount inside of a Honda. The 2022 Honda Civic's suspension is adept at smoothing out bumps you roll over in the road. While the ride isn't quite as comfortable as some other small sedans, the Civic's sporty handling makes for a nice bonus.

The redesigned climate control system has a new layout that marks a vast improvement over what you got on the previous generation. Vents abound, making for plenty of airflow throughout the cabin. You will hear road noise at just about any speed; it can sound somewhat rough when you're driving on coarse surfaces. More subdued, however, is the wind noise. The rest of the Civic's interior feels well built, and there are no noticeable vibrations.

The Civic doesn't leave too many stand-alone options or packages. The Touring trim levels adds on features like the wireless charging pad, 9-inch touchscreen display, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, USB charge-only ports for the rear, and low-speed automatic braking. The Si trim level has bigger brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and added bolstering on the front sport seats. All around, the Si is designed to be the sportiest trim in the line-up.

The 2022 Honda Accord is cozy and quiet with a cabin that offers occupants plenty of spinal support. It is easy to find a good seating position, but the seat bottoms don't have much padding. The automatic climate control system sends out airflow with simplicity and has sensible controls.

Thee interior is cleverly laid out. The materials appear are made from high quality materials and are pieced together well with no obvious paneling gaps or odd rattling sounds. There are many physical controls for primary functions, and the buttons and knobs are user-friendly. Steering wheel mounted controls aren't as easy to use, but along the dash, they function well enough. There isn't much head room in the rear since the sloping roofline detracts from it. Legroom is spacious, with the front seats offering a ton of room.

Safety

Honda likes to go big on safety, as evidenced by their lengthy list of standard driver aids. The base trim is outfitted with forward collision mitigation (which warns you of a potential oncoming crash and applies the brakes if it senses you won't be able to),
lane keeping assist (which steers the Civic back into its lane if it starts to drift over the lane marker into the next lane over), adaptive cruise control (which adjusts the Civic's speed to keep a consistent distance between the Civic and the vehicle driving in front of it), a traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor (which sends out an alert if its sensors think you're becoming too drowsy or distracted). The EX/EX-L adds a blind spot monitor, and the Touring/Sport Touring come with front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and low-speed automatic braking.

The Accord comes with a similar setup. Forward collision mitigation, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control are standard issue on the base LX trim level. The EX-L adds a blind spot monitor and parking sensors for the front and rear of the vehicle. On the line-topping Touring, you get low-speed anti-collision braking.

Again, Honda does not give buyers too many options left over as stand-alones or even in packages. What you get are a lot of standard additions as you move up in trim levels. The Sport adds paddles shifters, special seat upholstery, charging ports for the rear seats, and an 8-speaker sound system. The Sport SE gives you heated front seats and leather upholstery. The EX-L adds a wireless charging pad, 10-speaker premium sound system, and wireless smartphone app integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A sunroof adorns the Sport 2.0T, and the Touring gets a navigation system, WIFI hot-spot connectivity, and a head-up display.

Which Model to Choose?

Both the 2022 Honda Civic and Honda Accord are strong contenders in their respective segments. While the Accord offers plenty of space, the Civic does not feel that much smaller. The recently overhauled Civic feels entirely modern and more refined than the outgoing generation. You get most of the same features on these two models, but the Civic has a slightly sportier vibe to it. Which one you choose will probably boil down to how much leg room you really need and how much trunk space you'd like to utilize. Either way, you cannot go wrong with the Civic or Accord.