Compare the2023 Toyota PriusVS 2023 Honda Civic

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Prius has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Civic doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Prius has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Civic doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Prius Limited offers an optional Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Civic only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prius has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Civic Touring/Sport Touring has a rear cross-path warning system.

The Prius has standard Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Civic doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Prius and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

Warranty

There are over 16 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Prius’ warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Prius is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Prius’ battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Civic’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fifth.

Engine

The Prius’ standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 36 more horsepower (194 vs. 158) than the Civic Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Prius’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (194 vs. 180) than the Civic EX/EX-L/Touring’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The Prius’ optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 16 more horsepower (196 vs. 180) than the Civic EX/EX-L/Touring’s standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Toyota Prius 2.0 is faster than the Honda Civic:

	Prius	Civic Sport	Civic EX/EX-L/Touring
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8.8 sec	7.5 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.1 sec	9.1 sec	8.1 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4 sec	4.3 sec	4 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5 sec	5.7 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.9 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	86 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Prius gets better mileage than the Civic Sedan:

			MPG
Prius
FWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	57 city/56 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	52 city/52 hwy
AWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	53 city/54 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	49 city/50 hwy
Civic Sedan
FWD	Auto	EX 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	33 city/42 hwy
		Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	31 city/38 hwy
		2.0 4-cyl.	30 city/37 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Prius gets better mileage than the Civic Hatchback:

			MPG
Prius
FWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	57 city/56 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	52 city/52 hwy
AWD	Auto	LE 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	53 city/54 hwy
		XLE/Limited 2.0 4-cyl. Hybrid	49 city/50 hwy
Civic Hatchback
FWD	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/37 hwy
		2.0 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
	Auto	EX-L 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	31 city/39 hwy
		Sport Touring 1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	30 city/37 hwy
		2.0 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Prius’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Civic doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Prius uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Civic EX/EX-L/Touring requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Prius AWD-e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Civic:

	Prius AWD-e	Civic
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.1 inches
Rear Rotors	11 inches	10.2 inches

The Prius stops shorter than the Civic:

	Prius	Civic
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prius XLE/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The Civic’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Prius Limited handles at .87 G’s, while the Civic Touring Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Prius LE’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Civic EX/EX-L’s (34.4 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Prius XLE/Limited’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Civic Sport/Touring’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Prius uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Civic doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Prius has .9 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room and 2.8 inches more rear hip room than the Civic.

Cargo Capacity

The Prius has a much larger trunk than the Civic Sedan (23.8 vs. 14.8 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Prius’ hatch uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the cargo area. The Civic’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Prius’ standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Civic Sport Sedan’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Prius Limited has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Civic doesn’t offer a power trunk.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Prius Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Civic doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Prius Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Civic doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Prius and the Civic have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Prius is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Civic prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Prius’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Civic’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Prius the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Civic can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Prius LE’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Civic Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

The Prius’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Civic EX/EX-L/Touring/Sport Touring.

Both the Prius and the Civic offer available heated front seats. The Prius Limited also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Civic.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Prius Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Civic doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Prius XLE/Limited’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Civic doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Prius’ optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Civic doesn’t offer an automated parking system.