2019 Honda Civic vs 2019 Nissan Maxima

The 2019 Honda Civic, while not as stylish as the 2019 Mazda3, still brought its own brand of upscale style. It featured a new gloss-black upper grille, a revised lower bumper, and larger 18-inch wheels. The sedan's silhouette was graceful, with a long hood balancing a sizable cabin and short tail, which had unique wraparound LED lights. The Touring-trim test car came with chrome door handles and LED headlights that looked like hundreds of tiny crystals. For 2019, Honda added a new Sport trim with a center-mounted exhaust and some exterior flash of the performance-oriented Si trim for thousands of dollars less.

The Civic Hatchback, listed as a separate model, had a tall and aggressive rear end, while the Coupe model offered a more balanced alternative. The max-attack Civic Type R, available only in hatchback form, was essentially a race car. Unique paints like lime green or flat bluish gray made the Civic stand out in traffic. The interior maintained a high-tech, yet simplified theme with a central LCD screen for the tachometer and speedometer, a thin center stack with minimal buttons, and clean, linear lines. Despite a starting price under $20,000, the Civic's fit and finish felt high quality.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima's V-shaped designs were more refined and acceptable in 2019, despite minimal changes from previous years. For 2019, Nissan swapped the projector-beam LED headlights for an intricate pattern of reflectors and gave the grille an edgier treatment. The LED taillights were tinted black and featured similar reflector patterns for the turn signals. The Maxima’s concave front fascia, wavy creases along the side, and revolutionary “floating roof” remained unchanged. It was a stylish car even without the sportiest SR trim’s decklid spoiler and black 20-inch rims. Nissan introduced five new wheel designs and added the Sunset Drift paint option.

Inside, all Maxima models received upgraded, softer materials. The SV trim, second up a six-trim ladder, featured contrast stitching on the dash, tight panel gaps, polished black console trim, and minimal use of hard plastic. The top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve trim gained semi-aniline saddle-colored leather with diamond quilting and bronze-colored trim. The all-black interior of the SV trim showed off its quality with lots of padding and upscale textures. The Maxima’s interior was designed to reward drivers with a premium feel every time they sat down.

The 2019 Honda Civic offered a range of engines. The LX and Sport sedans and coupes came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The sedans had a standard 6-speed manual transmission, while the coupe's manual was standard only on the Sport. EX and above trims, like the Touring, received a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hatchback exclusively featured the turbo engine on all trims, making 180 hp in the Hatchback Sport with a standard manual. Front-wheel drive was the only configuration available for all Civic models.

The Si trim boosted the 1.5-liter engine to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R produced 306 hp and 295 lb-ft from a heavily boosted and re-engineered 2.0-liter engine. Both the Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick shift. The turbo engine was recommended for its quicker response and better mid-range acceleration. The CVT was impressive, simulating gear ratios without straining the engine. The Civic's handling, steering feel, and suspension were superb, making it a joy to drive. The brakes were strong and reliable, and the car was set up for sportier drivers while remaining comfortable and safe for daily commutes.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single powertrain: a 3.5-liter V6 producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT. The power was sent to the front wheels, but the Maxima mitigated torque steer effectively. The traction control was well-sorted, providing immediate and smooth thrust without the annoying sound of an engine strained at high revs. The Maxima’s CVT simulated gear ratios well, and the V6 engine was strong and sounded great.

However, the Maxima's mushy brake pedal and numb, over-boosted steering detracted from the driving experience. Sport mode added weight to the steering but little road feel. Despite these issues, the Maxima's powertrain and suspension made it fun to drive. The SR trim had a firmer ride and electronic aids for better handling. Fuel economy was decent for a sedan of its size, with an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 30 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2019 Honda Civic's interior featured a touchscreen with a volume knob and five shortcut buttons, making it easier to use than previous models. The three-spoke steering wheel controlled the central display in the instrument panel, providing quick access to various functions. The rear seat offered optional two-stage heated outboard seats, with passable head- and legroom for long trips. Cargo space was significant, with 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk for sedans (14.7 for the Touring trim), 11.9 to 12.1 cubic feet for the coupe, and up to 46.2 cubic feet for the hatchback with the rear seats folded. The center console offered ample storage, and visibility was good in all directions.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single 8-inch display integrated into the dash, operated by touch or knob. Response times were quick, and shortcut buttons flanked the touchscreen. The climate and heated-seat switches were easily accessible. The Maxima's thick pillars and slim D-pillar compromised sightlines, and the trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space. However, there was enough passenger room in the front and rear, with especially comfortable front seats designed to reduce muscle fatigue. The seating position was geared toward the driver, with a flat-bottom steering wheel and canted center stack.

The 2019 Honda Civic's Android-based infotainment system felt dated compared to newer Honda models. However, it redeemed itself with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo on the Touring trim no longer rattled the back window, and Honda's LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot. The Garmin-based navigation system was a standout, with better graphics and quick, accurate voice-based input.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima received an updated navigation system (except the base S trim), with clearer and more detailed maps. The infotainment home screen could be customized, and another screen showed SiriusXM data. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a high-speed USB-C port. The Maxima was compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering remote services through NissanConnect. The instrument panel screen could display multiple readouts simultaneously. The Bose stereo featured active noise cancellation, but the Maxima lacked ProPilot Assist, a suite of semi-automated driving functions.

The 2019 Honda Civic came standard with Honda Sensing on all trims except the Si and Type R. This included forward-collision alert with emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The IIHS rated various 2016–2018 Civic models with its top Good rating in all six crash tests and Superior for crash-prevention features. The NHTSA awarded the 2019 Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars for the coupe's passenger-side frontal crash rating.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima included more standard safety features, such as forward-emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, while the SR trim included pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. Platinum models added reverse emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the Maxima five stars overall, with four-star ratings for the front-passenger side in a frontal crash and the side-impact pole test. The IIHS named the Maxima a Top Safety Pick, with top Good ratings in all six crash tests and a Superior rating for its emergency braking system.