2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Nissan Altima

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan was available in familiar trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. In Canada, the Civic's pricing started at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and went up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Civic Touring, our primary evaluation vehicle, was finished in the extra-cost Morning Mist Blue, bringing its total price to $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with its Platinum White Pearl paint and Honda Performance Development (HPD) appearance package, was estimated at $31,467. The 11th-generation Civic adopted a more conservative and plain appearance, resembling the larger Accord sedan. Its interior embraced simplicity, with a minimalistic approach to controls and a metal honeycomb mesh running across the dashboard to hide air vents. The Touring trim's interior materials reflected a maturity absent in previous models.

The 2022 Nissan Altima, a sixth-generation model, continued its evolution from its original 1993 design. Available in SE, SR Midnight Edition, and Platinum trims in Canada, the Altima featured Nissan's V-Motion grille, a low, wide stance, and a sharply sloped "floating" roofline. The SR Midnight Edition, our test car, included gloss black accents, LED fog lights, and a moonroof, enhancing its sporty appearance. The Altima's interior boasted comfortable Zero Gravity front seats, a well-laid-out instrument panel, and high-quality materials, though lower trims lacked the same level of refinement. The Altima's dimensions placed it in the middle of its competition, with a 437-litre trunk and a 61-litre fuel tank, offering a balanced approach to size and practicality.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX, EX, and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the Touring trim. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVT), featuring Step Shift programming for a more traditional automatic feel. 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, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on a 150-kilometre loop.

The 2022 Nissan Altima in Canada came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 188 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. While the 2.0-litre variable-compression turbocharged engine was unavailable, the Altima offered standard all-wheel drive, a rarity in its class. The Altima's Xtronic CVT, with paddle shifters on the SR trim, provided a mixed performance experience. Acceleration was mediocre, accompanied by engine noise, but the Altima's suspension delivered a smooth and composed ride. The cabin remained quiet, with bumps and vibrations muted, offering a refined driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering improved support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined seats with power adjustments for the driver, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The Civic's low stance made entry and exit challenging, but rear legroom was generous. The Civic's interior redesign included a new centre console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was 419 litres, or 408 litres for the Touring trim, accommodating full-size suitcases and offering a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2022 Nissan Altima provided comfortable seating for four, with easy-to-use controls and a decent-sized trunk. Its dimensions placed it in the middle of its competition, with a 437-litre trunk and a 61-litre fuel tank. However, the Altima's high rear shelf compromised rear visibility, and the trunk's metal bar supports could crush items when closing the lid. Despite these minor complaints, the Altima remained a competent midsize sedan.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display provided information on headlight and taillight status, enhancing safety. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, 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's voice recognition technology was a significant improvement over previous models.

The 2022 Nissan Altima came with a 7-inch advanced drive-assist display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It offered Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and two USB ports. The SR trim added navigation and connected services, while the Platinum trim featured a nine-speaker Bose audio system. The Altima's ProPilot Assist system provided assistance with acceleration, steering, and braking, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured an upgraded Honda Sensing suite with Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, 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 Civic's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Nissan Altima offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Altima received a five-star overall crash protection rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" designation from the IIHS. Its crash avoidance and mitigation systems received high ratings, and its child-seat anchors were rated "Good+".