2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Which is the better 5-door car?

Torque News has had the pleasure of testing both the Honda Civic Hatchback and Infiiti QX30 recently. We find a lot in common between the two vehicles, but they are marketed differently. We compare and contrast our findings so you can choose which better fits your needs.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Layout & Roominess
Both of our comparison vehicles are five-door hatchback cars. Infiniti advertises its QX30 as a crossover, but it has almost no crossover elements when equipped with its standard 2WD. The Infiniti offers 108 cubic feet of passenger volume and 34 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down. The Civic Hatchback offers 94.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, but a larger 46.2 cubic feet of cargo area with the rear seats folded. Subjectively, the Civic feels roomier inside form the driver's point of view. This is no accident. The Civic has five more inches of front legroom and two inches more shoulder room than the QX30. Both are relatively tight in back and may be considered 2+3 cars more than true five-passengers.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Features & Included Content
Both the QX30 Luxury and the Civic EX-L Navi come with Navigation, Leather seating, Push-Button Start, Dual-ZOne Automatic Climate Control, and heated seats. The Civic adds a power moonroof. At this trim level the QX30 does not offer that feature.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Drivetrains & Fuel Economy
Both the QX30 and the Civic Hatchback use turbocharged engines. The QX30 has a 2.0-liter engine with 208 hp and the Civic uses a 1.5-liter engine with 174 hp. On paper, the QX30 has a decided edge in power. Around town, we feel both are similar. In a sprint, the QX30 would edge the Civic.

The QX30 uses a 7-speed automatic transmission and the Civic a CVT. Having driven both in a variety of situations we prefer the smooth operation of the Civic's CVT. The CVT also offers huge fuel economy advantages. The Civic earns an EPA-Estimated 36 MPG Combined, while the QX30 earns a 27 MPG combined rating. More bad news for the QX30 is that Infiniti recommends Premium Fuel. The EPA estimates that over ten years the QX30 will use a whopping $6,000 more in fuel at today's prices.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Infotainment & Ergonomics
Both the Civic EX-L Navi and QX30 include in-dash navigation. The Civic adds Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and Pandora integration. The QX30 has a six-speaker audio system, the Civic offers eight speakers. Both use a touch-screen with a 7-inch display.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - Safety
The Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi is an IIHS Top Safety Pick-rated vehicle. It offers optional Forward Collision Prevention and automatic Emergency Braking as well as other active safety systems. The QX30 Luxury does not offer active safety systems.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - The Drive
Around town and on back roads, both the QX30 and Civic offer a fun driving experience. Our subjective feeling is that the Civic offers a more comfortable ride and both are composed on the highway.

2018 Infiniti QX30 Luxury vs. Honda Civic Hatchback EX-L Navi - And The Winner Is...
In this matchup, the Civic has many advantages in content and safety, while the QX30 may have an edge in performance. At $27,375 with the optional Honda Sensing Safety technology the Civic undercuts the QX30's $33,595 by over $5,000 at the time of purchase. Factor in the $6,000 in fuel savings the Civic offers over ten years and the value winner is the Civic hands-down. Some buyers may find that the styling of the QX30 and its premium brand cachet may have an intrinsic value that makes it more desirable. Given our analysis, which vehicle do you find better fits your needs?