2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2019 Toyota Prius

The 2019 Toyota Prius was not typically celebrated for its aesthetic appeal. Its design, characterized by a boomerang-shaped profile and split rear glass, was initially a statement piece for early hybrid adopters. However, by 2019, the Prius's extroverted design seemed to detract from its appeal, despite its practicality as a daily driver. The interior, with its centralized controls and gloss black trim, offered a unique but functional experience, though it required some acclimation, particularly with the transmission controls.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback presented a more refined and slightly tweaked design. With body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, it offered a more cohesive look. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint and glossy black detailing, garnered admiration, even being mistaken for the sportier Type R. Inside, the Civic Hatchback featured quality materials and a quieter cabin, providing a more comfortable and less frenetic driving experience compared to its sportier counterparts.

The 2019 Toyota Prius combined a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor to produce 121 horsepower. The optional AWD-e system added a 5-kilowatt rear electric motor, which affected fuel economy, reducing it to 50 mpg compared to the standard 52 mpg. The Prius offered a smooth ride with decent handling, thanks to its global architecture. It featured a CVT and provided an EV driving mode for speeds under 25 mph. Despite its complex-sounding systems, the Prius was easy to drive, offering a quiet experience in urban settings, though road noise was more noticeable on highways.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with its turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in most trims and 180 horsepower in the Sport and Sport Touring trims. It offered a refined and quiet engine, with a choice between a CVT and a 6-speed manual transmission. The Civic Hatchback provided a softer ride compared to the Civic Si, making it more suitable for daily driving. It achieved 32.7 mpg during testing, slightly above the EPA rating of 32 mpg. While not as performance-focused as the Si, the Civic Hatchback still offered an enjoyable driving experience.

The 2019 Toyota Prius offered a surprisingly roomy interior, with comfortable seating for four adults. The driver's seat had manual height adjustment, but the front passenger seat did not. Rear passengers enjoyed decent legroom, though air conditioning vents were absent. The Prius's hatchback design provided ample cargo space, with up to 65.5 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. However, the SofTex leatherette upholstery could become uncomfortable in hot weather.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, while not as spacious as an SUV, offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the HR-V Touring. The Sport Touring trim featured heated leather front seats, though the passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's center console storage was notably versatile, accommodating large water bottles. Rear seat comfort was good, but the absence of air-conditioning vents and tinted rear glass could lead to discomfort in warm weather.

The 2019 Toyota Prius's infotainment system varied by trim, with the Limited offering a more advanced setup. The XLE AWD-e test car had a basic 6.1-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth and a CD player. The Advanced Technology Package included a head-up display and adaptive headlights but lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Overall, the Prius's technology offerings were underwhelming.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in most trims, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. While lacking a tuning knob and advanced voice recognition, the Civic offered automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock, enhancing convenience and peace of mind.

The 2019 Toyota Prius included the Toyota Safety Sense suite as standard, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Prius received a 5-star safety rating from the federal government and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, though with some limitations in frontal-impact protection.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked a blind-spot monitoring system, relying on LaneWatch for the right-side blind spot. The Civic did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to poor headlight performance, though it excelled in crash-test ratings.