2020 Honda Civic vs 2021 Nissan Altima

The 2020 Honda Civic was a standout in Honda's lineup, offering a compact car experience with a touch of luxury typically reserved for higher-end brands. It came in three body styles—sedan, coupe, and hatchback—each showcasing a sharp design that belied its compact size. The sedan featured an elegant, elongated body with a coupe-like roofline, while the hatchback had a slightly quirky tall rump. The Civic's exterior was visually stimulating, with body panel creases, wide headlights, and sweeping LED taillights enhancing its low and wide stance. The 2020 model carried over the grille, bumper, and wheel upgrades from the previous year, with additional enhancements like matte-black 18-inch wheels and LED fog lights on the Si sedan. Inside, the Civic boasted a simple yet high-quality interior, with soft-touch materials and pleasing design elements like gloss-black trim and a pulsing red start button. The 2020 updates included new dash accents and sport seats for the Si, adding to its appeal.

The 2021 Nissan Altima presented a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille and sleek, aerodynamic profile. Its styling was modern, with a sloping roofline and taut body lines, though its stance was somewhat traditional with more overhangs. The Altima's fit and finish were exceptional, with deep paint and rich chrome details. It offered six exterior colours, each with unique names like "Super Black" and "Sunset Drift ChromaFlair." Inside, the Altima featured an uncluttered dashboard with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, intelligently placed for safety and convenience. The base model felt basic, but higher trims offered improved materials and features like stitching on the dash and seats. The Altima's interior was a testament to getting what you pay for, with a focus on comfort and functionality.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a diverse range of powertrains, all front-wheel drive, with four engines and two transmissions available. The base engine was a 2.0-litre inline 4-cylinder with 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed manual or an optional CVT. The 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, standard on the hatchback and available on higher trims, delivered 174 to 180 horsepower, offering better mid-range acceleration. The Civic Si featured a boosted 1.5-litre engine with 205 horsepower, while the Type R boasted an impressive 306 horsepower. The Si and Type R were exclusively manual, providing a thrilling driving experience. The Civic's adaptive dampers and precise steering made it a joy to drive, though the Si's stiffer ride was noticeable. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with most models achieving around 8.0 L/100 km city and 6.0 L/100 km highway.

The 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with Nissan's Xtronic CVT. Notably, the Altima offered standard all-wheel drive, a rarity among mid-size sedans in Canada. The AWD system was front-biased but could send up to 50% of torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption was rated at 9.1 L/100 km city and 6.5 highway for the base model, slightly higher for the SR and Platinum trims. The Altima's suspension setup included four-wheel independent suspension with stabilizer bars, providing a comfortable ride with decent steering feedback.

The 2020 Honda Civic offered a spacious interior with thoughtful features like an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat on the EX hatchback. The steering wheel housed controls for the central display and digital instrument panel, while the centre console provided ample storage with configurable cupholders. Rear passengers enjoyed considerable room, though the lack of rear air vents was a drawback. The sedan's trunk offered 416 litres of cargo space, while the hatchback provided a generous 728 litres, expandable to 1,302 litres with the seats folded.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan's acclaimed Zero Gravity front seats, providing exceptional comfort for long drives. Standard features included power adjustment and front seat heating, with leather and memory options on the Platinum trim. The cabin offered ample storage, with a large glovebox, centre console bin, and door pockets. The rear seats were roomy, accommodating two adults comfortably, and the 60/40 split allowed for trunk access. The trunk itself offered 436 litres of space, making it practical for everyday use.

The 2020 Honda Civic's infotainment system was considered outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen standard on most models, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The top trims featured Garmin-based navigation with accurate voice recognition. The Civic Si introduced Active Sound Control, though it was optional. Standard features included push-button start, keyless entry, and Honda Sensing, which provided advanced safety features. LaneWatch, a right-side mirror camera, was a standout feature for blind-spot monitoring.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came well-equipped with tech features, including Nissan Intelligent Key, remote engine start, and an 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a 7-inch Drive-Assist display. Higher trims offered SiriusXM, a Bose audio system, and Nissan Door to Door Navigation. NissanConnect Services provided additional features like WiFi hotspot and emergency crash notification, enhancing the Altima's tech appeal.

The 2020 Honda Civic was equipped with Honda Sensing, offering features like forward collision warning, emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for most body styles and a five-star rating from the NHTSA, except for a four-star passenger frontal crash rating on the coupe.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot warning. The Platinum trim added ProPilot Assist for highway driving assistance. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.