2021 Acura TLX vs 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2021 Acura TLX was a striking, sporty sedan that stood out in a crowded class. Its design featured an assertive stance, highlighted by a steeply raked windshield, a fastback-style roofline, and an integrated tail spoiler. The front of the TLX was bold, with a grille pattern radiating from the central Acura logo, flanked by horizontal "jewel eye" LED headlights. The rear was completed with twin trapezoidal tailpipes. The paint quality was exceptional, and subtle chrome accents and tasteful badging added to its premium appearance. Inside, the TLX offered a "sport sedan cockpit" with high-quality materials like metal, leather, and open-pore wood, all meticulously crafted. The 10.2-inch infotainment screen was strategically placed, giving the interior a cohesive and visually appealing design.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capture the remaining market share for hatchbacks, as many automakers had phased them out. Built in Indiana, the Civic Hatchback was one of the few compact cars still produced in North America. It shared its front design with the Civic sedan but had a unique grille and wheel designs. The rear design attempted to balance the visual weight, though it still appeared somewhat front-heavy. Inside, the Civic Hatchback's Sport Touring trim offered advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment displays, enhancing its modern look. The interior featured metal honeycomb dashboard detailing and high-quality controls, though the CVT shifter operation was slightly less refined.

The 2021 Acura TLX was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. It featured a drive-by-wire throttle system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The TLX came standard with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) in Canada, enhancing its sporty performance. Fuel consumption was estimated at 11.2 L/100 km in the city and 8.0 L/100 km on the highway. The TLX offered various drive modes, including Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience. The Platinum Elite grade added adaptive dampers for a customizable ride. The TLX was praised for its nimble handling and solid feel, with improved torsional stiffness and suspension rigidity.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a choice between a 2.0-litre engine with 158 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine with 180 horsepower. The latter provided peak torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm, making it accessible for most driving situations. The Civic Hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel drive option. The Sport and Sport Touring trims featured a variable-ratio electric steering system and larger brakes. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, while the six-speed manual transmission was praised for its smooth operation. The Civic Hatchback delivered a satisfying driving experience, though it was more focused on comfort than sporty performance. Fuel efficiency was impressive, with real-world testing nearly matching official estimates.

The 2021 Acura TLX's design choices, such as the shift-by-wire transmission, allowed for a more streamlined centre console. The controls were inspired by the NSX and included paddle shifters on the steering wheel. The centre console housed the infotainment interface, cupholders, and storage cubby. The rear seat was comfortable for two adults, with adequate head- and legroom. The front seats offered multiple power adjustments and were available with Ultrasuede or leather. The trunk provided 382 litres of cargo space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for added versatility.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback prioritized functionality, with a trunk offering 693 litres of space and a two-piece cargo shade. The rear seat was 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. The driver’s seat in the Sport Touring trim offered eight-way power adjustment. Heated front seats were standard, with heated rear seats in the Sport Touring. The interior featured a mix of fabric, synthetic leather, and leather upholstery, with automatic climate control and dual-zone systems in higher trims.

The 2021 Acura TLX was packed with technology, including drive-by-wire, shift-by-wire, and SH-AWD systems. The 10-speed automatic transmission featured Grade Logic Control, Shift Hold Control, and Cornering G Shift Control. The TLX offered ambient interior lighting themes and an impressive ELS Studio 3D 17-speaker audio system. The infotainment system included navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Platinum Elite grade added a head-up display and a G-Metre and Turbo Boost Indicator.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch display in the Sport Touring. The latter included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, wireless charging, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Civic addressed previous criticisms by including physical knobs for sound controls and a shelf for touchscreen operation. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a more comprehensive display in the Sport Touring. The voice recognition system was praised for its accuracy.

The 2021 Acura TLX came with driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. It featured a pedestrian injury mitigation design, ACE body structure, and a full complement of airbags. New safety features included a next-generation front-passenger airbag, pedestrian sensing, and traffic-sign recognition. The TLX received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning. New features included low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist. A blind-spot warning system was standard in Canada, with rear cross-traffic warning in the Sport Touring. The Civic featured automatic high-beam headlights and new frontal-impact airbags. It earned a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS. The driver aids were improved but not entirely seamless in operation.