2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback aimed to capitalize on the declining popularity of hatchbacks in the U.S. market. With several automakers discontinuing their hatchback models, Honda saw an opportunity to capture a significant share of the remaining market. The redesigned Civic hatchback, produced in Indiana, was one of the few compact cars still made in the U.S. It shared its front-end design with the Civic sedan but featured a unique rear design. The interior boasted sophisticated digital instrumentation and high-quality controls, although the CVT shifter operation was slightly janky.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Altima received updates to its front styling, new wheel designs, and two new paint colors. The higher trim levels, especially with 19-inch wheels, improved its visual presence. The interior was simple, easy to use, and comfortable, with Nissan's Zero Gravity seats providing exceptional comfort. However, the Altima's interior had plenty of hard plastic, and the new simulated wood dashboard trim wasn't convincing. The rear seat offered good comfort and legroom, but the lack of rear air conditioning vents in lower trims was a drawback.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered two engine options. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The CVT worked well with the turbocharged engine, and the Sport Touring trim offered a six-speed manual transmission for driving enthusiasts. The Civic hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel-drive option. The suspension and steering provided a firm yet comfortable ride, but the brakes were not up to repeated hard use.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, except for the SR VC-Turbo, had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a CVT. The engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque in front-wheel-drive models and slightly less in all-wheel-drive versions. The SR VC-Turbo trim featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with up to 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel. The CVT mimicked a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR trim had paddle shifters for added engagement. The Altima's ride was firm, and the brakes heated up easily during spirited driving. The steering lacked feedback, and rear visibility was poor.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, with a trunk offering 24.5 cubic feet of space and a two-piece cargo shade. The back seat had a 60/40-split folding design, but the load floor was not flat. The front seats were comfortable, with the driver's seat offering eight-way power adjustment. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, and there were no rear air conditioning vents. The interior featured black fabric seats in lower trims and black leather upholstery in higher trims.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The driver’s seat was easier to enter and exit, but the sticky leather upholstery made it challenging when wearing jeans. The rear seat offered good comfort and legroom, but the lack of rear air conditioning vents in lower trims was a drawback. The trunk measured 15.4 cubic feet, smaller than some competitors, but the space was usefully shaped.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch touchscreen in the Sport Touring trim. The Sport Touring trim also included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system worked well, and the digital instrumentation included a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring trim.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a 5-inch display in the base S trim, while SV and SR trims had an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system was available in higher trims, featuring navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless smartphone charging. The SL and SR VC-Turbo trims included a Bose nine-speaker audio system. The new infotainment system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and better graphics.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback came with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning systems. The Civic hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its upgraded structure and safety features.

The 2023 Nissan Altima included Nissan Safety Shield 360, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The ProPilot Assist system, available in higher trims, added adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Altima earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2022 calendar year.