2022 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback emerged as a notable contender in a market where hatchback popularity was waning. As other automakers phased out hatchbacks in favor of small crossover SUVs, 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 manufactured in the U.S. It shared its front-end design with the Civic sedan but featured unique elements from the front doors to the rear, giving it a distinct appearance. Despite its visual appeal, the Civic Hatchback still exhibited a somewhat unbalanced profile, with a tendency to appear front-heavy. Inside, the Civic Hatchback mirrored the sedan's interior, with Sport Touring trim offering advanced digital instrumentation and infotainment displays. However, the CVT shifter operation detracted slightly from the overall sophistication.

The 2023 Nissan Versa adopted the design language of its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it a more upscale appearance. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance made it look more like a traditional sedan than an economy car. For 2023, the Versa received styling updates, including a more elaborate V-Motion grille and new wheel designs. Inside, the Versa's interior showcased creativity, with large round air vents and an elaborate dashboard design. While most materials were plastic, the fit and finish were commendable. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, reminiscent of the early 2000s Sentra SE-R. Despite its economy car status, the Versa SR included features like heated front seats and automatic climate control, making it a more engaging option in its segment.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback offered a range of performance options, starting with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque in the LX and Sport trims. The EX-L and Sport Touring trims featured a more energetic turbocharged 1.5-liter engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, providing a more spirited driving experience. The Civic Hatchback was front-wheel drive, with no all-wheel-drive option. The CVT paired well with the turbocharged engine, offering smooth operation, while the six-speed manual transmission in the Sport Touring trim was praised for its short throws and fluid gear engagement. The Civic Hatchback delivered a satisfying driving experience, with firm suspension tuning and responsive steering, although it was not designed for aggressive driving on winding roads.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, with its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, prioritized efficiency over excitement. The base Versa S came with a five-speed manual transmission, while the CVT was optional on the S and standard on the SV and SR trims. The Versa's handling was satisfactory, with notable grip and responsive steering, despite some body roll in corners. The suspension provided a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps and potholes effectively. Overall, the Versa felt more substantial than its subcompact classification suggested, offering a refined driving experience for daily commuting.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback excelled in functionality, offering a generous 24.5 cubic feet of trunk space and a two-piece cargo shade for convenience. The back seat featured a 60/40-split folding design, although the load floor was not flat. The Civic Hatchback provided comfortable seating with sufficient legroom, but some passengers noted the lack of a seat-height adjuster for the front passenger seat and rear air conditioning vents. The driver enjoyed an eight-way power-adjustable seat, and both front seats were heated. The interior featured black fabric seats in lower trims and black leather upholstery in the EX-L and Sport Touring trims.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a sedan, offered 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the base S trim and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR trims. While the Versa lacked a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat, it provided ample front-seat headroom and legroom. Rear-seat space was less generous compared to competitors, but passengers did not express discomfort. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility, although storage for small items was limited. The shifter's raised platform added a stylish touch but was not the most efficient use of space.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback featured a new infotainment system, with a 7-inch touchscreen in the LX, Sport, and EX-L trims, and a 9-inch touchscreen in the Sport Touring trim. The Sport Touring also included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The inclusion of physical knobs for sound system controls improved usability. Digital instrumentation was standard, with a 7-inch screen in lower trims and a 10.2-inch display in the Sport Touring.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and Siri Eyes Free voice control. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The SV trim added a 7-inch driver information display and wireless phone charging, while the SR trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and NissanConnect Services. Despite the tech features, the Versa's touchscreens were small, and the graphics appeared outdated. The digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, providing essential information alongside an analog speedometer.

The 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback was equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. The system also included Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Keeping Assist. New features like low-speed following and Traffic Jam Assist were available with the CVT. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert were exclusive to the EX-L and Sport Touring trims. The Civic Hatchback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, thanks to its advanced safety engineering and new frontal-impact airbags.

The 2023 Nissan Versa impressed with its standard driver-assist technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-departure warning. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SR trim included adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA awarded the Versa a five-star overall safety rating, with high marks in side-impact crash testing.