Honda Civic vs Nissan Altima

The 2024 Nissan Altima carried a legacy that dated back to 1993. Its sixth-generation design had stayed mostly unchanged since 2019, but a new grille was introduced for the 2023 model, featuring an open-bottomed edge that gave it a more imposing look. The Altima lineup consisted of four trim levels: S, SV, SR, and SL, with some trims available in all-wheel drive (AWD). The SR trim could also be paired with Nissan's high-tech VC-Turbo engine. The test model, a Nissan Altima SL with AWD, was painted in Garnet Pearl Metallic and sported 19-inch alloy wheels. Despite its conservative style, the chrome accents, gunmetal gray rear badging, and LED projector headlights provided some visual appeal. The rear had dual exhaust pipes and an optional rear spoiler for a hint of sportiness. Inside, the Altima had an outdated look but offered redeeming features like comfortable seats, convenient cupholders, and cubbies. However, the front passenger seat only had four-way adjustments, and the leather upholstery quality was lackluster. Cheap plastic parts were scattered around the cabin, though the steering wheel and shift knob felt good in hand. In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Si traced its roots back to the 1985 Honda Civic CRX Si. Over the years, this "sport-injected" model had grown in performance and driving engagement while maintaining a stealthy appearance. The 2024 model had subtle changes like LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, and 18-inch matte-black wheels. The Si badges were discreet, and the paint options ranged from vivid to subdued. Inside, the Civic Si had red seat and door panel inserts with matching stitching, a metal mesh strip to hide dashboard air vents, and gloss black surfaces with polished metal detailing. Digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system completed the modern look. Metal pedal covers and an aluminum shift knob added sporty touches.

The 2024 Nissan Altima came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided adequate performance, with a 0 to 60 mph time of around 7.5 seconds. For thrill-seekers, the Altima SR VC-Turbo variant offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with 248 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Our test Altima featured Nissan’s intelligent AWD system, which delivered power to the rear wheels when needed, improving traction. While this setup contributed to fuel efficiency, the car returned 26 mpg city, 36 highway, 30 combined with AWD. The variable-compression turbo engine in the FWD models provided 25 mpg city, 34 highway, 29 combined. Driving dynamics were decent, with light steering and minimal body roll. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) managed power output well but created a droning noise during acceleration. The 2024 Honda Civic Si boasted a high-output version of a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It came with an exclusive close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature, which could be turned off for traditional shifting. The Civic Si’s drivetrain included a single-mass lightweight flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing cornering capabilities. It had larger brakes, thicker stabilizer bars, and an Si-specific dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system. Equipped with 18-inch wheels and 235/50 Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires, the Civic Si exhibited superior grip and handling. Performance was thrilling, especially on twisty roads. The turbocharged engine delivered instant torque, and the Civic Si was agile in urban settings. However, the interior could get noisy on highways. Despite this, the car was fun to drive, with excellent forward visibility, precise steering, and confidence-inspiring grip. A minor drawback was the braking system, which showed signs of overheating during aggressive driving. Fuel economy was rated at 31 mpg combined by the EPA, and during testing, the Civic Si averaged 29.5 mpg.

Beyond its comfortable seats, the 2024 Nissan Altima offered impressive interior space. The front seats were more spacious than those in the Honda Accord, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry but fell short compared to the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. In the rear, the Altima offered 35.2 inches of legroom, which bested the Sonata and matched the K5 but was less than the Accord, Legacy, and Camry. The Altima's trunk had 15.4 cubic feet of space, surpassing the Legacy and Camry but not the Accord, Sonata, or K5. The trunk-lid opening was wide, making it easy to load bulky items, and the 60/40-split folding rear seat enhanced cargo flexibility. The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced performance with practicality. Though equipped with sport-bolstered seats and a manual transmission, it offered practicality similar to other Civic sedans. The front seats were cloth-wrapped and provided ample support, with a manual driver's seat height adjuster for a comfortable driving position. Entering and exiting required some effort due to the car's low stance. The Civic Si featured single-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, and a power sunroof. However, it lacked heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and rear-seat air vents. Despite these omissions, the rear seat was roomy, with supportive cushions and generous legroom. Front storage was sufficient, but the center armrest bin was small. Cargo space measured 14.4 cubic feet, with the ability to accommodate full-size suitcases. The 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for longer items, and there was hidden storage under the trunk floor. However, there was no handle to close the lid, leading to potential fingerprints.

Most 2024 Nissan Altimas came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while the base S trim had a smaller 7-inch screen. Our test car featured a 12.3-inch display, standard on the SL and SR VC-Turbo trims. This large screen offered bright, crisp graphics and excellent resolution, with static icons for easy navigation. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were available only with this larger screen. While SiriusXM radio appeared cluttered on the screen, the nine-speaker Bose stereo was underwhelming. NissanConnect, the brand's telematics suite, was standard on the SL and SR VC-Turbo trims, allowing for remote vehicle operations and providing features like remote start and vehicle health reports. The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, text-messaging support, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and basic HondaLink services. The system was intuitive, with easy pairing options, physical buttons for essential functions, and steering wheel controls for volume and track adjustments. The 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio system sounded impressive, thanks to early collaboration between Honda and Bose.

The 2024 Nissan Altima earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), despite receiving four stars in frontal crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) previously awarded the Altima a Top Safety Pick+, but the 2024 model didn't earn the same rating due to updated side-impact tests. Standard ADAS, branded as Nissan Safety Shield 360, included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning. Higher trims added features like a surround-view monitor and traffic-sign recognition. ProPilot Assist, available on select trims, offered semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with the Honda Sensing suite of ADAS, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. However, the systems were sometimes intrusive, leading us to turn off several features. Despite this, adaptive cruise control and other functions worked better on highways. The 2023 Civic sedan received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, minus a four-star rating for front passenger protection in frontal collisions.