2021 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Altima

The 2020 Nissan Altima, available in trim levels from the base S to the luxurious Platinum, stood out with its stylish design and numerous features. The test vehicle was the Platinum model with a total cost of $37,825, including destination charges. It boasted 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels, significantly enhancing its visual appeal. The previous year’s redesign had positively impacted the Altima, though some aesthetic details, like the uneven door handle alignment and the black trim on rear roof pillars, received mixed reviews.

Inside, the Altima was designed for simplicity and modernity. The high-placed touchscreen infotainment system and traditional transmission shifter meant everything was user-friendly without needing a manual. Quality materials adorned the interior, albeit in monochromatic color options: black and gray. Matte chrome and simulated wood trim gave it a polished feel, making it look premium for its class.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Civic maintained its place in the compact segment with a design resembling a smaller Honda Accord. The Civic lineup included sedan, hatchback, and the performance-centric Type R, with coupe and Civic Si models discontinued for 2021. The test version of the Civic was a Touring model in Cosmic Blue Metallic, priced at $29,690 including destination charges.

Despite its polarizing design, the Civic's bold look still commanded attention years after its introduction. The Touring trim featured 18-inch wheels, adding to its appeal. However, depending on the angle and lighting, the Civic’s design might appear less inspiring. The interior, once groundbreaking, now seemed aged but still retained good materials and thoughtful detailing. The maximum infotainment screen size was only 7 inches, reflecting the car's dated technological approach.

The 2020 Nissan Altima offered diverse engine options, starting with the standard 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 188 horsepower, paired with a CVT driving the front wheels, and optionally, all-wheel drive. The highlight, however, was the optional turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder VC-Turbo engine available in SR and Platinum trims. This engine, producing up to 248 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel, delivered the power of a V6 with the efficiency of a 4-cylinder, thanks to its variable-compression technology. The EPA-rated combined fuel economy was 29 mpg, though real-world testing yielded around 26.2 mpg. The sophisticated suspension and braking systems, coupled with advanced ride control features, ensured a smooth and engaging driving experience, even with the occasionally unpredictable CVT behavior.

For the 2021 Honda Civic, the base LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower with a CVT. The real star, however, was the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine found in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, generating 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Despite the Civic’s commendable ride quality and driving dynamics, the CVT transmission was a letdown, known for its droning and less precise gear shifts. Nonetheless, the Civic excelled in fuel efficiency, delivering 34.8 mpg in real-world conditions, surpassing the EPA estimate.

The 2020 Nissan Altima featured front and rear seats designed with NASA technology to mimic weightlessness for enhanced comfort. However, it lacked a front passenger height adjuster and ventilated front seats, which felt unacceptable at the test car’s price point. For cold climates, the Altima’s heated seats, steering wheel, and remote engine start with climate control were advantageous, though heated rear seats were unavailable. The Altima offered ample storage space and 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, equipped with useful features like grocery bag hooks and an interior grab handle for convenience.

On the other hand, the 2021 Honda Civic sat low to the ground, making ingress and egress a workout. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment for the driver, but the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. Once inside, the Civic offered excellent comfort, especially in the spacious rear, though it missed rear air conditioning vents. The Civic’s center console was incredibly practical, with ample storage space and strategically placed trays and cupholders. Its trunk provided 15.1 cubic feet of space, slightly less in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system occupying some room.

The 2020 Nissan Altima impressed with its nearly flawless infotainment system. Despite its 8-inch screen being considered small by modern standards, the user-friendly layout and physical controls were praiseworthy. Standard connectivity features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with optional enhancements like satellite radio, a Bose audio system, and NissanConnect Services. The latter included various plans offering features like Amazon Alexa integration and hands-free destination assistance. However, improvements were needed in its voice recognition technology.

In comparison, the 2021 Honda Civic fell behind technologically. The base LX trim included a modest 5-inch LCD screen and basic Bluetooth connectivity. The Civic Sport added a 7-inch touchscreen, a better sound system, and smartphone integration, but higher trims like EX and Touring offered more comprehensive features such as HD Radio, satellite radio, and navigation with voice recognition. While the Civic's technology suite was functional, it seemed outdated compared to some competitors, and the premium sound system, while decent, was not a significant upgrade over the standard eight-speaker system.

For 2020, the Nissan Altima equipped its models with Nissan Safety Shield 360. The base S trim included essential safety features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, while higher trims received additional features such as pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitoring. Optional systems included driver monitoring, road-sign recognition, and ProPilot Assist, which provided semi-autonomous driving aid but proved difficult to trust during testing. The Altima earned high safety ratings, receiving 5 stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick from IIHS with certain headlights.

Similarly, the 2021 Honda Civic included Honda Sensing as standard, offering a range of ADAS features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Unique to the Civic was LaneWatch, which used a right-side mirror camera for lane monitoring, though its design had limitations. The Civic lacked a radar-based blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert but compensated with a wide-angle reversing camera. Despite some ADAS refinements needed, the Civic earned top safety ratings, including a five-star NHTSA rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick for Touring trims.