2021 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Maxima

The 2020 Nissan Maxima had a design that closely mirrored other models in Nissan's lineup, featuring the brand's signature V-Motion grille, jewel-like LED headlights, and distinctive daytime running lights. Its floating-roof design, accented by a heavy beltline, led to the rear where quad-tip exhaust finishers were positioned. The Maxima SR models also sported a rear spoiler for a more athletic look. The Maxima was the pioneer of this design era for Nissan sedans, influencing the Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima was available in S, SV, SL, SR, and Platinum trims, with the Platinum trim offering premium features and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

Inside, the Maxima's cabin was spacious and filled with materials typical of Nissan's standard, with the Platinum trim veering into premium territory. The SR trim featured unique styling elements like a patterned seat insert and charcoal headliner. The Platinum Reserve Package added semi-aniline leather appointments and a Rakuda Tan steering wheel insert. The thick center console created a segmented front row experience, but the cabin remained roomy. Standard features included an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a host of other modern conveniences.

The 2021 Honda Civic, available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, continued to be a segment-defining model. The 2021 model year saw the discontinuation of the two-door coupe and the Civic Si, with the manual transmission also disappearing from the sedan lineup. The Civic sedan came in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $21,250 to $28,300, excluding destination charges. The test car, a Touring sedan in Cosmic Blue Metallic, was priced at $29,690.

The Civic's design, introduced in 2016, remained polarizing but familiar. The Touring trim's Cosmic Blue paint and 18-inch wheels gave the car a striking appearance, though opinions on its styling varied. Inside, the Civic's cabin featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing, though the maximum 7-inch infotainment screen size showed its age. Despite this, the interior remained functional and comfortable, with a roomy back seat and a large trunk.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), producing 300 horsepower and 261 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was more robust than many competitors, making the Maxima a strong performer. Despite being marketed as a "four-door sports car," the Maxima was more comfortable as a cruiser, with Sport mode and paddle shifters available only on the SR trim. The car handled road imperfections well, and active noise cancellation kept the cabin quiet in higher trims. The Maxima was front-wheel drive with an 18-gallon fuel tank, achieving an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The EX, EX-L, and Touring trims featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, though the CVT could be a drawback due to its droning nature. The Civic's sophisticated suspension and steering made it a delight to drive, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. Fuel economy was a strong point, with an average of 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg combined.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima offered spacious seating, a large trunk, and modern features. The thick center console limited the feeling of spaciousness up front, but the cabin remained roomy. The front seats were comfortable for long trips, though the Maxima lagged behind competitors in legroom and cargo space. The Maxima had 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space and 98.5 cubic feet of passenger space, less than the Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord. Despite this, the Maxima handled daily cargo and seating needs well, with front in-door bottle holders accommodating 20-ounce bottles.

The 2021 Honda Civic sedan sat low to the ground, making entry and exit a bit of a workout. Once inside, the seats were comfortable, though the rear lacked air conditioning vents. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Civic's interior was roomy, with excellent thigh support in the rear seats. The center console provided ample storage space, and the trunk offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima came standard with an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7-inch driver information display, though these were not the most modern offerings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with NissanConnect Services available on the Platinum trim. The Maxima offered a Bose Premium Audio system, Around View Monitor camera system, power rear sunshade, and keyless entry. USB-A and USB-C ports were available in the front and rear, making charging devices convenient.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology showed its age. The LX trim had a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch touchscreen, eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a more powerful USB port. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM, while the Touring trim included navigation and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The Civic's voice recognition system was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system was nice but not essential.

The 2020 Nissan Maxima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a package of safety and driver-assist technologies. Standard safety equipment included airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, and a driver alertness monitor. Traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control were standard on all trims except the base model. The Maxima performed well in IIHS and NHTSA safety tests, earning top ratings.

The 2021 Honda Civic came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. This included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also had automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera. LaneWatch, available on EX trim and above, used a camera to monitor the right lane but had limitations. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA.