2021 Nissan Altima vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2021 Nissan Altima presented a strong family identity with its bold V-Motion grille, available in chrome or dark chrome, depending on the trim level. Its overall shape was sleek and aerodynamic, featuring a sloping “coupe-like” roofline. The body design leaned more towards folds than curves, giving it a taut and trim essence. Despite its mildly ungainly stance due to the overhangs ahead of the front wheels and behind the rear wheels, the Altima maintained a contemporary look with modern features like standard LED lighting and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 19 inches. The fit and finish were exceptional, with deep lustrous paint and rich chrome details, available in six exterior colours with premium options costing extra. Inside, the Altima boasted an uncluttered dashboard with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, improving in material quality as one moved up the trim levels.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Civic adopted a more conservative and plain appearance compared to its predecessor, resembling the larger Accord sedan. This 11th-generation Civic aimed for a more tailored and mature look, appealing to those who found the previous model's styling too bold. Inside, Honda returned to simplicity with a minimalistic approach to controls and layout. The dashboard featured a metal honeycomb mesh to hide air vents elegantly, and the interior materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflected a newfound maturity. The Civic's interior redesign focused on improving support and comfort, with the Touring trim offering leather-lined seats and a power-adjustable driver's seat. However, the Civic sat low to the ground, which could make entry and exit challenging for some.

The 2021 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic CVT and came with standard all-wheel drive, a feature that set it apart from many mid-size sedans that offered only front-wheel drive. The AWD system was front-wheel biased but could send up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed. Fuel consumption ratings for the base model were 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined, with slightly higher figures for the SR and Platinum grades. The Altima featured a four-wheel independent suspension and electric-powered steering, providing decent feedback and feel.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options, both improved from the previous generation. The LX, EX, and Sport trims came with a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The Touring trim featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, offering a satisfying blend of performance and efficiency. Both engines were paired with CVTs, each with Step Shift programming to mimic traditional automatic transmissions. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, suspension tuning, and steering feel contributed to its enjoyable ride and handling. However, during a 150-kilometre driving loop, the Civic Touring returned 7.7 L/100 km, falling short of the estimated 6.9 L/100 km combined fuel efficiency.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan’s Zero Gravity front seats, praised for their comfort on long drives. Standard features included power adjustment and front seat heating, with additional options like position memory and leather appointments on the Platinum grade. The front cabin offered ample storage, including a large glovebox, centre console storage bin, and door pockets. The rear seats provided sufficient headroom and legroom for two adults, with a 60/40 split-folding design for trunk access. The trunk itself offered 436 litres of cargo space.

The 2022 Honda Civic continued its tradition of comfort with redesigned front seats offering improved support. The Touring trim included leather-lined seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The Civic sat low, which could make entry and exit challenging, but the rear seat offered more legroom than most in its segment. The Civic's interior redesign included a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 419 litres, or 408 litres with the Touring trim due to premium sound system components. The split-folding backseat added utility, and a small handle inside the trunk lid aided in closing it.

The 2021 Nissan Altima came equipped with standard tech features like Nissan Intelligent Key keyless entry, pushbutton start, remote engine start, Bluetooth, and more. The 8-inch NissanConnect touchscreen infotainment system and a 7-inch advanced Drive-Assist display were standard, along with multiple USB ports and an aux input. SiriusXM satellite radio was included on all but the base model, and the Platinum trim featured a Bose audio system. Higher trims also offered Nissan Door to Door Navigation and NissanConnect Services with various trial packages.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel with greater customization and driving environment data. The Vehicle Activity display was a standout feature, showing when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were active. The Civic's infotainment system included a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity options, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and a navigation system. Despite a slow load time, the system performed well, especially the voice recognition technology.

The 2021 Nissan Altima featured Nissan Safety Shield 360, a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features, standard on all models. This included automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and high-beam assist. The Platinum grade offered ProPilot Assist, a suite of features for highway driving, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor for easier parking. The Altima received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Honda Civic boasted an upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced its LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert. The car's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A standard rear-seat reminder system was also included.