2023 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2023 Nissan Altima revealed itself as a continuation of Nissan's long-standing presence in the family car segment. The new model year brought changes to front styling, including a revised grille, fresh wheel designs, and two new paint colors. Higher trims, especially with their 19-inch wheels, enhanced the Altima's visual appeal. However, the SL trim’s stylish wheel designs appeared prone to curb damage due to their flush alignment with tire sidewalls.

The interior of the Altima, particularly in the SL trim with optional all-wheel-drive (AWD), showcased an attractive design but was marred by significant hard plastic surfaces. Gray leather upholstery, available as an option, offered a high-contrast two-tone appearance, which slightly elevated the cabin's aesthetics. Though the new simulated wood trim on the dashboard lacked the sophistication to convince anyone of its authenticity, the recent double-stitched seams provided some distraction from the extensive use of hard plastic.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback exhibited a dual personality depending on its styling elements and external conditions. When viewed under optimal conditions, it presented a sporty and appealing look, albeit with a somewhat stubby rear end. The Sport Touring trim, adorned in Boost Blue with 18-inch alloy wheels, managed to capture attention and invoke a sense of allure.

The Civic's interior, especially in the Sport Touring trim, justified its price point through quality materials and meticulous detailing. It featured a metal honeycomb mesh on the dashboard, knurled knobs for climate and stereo controls, and high-resolution digital screens for instrumentation and infotainment. These components contributed to an environment of understated sophistication and technological prowess.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in all trims except the SR VC-Turbo. Paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), this engine produced 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque in front-wheel-drive (FWD) models and slightly less in AWD versions. AWD, available in SV, SR, and SL trims, could deliver up to half of the engine’s output to the rear wheels based on driving conditions.

The Altima's power was adequate, offering torque at 3,600 rpm, and the CVT was programmed to replicate the feel of a traditional automatic transmission. Official fuel economy ratings varied between 30 and 32 mpg combined, though our SL AWD test model averaged only 27.4 mpg.

For more spirited driving, the Altima SR VC-Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 236 horsepower (248 hp on premium fuel) and 267 pound-feet of torque (273 lb-ft on premium fuel). This version matched the standard engine’s efficiency with a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg.

The Civic Hatchback’s performance varied significantly depending on the trim level and engine. The base LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual gearbox was available in the Sport trim, while a CVT came standard.

Higher trims, EX-L, and Sport Touring, offered a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. This engine provided 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, delivering more accessible power across a broader range of rpm. The Sport Touring trim allowed the choice between a six-speed manual and a CVT, though our test car featured the CVT.

The Civic Sport Touring felt agile and responsive, with the CVT taking full advantage of the turbo engine's torque despite some high-rpm noise during acceleration. The Civic proved fun and dynamic to drive, making daily commutes and errand runs more engaging.

Despite its spirited nature, the Civic exhibited high interior noise at highway speeds. Nevertheless, it managed to deliver between 29 and 35 mpg combined, with our test model averaging 30.2 mpg in mixed driving conditions.

The 2023 Nissan Altima, despite its budget-friendly materials, offered a user-friendly and comfortable driving experience. The controls were logically arranged, adorned with matte black surfaces for easy readability, and the analog gauges were notably clear. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, designed for optimal comfort, were particularly notable, despite the somewhat sticky leather upholstery in our SL test vehicle.

Our test Altima SL was well-equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger’s seat lacked height adjustment, posing an entry and exit challenge. Additionally, the floor mat design hindered easy removal, risking potential damage to both the mats and interior carpeting.

The rear seats provided ample legroom, foot room, and headroom, with a tall cushion enhancing comfort. However, the SL trim was necessary for rear air conditioning vents. The trunk offered 15.4 cubic feet of space, smaller compared to competitors but well-shaped for practical use.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback, especially in EX-L and Sport Touring trims, came rich with features, such as dual-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, heated seats, leather upholstery, and a power sunroof. The driver’s seat offered eight-way power adjustment, providing excellent comfort and ergonomics, though the front passenger’s seat lacked height adjustment even in the Sport Touring trim.

The Civic's rear seat proved roomy enough for adults and featured USB quick-charge ports in the Sport Touring trim. However, it disappointed by omitting rear air vents. The hatchback’s cargo capacity was substantial, with 24.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, nearly doubling when the 60/40-split seats were folded flat.

The 2023 Nissan Altima offered a range of infotainment features varying by trim level. The base S trim had a basic 5-inch display with Bluetooth but lacked more advanced connectivity features. Upgrading to SV or SR added an 8-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

New for 2023 was a 12.3-inch touchscreen available on SV and SR trims and standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo. This system included navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an easy-to-access wireless smartphone charging pad. It also featured NissanConnect Services with remote engine start and smart home assistant compatibility.

The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system, available on SL and SR VC-Turbo, was a mixed bag but provided a decent audio experience for most genres. The new infotainment system represented a significant improvement over previous versions, with better graphics and a more user-friendly interface.

Honda’s 2024 Civic Hatchback tech varied by trim, starting with basic 7-inch digital instrumentation and a 7-inch touchscreen in the LX and Sport trims. However, the Sport Touring trim featured a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display and a more sophisticated 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. The 12-speaker Bose premium sound system provided an exceptional audio experience.

The Civic’s tech was easy to use and responsive, quickly pairing with smartphones and executing voice commands with accuracy.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Advanced features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist were available starting with the SV trim.

ProPilot Assist, standard on SL and SR VC-Turbo, added adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist, though it occasionally felt rough during transitions. The Altima also received top marks from NHTSA, including a five-star overall rating and rollover resistance, though it scored only four stars for front passenger frontal impact safety. IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ for 2022, though its side-impact crash safety received a Poor rating.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback included Honda Sensing as standard, covering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. However, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were limited to higher trims.

Honda Sensing's performance was reliable and sophisticated, adeptly handling varied driving conditions. The Civic earned exemplary crash-test ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA, achieving top ratings in nearly all tests except the newer side-impact evaluation, which it passed with an Acceptable rating.