2020 Honda Civic vs 2019 Nissan Maxima

Nissan’s V-shaped designs appeared more refined and acceptable in the 2019 Maxima, despite minimal changes from previous years. The 2019 model featured new projector-beam LED headlights, an edgier grille, and a silver bumper strip beneath enlarged fog-lamp enclosures. The LED taillights were tinted black and had similar reflector patterns for the turn signals, sitting above a revised bumper and quad tailpipes. The Maxima retained its stylish concave front fascia, wavy side creases, and revolutionary “floating roof” design. Inside, all Maxima models received upgraded, softer materials. The SV trim, tested, showcased contrast stitching on the dash, tight panel gaps, polished black console trim, and minimal use of hard plastic. The all-black interior exuded quality with ample padding and upscale textures, rewarding drivers with a premium feel.

The 2020 Honda Civic, a crown jewel in Honda's lineup, offered a sharp design across its three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback. The sedan had a svelte roofline similar to the coupe, with body panel creases and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The Civic hatchback's tall rump was quirky, and the Type R was exaggerated, but the overall exterior was visually stimulating without cheapness. The 2019 model year brought upgraded grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over to 2020. The Civic Si sedan featured new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, standard LED headlights, an updated grille, and a new rear bumper. The 2020 Civic hatchback also received new bumper and light changes, plus new wheels in gray or black. The interior boasted a simple design with soft-touch rubbers, high-quality switchgear, and minimal instrumentation, making it pleasing to the eye.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sent power to the front wheels. Despite the potential for torque steer, the Maxima managed to mitigate it effectively, providing smooth and immediate thrust without the annoying high-rev sound typical of some engines. The CVT simulated gear ratios well, and the V6 engine was strong and pleasant to the ears. However, the Maxima's mushy brake pedal and numb, over-boosted steering detracted from the driving experience. The suspension offered a near-perfect combination of ride quality and nimble response, making the Maxima fun to drive despite its steering and brake shortcomings. Fuel economy was decent, with an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 30 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered four engines and two transmissions across its lineup, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims had a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission or an optional CVT. The EX and above trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine making 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchbacks in Sport or Sport Touring trims making 180 hp. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, while the Type R boasted 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R came exclusively with a stick-shift. The Civic's engines were smooth, quick to rev, and responsive, with the CVT performing well without hesitation. The Si offered a thrilling driving experience with adaptive dampers and a balanced, direct feel. Fuel economy for the Si was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 highway, and 30 combined, while most Civic models with the CVT achieved at least 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima featured a single 8-inch display integrated into the dash, operated by touch or knob, with quick response times and shortcut buttons for various functions. The trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, smaller than some competitors, but passenger room was ample in both the front and rear. The front seats were particularly comfortable for long drives, thanks to Nissan's Zero Gravity seats designed to reduce muscle fatigue. The seating position was driver-oriented with a flat-bottom steering wheel and canted center stack.

The 2020 Honda Civic improved its interior with a volume knob and better cupholders. The hatchback had more sound insulation, and the EX hatchback featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, with easy access to various functions. The center console offered configurable storage with deep bins and sliding cupholders. The Civic felt roomy for rear passengers, though it lacked rear air vents. The trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space in sedan trims, 12 cubic feet in coupes, and 26 cubic feet in hatchbacks, expanding to 46 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima came with an updated navigation system on all trims except the base S. The infotainment home screen was customizable, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. A high-speed USB-C port was available, and the Maxima was compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Remote services through NissanConnect included automatic 911 dialing, stolen-vehicle tracking, and alerts for geofencing and speed. The instrument panel screen could display multiple readouts simultaneously. However, the Maxima lacked ProPilot Assist, Nissan's suite of semi-automated driving functions.

The 2020 Honda Civic featured a 7-inch touchscreen standard on all models except the base LX, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The navigation on top-end trims was Garmin-based with accurate voice recognition. The Civic Si included Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch provided a live feed of the blind spot when the right-hand turn signal was activated. Automatic climate control was standard, and Honda Sensing included active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams. Leather seats were available on the EX-L sedan and hatchback, with rain-sensing wipers on the Touring trim.

The 2019 Nissan Maxima came with standard forward-emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and knee airbags for both driver and front passenger. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control, while the SR trim included pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. Platinum models featured reverse emergency braking. The Maxima received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick.

The 2020 Honda Civic included Honda Sensing with forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Improvements to the optional LED headlights helped the Civic earn the Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R. The Civic received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 4-star rating for the passenger frontal crash on the coupe.