2022 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Honda Civic

In 2022, the Honda Civic came in several familiar trims: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring, with prices starting at $21,700 for the LX and reaching up to $28,300 for the Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was reintroduced, but the once-popular two-door coupe was no longer available. Our primary evaluation vehicle, a Civic Touring, nearly hit the $30,000 mark at $29,690 due to the extra-cost Morning Mist Blue paint priced at $395.

A Civic Sport with an extra-charge Platinum White Pearl paint and the new Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package also caught our attention. This model was estimated at just under $25,880.

The redesigned 2022 Civic embraced a more mature and conservative look, reminiscent of its larger sibling, the Accord sedan. For those who never liked the previous generation’s bold styling, the new design was likely a welcomed change with its refined and grown-up appearance. Inside, Honda pivoted towards simplicity, boasting a minimalistic control layout and intriguing metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard, elegantly hiding the air vents. Particularly in the Touring trim, the improved interior materials reflected a newfound maturity that the previous model lacked.

In contrast, Hyundai's Sonata had its own transformation story. Early Sonatas resembled the Honda Accord so closely that they were often mistaken for each other. Over time, Hyundai infused the Sonata with more flair and individuality, distancing it from its initial imitator status. The 2022 Sonata, part of the seventh-generation redesign launched in 2020, flaunted a distinctive look with a wide grille, rounded front fascia, and a sloped rear roofline. This bold design was certainly polarizing, with some finding it attractive and others not so much.

The Sonata’s interior boasted a spacious, functional cabin for five passengers. While we found everything from the gauge layout to the material quality to be standard for the segment, the leather seats in our Limited trim test car were comfortable and supportive. However, the tan upholstery could appear too orange for some tastes. The sporty Sonata N Line added a wild touch with a body kit, black trim, a rear spoiler, and unique badging. Inside, it sported dark chrome trim, red stitching, and N-branded sport seats with leather bolsters and suede inserts, creating a more aggressive cabin ambiance.

The 2022 Honda Civic was available with two engines, both enhanced versions from the previous generation. The base engine for LX and Sport trims was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. While adequate, it paled compared to the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine offered in EX and Touring trims, which delivered 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. The result was a more satisfying and dynamic driving experience.

Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), each with new Step Shift programming to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds and sensations. Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness and driving enjoyment. Improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel made the 2022 Civic particularly enjoyable to drive. However, during a 95-mile test, the Civic Touring returned only 30.4 mpg, falling short of the EPA’s 34 mpg estimate.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata offered a split personality in terms of performance. The base engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, produced 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, providing a smooth and competent ride. The SEL Plus and Limited trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque.

Then there was the Sonata N Line, an entirely different beast. With a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine churning out 290 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, it was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and sport suspension. This combination made for a thrilling driving experience, reminiscent of Mr. Hyde’s wild side. Though front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard across all trims, all-wheel drive (AWD) was unavailable. The Sonata delivered a smooth town and highway ride, with commendable handling and a quiet, serene cabin.

The 2022 Honda Civic continued its tradition of comfort within the compact car segment. The redesigned front seats in the leather-lined Touring trim offered improved support, and the power-adjustable driver’s seat allowed for perfect positioning. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment and headroom was limited. Though the Civic sat low to the ground, making entry and exit somewhat challenging, the back seat provided generous legroom but its reclined backrest angle may not suit everyone.

Rear passengers had access to two USB ports but no air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lacked heated rear seats. The center console redesign resulted in less storage flexibility but more accessible cupholders and fingerprint-resistant trim. The trunk offered 14.8 cubic feet of space, reduced to 14.4 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system components. Despite this, it could accommodate full-size suitcases and included a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata boasted a cavernous 104.4 cubic feet of passenger space, making it one of the most spacious in the midsize sedan segment and earning it a "Large Car" classification by the EPA. Front-seat headroom and legroom were class-leading, while rear-seat space was adequate for two adults, but a third would feel cramped. The lack of a driveshaft tunnel was a small blessing for the middle rear passenger.

The Sonata's trunk, at 16 cubic feet, was spacious, though slightly smaller than the Honda Accord's 16.7 cubic feet. It could easily hold a three-piece set of rolling luggage with room to spare. A highlight was the Remote Smart Parking Assist, a feature allowing the car to park itself when the driver was outside, which was useful yet more of a party trick than a practical necessity.

Every 2022 Honda Civic came equipped with digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim boasting a 10-inch display panel, offering greater customization and driving environment data. It featured a Vehicle Activity display to indicate the status of the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. The standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and volume and tuning knobs. However, only the Touring trim’s 12-speaker Bose audio system provided a satisfying sound experience. Touring trim also featured a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and an efficient voice recognition system.

In terms of infotainment, the 2022 Hyundai Sonata varied by trim level. The base SE offered an 8-inch touchscreen, six speakers, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto integration, and a USB port. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims, including the SEL Plus, Limited, and N Line, upgraded to a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless device charging, and dynamic voice recognition. The ease of Bluetooth pairing and the Bose system’s superior audio experience were standout features.

The 2022 Honda Civic was equipped with the enhanced Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard features included Traffic Jam Assist, Level 2 adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. A new wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors improved the system’s smoothness and accuracy. While the Civic EX added a proper blind-spot warning system, and the Touring added rear cross-traffic alert, the base LX and Sport trims lacked blind-spot warning, making the EX the optimal choice for younger drivers.

The 2022 Hyundai Sonata came with a comprehensive safety package across all trims. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL trim added blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-centering assistance, while the Limited trim added a blind-spot view monitor, rear park assist, and a surround-view monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Sonata five stars for overall crash protection, while the IIHS gave the structurally similar 2021 Sonata top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention.