2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a blend of affordability and engineering excellence typically found in higher-end brands like BMW. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elegant, elongated body with a svelte roofline, while the coupe and hatchback had their own unique, eye-catching elements. The 2019 model year brought updates to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels, which carried over into 2020. The Civic Si sedan and coupe received new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille, among other enhancements. Inside, the Civic boasted a simple yet high-quality interior with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button. The 2020 model year also introduced new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si trim.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as Nissan's flagship sedan, set the tone for the brand's other models with its bold styling elements like a "floating" roofline and "V-Motion" grille. The Maxima distinguished itself with a steeply-angled front end and massive grille, giving it a striking, almost locomotive-like appearance. The 40th Anniversary Edition added a two-tone exterior, model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, and red semi-aniline leather upholstery, among other features. Inside, the Maxima's dark-red leather seats and white gauge faces provided a stylish, 1980s vibe. However, the Maxima's design choices, while bold, were toned down in subsequent models, and it faced competition from equally distinctive models like the Toyota Avalon TRD.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a range of engines and transmissions, all front-wheel drive. The base LX and Sport trims featured 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. Higher trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 engine, producing 174 hp and 162 lb-ft, with the hatchback versions offering 180 hp. The Civic Si and Type R models took performance to another level, with the Si's 1.5-liter engine boosted to 205 hp and 192 lb-ft, and the Type R delivering a staggering 306 hp and 295 lb-ft. The Si and Type R were exclusively available with a manual transmission. The Civic's powertrains were praised for their smoothness and responsiveness, and the Si's adaptive dampers and precise steering made it a joy to drive. Fuel economy was also commendable, with most CVT-equipped models achieving at least 30 mpg city and up to 42 mpg highway.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. While it wasn't a "four-door sports car," the Maxima offered a quick and enjoyable driving experience, with the V6 engine providing a satisfying sound. The CVT was one of the better examples, responding quickly and efficiently. However, the Maxima's handling revealed some limitations, with the steering lacking feel and precision, and the front end showing a lack of grip. Torque steer was also an issue under heavy throttle. Despite these drawbacks, the Maxima was comfortable and quiet during highway cruising, thanks to active noise cancellation and a fairly stiff suspension that still managed to absorb most road imperfections.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a practical and well-thought-out interior. The 2019 updates included a volume knob and better cupholders, while the hatchback received additional sound insulation. The EX hatchback featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Civic's three-spoke steering wheel had controls for the central display and instrument panel, and the center console offered configurable storage options. Rear passengers enjoyed ample space, although the lack of rear air vents was a notable oversight. The trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space in the sedan, 12 cubic feet in the coupe, and up to 46 cubic feet in the hatchback with the rear seats folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized front-seat comfort at the expense of rear-seat space. While front headroom and legroom were generous, rear headroom and legroom were among the worst in its class. The seats were positioned far inboard, creating a cramped feeling despite the ample front space. The Maxima featured Nissan's "Zero Gravity" front seats, designed for optimal support, with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the passenger. However, the center console's proximity to the driver made some controls difficult to reach. The Maxima's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, the smallest in its competitive set.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a slow, graphically dated interface. The 7-inch touchscreen, standard on all models except the base LX, included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top-end trims featured Garmin-based navigation with accurate voice recognition. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, which could be turned off, and came with a 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo. Other features included push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. Honda Sensing, standard on all trims, included active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima's technology showed its age, despite covering the basics. The standard 8-inch touchscreen included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. USB-A and USB-C ports were conveniently located in a cubbyhole. An 11-speaker Bose audio system was available. However, the infotainment system's graphics were dated, and small icons made navigation difficult. The notification sounds were also jarring. Nissan provided plenty of analog controls, including shortcut buttons and knobs for climate control and audio, but the overall experience was less than ideal.

The 2020 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, which included forward collision warning, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for all body styles except the Type R, which wasn't tested. It received the top "Good" rating in all six crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Civic five stars in all categories, except for four stars in the passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Nissan Maxima received an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention tech. However, its headlights were rated "Average." The NHTSA gave the Maxima a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal, side, and rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, a driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system.