2022 Honda Civic vs 2021 Nissan Maxima

The 2021 Nissan Maxima, as a flagship sedan, commanded attention with its audacious styling cues. Its “floating” roofline and “V-Motion” grille first appeared on this model and were later integrated into other Nissan sedans like the smaller Altima, Sentra, and Versa. The Maxima's distinguishing features included a steeply-angled front end and an expansive grille, reminiscent of an Art Deco locomotive cruising the streets. The blacked-out trim on our test car lent it a menacing vibe, although subsequent models saw a tamer approach to the design. Eye-catching yet borderline eccentric, the current Toyota Avalon TRD provided a bizarrely similar aesthetic with a tad more street presence.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Maxima featured an exclusive two-tone exterior in Ruby Slate Gray Pearl with a black roof. Model-specific 19-inch gloss-black alloy wheels, black exterior trim, red semi-aniline leather upholstery, white gauge faces, and heated rear seats adorned this special edition. Inside, the anniversary treatment exuded an attractive 1980s charm with dark-red leather seats and functional, stylish white gauge faces.

In comparison, the 2022 Honda Civic opted for a more refined and conservative approach in its 11th generation. Available in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trims, the new Civic started at $21,700 for the LX and went up to $28,300 for the Touring. Our top-tier Touring test model, coated in an extra-cost Morning Mist Blue, flirted with a $30,000 sticker, reinforced by a $395 paint upgrade.

With a nod to its larger sibling, the Civic resembled the Accord sedan, presenting a longer-wheelbase and more mature look. While the previous year's model garnered mixed reactions, this edition embraced a grown-up design that still managed to appear tailored and approachable. Honda's minimalist approach to the interior aimed at returning to the simplicity of earlier Civics. The result was a clean dashboard with intriguing metal honeycomb mesh camouflaging the air vents, an improvement in material quality, and a representative maturity especially notable in the Touring trim.

For 2021, the Nissan Maxima stood out with a single powertrain option: a robust 3.5-liter V6 delivering 300 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). Its V6 provided spirited performance and excellent acoustic feedback, although the CVT—while typically a buzzkill—was one of the better we experienced, simulating conventional automatic transmissions fairly well. The Maxima, however, encountered limitations in cornering, revealing a less communicative steering and front-end grip shortage, accompanied by typical torque steer of powerful FWD cars.

Against competitors like the Toyota Avalon TRD and Kia Stinger, the Maxima's sporting intent was more authentic, albeit not entirely meeting the “four-door sports car” expectations. The Kia Stinger, with its rear-wheel-drive configuration, undoubtedly outshone the Maxima in traction. At a leisurely pace, the Maxima’s quiet cabin and comfortable ride, even with stiff suspension, made it a solid highway cruiser.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine choices, with the promise of a sportier Civic Si and Civic Type R. LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque, while the EX and Touring trims wielded a more compelling 180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Both engines were mated to CVTs, optimized with new Step Shift programming mimicking a traditional automatic.

The Civic excelled in driving enjoyment, particularly the Touring model which hastened accelerations. Enhanced structural rigidity, retuned suspension, and improved steering feel rendered the Civic delightfully nimble without compromising ride quality. The Civic was quieter and smoother than its predecessor, though real-world fuel economy fell slightly below EPA estimates during spirited drives.

Space allocation in the 2021 Nissan Maxima prioritized the driver and front passenger at the expense of the rear occupants. Offering segment-leading front headroom and legroom, the Maxima's rear headroom was near the bottom, and rear legroom the least among full-size sedans. The positioning of seats close to the center console caused a cramped sensation for front passengers, complicating access to certain controls like those for heated seats.

Despite comfort features like Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” front seats designed for optimum support, a lack of adequate thigh bolstering was noted. With 14.3 cubic feet, the Maxima’s trunk volume lagged behind competitors like the hatchback Kia Stinger and Volkswagen Arteon, both offering superior loading convenience.

The 2022 Honda Civic stayed true to its comfort-oriented roots with redesigned front seats promising improved support. The Touring trim provided a power-adjustable driver’s seat but forwent ventilated seats. Although the Civic sat low, making ingress and egress challenging, its back seat boasted better legroom than many compacts. Rear thigh support was commendable, though the backrest angle might not suit everyone.

The Civic missed rear air conditioning vents and, with the Touring trim, heating for rear seats was dropped. Redesigned for practicality, the center console lost some storage versatility but maintained functional cupholders resistant to fingerprints. The Civic’s trunk volume stood at 14.8 cubic feet or 14.4 with the Touring trim due to the premium sound system, in either case, it offered practical utility.

In terms of technology, the 2021 Nissan Maxima demonstrated its age despite ticking the feature checklist. An 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, newly standard built-in WiFi, and USB-A/USB-C ports came standard. The available 11-speaker Bose audio system provided good sound, but the infotainment experience, marred by dated graphics and confusing icons, was less than stellar. In contrast, plentiful analog controls for climate and audio were a welcome respite from touchscreen reliance.

Conversely, the 2022 Honda Civic impressed with its advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment options. Standard digital displays ranged from a seven-inch panel on lower trims to a sophisticated ten-inch display on the Touring trim, offering customizable and intuitive interfaces. A new Civic graphic in the Vehicle Activity display prevented driving with lights off by clearly indicating lighting status, a well-conceived safety feature.

Infotainment options included a standard 7-inch touchscreen with basic functionalities, scaling up to a 9-inch touchscreen in the Touring trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless charging, and an impressive 12-speaker Bose audio system. Wireless smartphone integration and superior voice recognition technology enhanced the overall user experience significantly.

Safety was a strong suit for both models. The 2021 Nissan Maxima achieved IIHS “Top Safety Pick+” honors and a five-star NHTSA overall rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and rear automatic emergency braking. Optional adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, driver-alertness monitor, and a 360-degree camera system also enhanced safety.

For the 2022 Honda Civic, an upgraded Honda Sensing suite provided advanced driver assistance systems, with Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist incorporating a new wide-angle camera and eight ultrasonic sensors. The Civic also replaced the flawed LaneWatch with a proper blind-spot warning system on EX and higher trims. A rear-seat reminder system, new front airbag designs, and rear side-impact airbags further elevated the Civic's safety credentials.