2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2020 Nissan Altima came in various trims, including the base S, sporty SR, SV, SL, and Platinum. The test car was a Platinum model with a turbocharged engine, extra-cost paint, rear spoiler, splash guards, floor and trunk mats, grocery bag hooks, and illuminated doorsill kick plates, totaling $37,825 with destination charges. The Altima Platinum featured 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, enhancing its appearance. The redesign from the previous year improved the car's styling, though some details like the door handles' placement and the body-color lower diffuser panel could have been better. The interior was clean and contemporary, with an ergonomic design, high-mounted touchscreen infotainment system, and clearly legible climate controls. The materials quality was on par with the midsize sedan segment, with matte chrome detailing and simulated wood trim adding a touch of elegance.

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering three body styles: sedan, coupe, and 4-door hatchback. The Civic's design was sharp, with a svelte roofline, body panel creases, and wide, arcing headlights accentuating its low and wide stance. The 2019 model year updates to the grilles, bumpers, and wheels carried over to 2020, with the Civic Si sedan featuring new matte-black 18-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and an updated grille. The interior was simple yet high-quality, with soft-touch rubbers, high-quality switchgear, and pleasing gloss-black trim. The 2020 updates included new dash accents and revised sport seats for the Si, adding to the Civic's visual appeal.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 188 horsepower, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel drive. The test car featured the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the VC-Turbo, producing 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. This engine provided the power of a V6 with the efficiency of a 4-cylinder. The Altima's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to its strut front, multi-link rear suspension, dual-pinion electric steering, and 4-wheel-disc brakes. The car averaged 26.2 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 29 mpg. The Altima's Active Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control technologies contributed to a smooth and responsive driving experience.

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, while the EX and above trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 with 174 horsepower. The Civic Si had a boosted 1.5-liter engine with 205 horsepower, and the Type R boasted 306 horsepower. The Civic's powertrains were smooth and responsive, with the CVT and manual transmissions providing a flawless driving experience. The Si and Type R models offered thrilling performance, with adaptive dampers and precise steering enhancing the driving experience. The Civic Si's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined, slightly lower than previous models due to a shorter final-drive ratio.

The 2020 Nissan Altima's seats were designed for superior comfort, inspired by NASA's weightlessness concept. However, the lack of a front passenger seat height adjuster and ventilated front seats was a drawback. The Altima offered heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a remote engine starter with climate control for cold climates. Rear air conditioning vents were included, but heated rear seats were not available. The car provided substantial in-cabin storage space, though it lacked a wireless smartphone charging pad. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, with optional grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle for convenience.

The 2020 Honda Civic's interior featured a volume knob and better cupholders, with more sound insulation in the hatchback. The EX hatchback had an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The Civic's 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 removable cupholders. The Civic's rear passenger space was roomy, with two-stage heated outboard seats, though it lacked rear air vents. The sedan's trunk provided 15 cubic feet of cargo space, while the coupe had 12 cubic feet. The hatchback offered 26 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 46 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2020 Nissan Altima featured an 8-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, a text-messaging assistant, Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Available features included satellite radio, a navigation system, a 9-speaker Bose premium audio system, and NissanConnect Services. The connected services technology offered various plans, including the Select Plan with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and remote door lock access, and the Premium Plan with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. The door-to-door navigation function was particularly helpful for navigating to final destinations. However, the Altima's voice recognition technology required specific commands for desired results.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was outdated, with a slower interface and complex operation compared to newer Honda models. 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 had Active Sound Control, push-button start, keyless entry, a power moonroof, and heated front seats. LaneWatch, a camera system for the right-side blind spot, was very effective. Automatic climate control was standard, and Honda Sensing included active lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and auto high beams. Leather seats and rain-sensing wipers were available on higher trims.

The 2020 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking standard on the base S trim. Other trims received additional features like pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, and automatic high-beam assistance. Additional safety systems included a driver monitoring system, road-sign recognition, and a surround-view camera. ProPilot Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving aid, was available but proved difficult to trust. The Altima received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.

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.