2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring, with prices starting at $21,700 and reaching up to $28,300, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was set to return, but the two-door coupe was no longer available. The Civic Touring model, priced at $29,690 with destination charges, featured the new Morning Mist Blue paint, adding $395 to the cost. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $25,880. The redesigned 11th-generation Civic had a more conservative appearance, resembling the larger Accord sedan. Its interior embraced simplicity, with a minimalistic control layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflecting a mature and tailored look.

The 2023 Nissan Versa adopted the design language of Nissan’s larger sedans, the Sentra and Altima, with a distinctive V-Motion grille and a "floating" roof appearance. This design made the Versa appear more upscale, with a sleek profile and wide stance. The base Versa S came with 15-inch steel wheels, while the S and SV offered optional 16-inch alloy wheels, and the SR featured 17-inch wheels. The 2023 model received styling updates, including a more elaborate grille and new wheel designs. The interior showcased creativity with large round air vents and an elaborate dashboard. Despite being an economy car, the fit and finish were commendable, and the SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, along with convenience features like heated front seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), featuring Step Shift programming for a traditional automatic feel. The Civic's handling was enhanced by improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel, making it enjoyable to drive. However, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop.

The 2023 Nissan Versa was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque, paired with front-wheel drive. The base Versa S offered a five-speed manual transmission, while a 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 ride was comfortable, and cabin noise levels were lower than expected. Overall, the Versa felt more substantial than typical subcompact cars, with handling and refinement that seemed a class above.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured redesigned front seats offering better support, with the Touring trim providing a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Civic sat low to the ground, which could make entry and exit challenging, but the back seat offered ample legroom. The interior lacked air conditioning vents for rear passengers, and the center console had less storage space than before. Trunk volume was generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with the Touring trim, allowing for full-size suitcases and a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, offered 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the base S trim and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR trims. The front seats provided more headroom and legroom than competitors, but rear-seat space was less generous. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility, though storage for small items was limited. The shifter was mounted on a raised platform, and the optional wireless charging pad was conveniently tucked away.

The 2022 Honda Civic came with digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim featuring a 10-inch display offering greater customization and a Vehicle Activity display. The standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system performed well, with excellent voice recognition technology.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim included a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and three USB ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The SV added a 7-inch driver information display and wireless charging, while the SR featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio, and NissanConnect Services. The touchscreens were small, and the graphics were outdated, but the digital instrument cluster added a touch of sophistication.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic EX and Touring trims offered a proper blind-spot warning system, while the Touring added rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and a standard rear-seat reminder system.

The 2023 Nissan Versa offered standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SR included adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA awarded the Versa a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side-impact tests and four stars in frontal and rollover categories.