2026 BMW 3 Series vs 2026 Honda Civic
The Honda Civic wins clearly, 89.2 to 60.9, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety.
2026 BMW 3 Series
The 2026 BMW 3 Series is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 330i Sedan, is EPA-rated at…
2026 Honda Civic
The 2026 Honda Civic is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Civic 4Dr, is EPA-ra…
2026 Honda Civic
Clear winThe Honda Civic wins clearly, 89.2 to 60.9, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety.
| Category · weight | 2026 BMW 3 Seriesoverall 60.9 | 2026 Honda Civicoverall 89.2 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 32.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 51.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 90.2 | 84.9 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 91.7 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 41.3 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 16.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 60.9 | 89.2 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
BMW 3 Series: base trim M340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD · Honda Civic: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Honda Civic wins
- It lists 28 standard driver-assist features against 6.
- It starts $50,505 lower ($24,695 against $75,200 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (30 points against 5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 29 filed with NHTSA).
- It turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 133.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
47 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $75,200 | $24,695 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,998 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo with 48-volt mild hybrid | Atkinson In-Line 4-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 386 hp | 150 hp |
| Torque | 398 lb-ft | 133 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 32 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 36 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 41 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.81 | 3.941 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | 8-speed STEPTRONIC | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.1 in | — |
| Overall height | 56.7 in | 55.7 in |
| Overall length | 186 in | 185 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 70.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 112 in | 108 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 16.9 cu-ft | 14.8 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 99 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 39.3 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 37.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 42.3 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 37.4 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,008 lbs | 2,875 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,008 lbs | 2,875 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | — | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS) with Servotronic function | Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.7 ft | 36.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 282 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electric |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 259 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | — | Full Covers |
| Wheel width | 8 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 225/40 R19 | 215/55R16 93H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.6 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | HondaLink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 57 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 56 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
94 features · differences first, then sharedSafety32 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Surround View with 3D View | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Advanced Front Airbags (SRS) | — | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Front Side Airbags | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | — | std |
| Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | — | std |
| Active Park Distance Control | std | — |
| Active Park Distance Control | std | — |
| Rear Outboard Passenger's Side Airbags | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | — | std |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | — | std |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Knee Airbags (SRS) | — | std |
| Electric Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold | — | std |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row Outboard), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All) | — | std |
| Parking Assistance Package | std | — |
| Parking Assistant Plus | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder (RSR) | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat-Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) | — | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 160-watt Audio System with 4 Speakers | — | std |
| 7-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 7-Inch TFT Meter | — | std |
| Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® | — | std |
| Bluetooth® Streaming Audio | — | std |
| BMW Curved Display with Head-Up Display | std | — |
| Harman Kardon Surround Sound System | std | — |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| Premium Package | std | — |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| USB-C 3.0A Charging Port (1) Front Seats | — | std |
| USB-C 3.0A Smartphone/Audio Interface (1) - Front Seats | — | std |
Convenience7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | — | std |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Honda Maintenance Program 1yr / 12k miles | — | std |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door Locks | — | std |
| Security System with Remote Entry and Trunk Release | — | std |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up/Down Driver's and Front Passenger's Windows | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Climate Control System | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Person Seating Capacity | — | std |
| Leather-Trimmed Seats | std | — |
| One Piece Fold-Down Rear Seatback | — | std |
Interior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Fiber Interior Trim | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light | — | std |
| Center Console Armrest with Storage Compartment | — | std |
| Front Beverage Holders | — | std |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Map Lights | — | std |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Floor Mats | — | std |
Exterior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 19-inch M Dual-spoke Bicolor Black 792M wheels | std | — |
| Adaptive Full LED Lights | std | — |
| All-Season Runflat Tires | std | — |
| BMW Individual Paint | std | — |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Extended Shadowline Trim | std | — |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off | — | std |
| M Performance Exhaust | std | — |
| M Performance Rear Spoiler in Carbon Fiber | std | — |
| M Shadowline Lights | std | — |
| M Sport Package Professional | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Shadowline Package | std | — |
| Two-Speed Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | — | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| 8-speed Steptronic transmission | std | — |
| Continuously Variable Transmission | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| TwinPower Turbo and 48-volt mild hybrid technology | std | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| M Sport Brakes | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPBMW 3 Series
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Honda Civic
Top recalls
- high Steering 24V744000 · 1,693,199 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| BMW 3 SeriesM340i xDrive 50 Jahre Edition AWD | Honda CivicLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $75,200 (base trim) | $24,695 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $75,200 1 trims | $24,695 – $32,395 4 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | 330i xDrive Sedan | Civic 4Dr |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 29 | 49 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,850 | $1,350 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Honda Civic?
The Honda Civic wins clearly, 89.2 to 60.9, on price, tech & comfort, fuel & range. The BMW 3 Series is ahead on performance and safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Honda Civic scores 89.2 and the 2026 BMW 3 Series 60.9. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Honda Civic?
The 2026 Honda Civic starts lower — $24,695 against $75,200, a gap of $50,505 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 BMW 3 Series or the 2026 Honda Civic?
2026 BMW 3 Series: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 2026 Honda Civic: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 BMW 3 Series and the 2026 Honda Civic?
Where the 2026 Honda Civic wins: it lists 28 standard driver-assist features against 6, starts $50,505 lower ($24,695 against $75,200 base MSRP), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (30 points against 5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 BMW 3 Series answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 29 filed with NHTSA) and turns out 398 lb-ft of torque against 133. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.