2022 BMW i4 vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring, with prices starting at $21,700 and reaching up to $28,300, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was set to return, but the two-door coupe was no longer available. The Civic Touring, priced at $29,690 with destination charges, featured the extra-cost Morning Mist Blue paint. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $25,880. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan and adopted a more conservative appearance. Its interior embraced simplicity, with a minimalistic control layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a mature design.

The 2022 BMW i4's styling closely resembled the gasoline 4 Series Gran Coupe, featuring an oversized grille and a four-door sedan design with a rear hatch. The i4 was more aerodynamic than its gasoline counterpart, with a drag coefficient of 0.24 for the base eDrive40 and 0.25 for the M50. BMW achieved this with a smooth underbody, front spoiler, rear diffuser, and an active flap for airflow control. The i4 featured lighter alloy wheels, with 18-inch wheels standard on the eDrive40 and 19-inch on the M50. The battery pack, mounted below the floor, contributed to structural rigidity, while the body shell combined hot-stamped steel and aluminum. The interior balanced minimalism with traditional BMW elements, featuring a freestanding screen and an oversized M Sport steering wheel. Material quality met BMW's standards, though leather upholstery was not standard.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engines: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with Step Shift programming. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel. However, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop. The Civic's predictable demeanor made it a satisfying compact sedan for various driving scenarios.

The 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 had 335 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The M50 model, with a two-motor powertrain, produced 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The i4's battery pack lowered its center of gravity, enhancing handling despite its weight. Both models featured rear air suspension and lift-related shocks, with the M50 adding adaptive M suspension, variable sport steering, and M Sport brakes. The Dynamic Handling Package, available for the eDrive40, improved ride quality and handling. The i4's steering was precise, and the integrated braking system provided natural pedal feel. The adaptive recuperation system adjusted regenerative braking levels, though it lacked consistency for one-pedal driving.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, heated power driver’s seats, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's low seating position made entry and exit challenging, but rear legroom was generous. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents and heated rear cushions in the Touring trim. The redesigned center console offered less storage but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, accommodating full-size suitcases and featuring a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2022 BMW i4's seating position was low despite the battery pack, with limited headroom due to the fastback roof. The i4 offered more rear legroom than the Polestar 2 but less headroom. The interior felt open, with an efficiently designed center console. However, the seats felt flat and hard, lacking bolstering. The wireless charging pad was small, and the steering column was not power adjustable. The i4 had 10 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Polestar 2 or Tesla Model 3. The hatchback design provided a wider opening for cargo, but the i4 lacked a front trunk.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with a 10-inch display in the Touring trim offering customization and a Vehicle Activity display. This display showed headlight and taillight status, addressing the issue of drivers unknowingly turning off automatic headlights. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity, HD radio, satellite radio, and navigation. The Touring trim also featured a 12-speaker Bose audio system, providing a rich audio experience.

The 2022 BMW i4 showcased the iDrive8 infotainment system and BMW Curved Display, combining a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch touchscreen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation, OTA updates, and SiriusXM. Available features included a head-up display, Harman Kardon audio, wireless charging, and 5G connectivity. The user experience was similar to previous iDrive versions, with a rotary controller, menu shortcut buttons, and effective voice recognition, reducing the need for touchscreen use.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced the LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert in the EX and Touring trims. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with improved airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 BMW i4's crash-test ratings were unavailable. Standard driver-assist features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Speed Limit Assist. The optional Driving Assistance Professional Package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, front cross-traffic alert, and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. The Parking Assistant Package included a 360-degree camera, parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, and Parking Assistant with Back-Up Assistant.