2022 Honda Civic vs 2023 Nissan Versa

The 2022 Honda Civic presented a more mature and conservative design compared to its predecessor, drawing inspiration from the larger Accord sedan. This 11th-generation Civic was available in familiar trims such as LX, EX, Sport, and Touring, with prices in Canada starting at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and reaching up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding destination charges. The Civic Touring, our primary evaluation vehicle, featured an extra-cost Morning Mist Blue paint, bringing its total price to $32,396. The interior of the Civic was designed with simplicity in mind, featuring a minimalistic layout and improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, which reflected a newfound maturity.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Versa borrowed design elements from its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it a more upscale appearance. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance, along with its V-Motion grille, made it instantly recognizable as a modern Nissan. The 2023 model received styling updates, including a more elaborate grille and new wheel designs. Inside, the Versa showcased creativity with its dashboard design and large round air vents, although it remained an economy car with mostly plastic materials. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, enhancing its appeal. Despite its budget status, the Versa's fit and finish were commendable, even in pre-production models.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options, both improved from the previous generation. The LX, EX, and Sport trims featured a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. However, the turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine in the Touring trim was the standout, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided a satisfying blend of performance and efficiency, with a broad torque range from 1,700 to 4,500 rpm. Both engines were paired with continuously variable transmissions (CVT), each with Step Shift programming to mimic traditional automatic transmissions. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning, offering a fun driving experience. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres on a test loop.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, while not a performance powerhouse, featured a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a CVT, provided satisfactory performance for daily driving. The Versa's handling was characterized by body roll in corners but offered remarkable grip and nimbleness. The steering was responsive, making it a pleasant commuter car. The Versa's ride quality was impressive for an entry-level model, with a suspension that cushioned impacts and kept cabin noise levels low. Overall, the Versa felt more substantial than its subcompact classification suggested, offering a refined driving experience.

The 2022 Honda Civic prioritized comfort with redesigned front seats offering excellent support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined seats with power adjustments for the driver. While the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, it provided good thigh support. The Civic's low seating position made entry and exit challenging for some, but the rear seat offered ample legroom. However, the absence of rear air conditioning vents was a notable oversight. The Civic's trunk provided 419 litres of space, reduced to 408 litres in the Touring trim due to premium sound system components. The split-folding backseat added utility, and a small handle inside the trunk lid facilitated closing.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a sedan, offered 416 litres of trunk space in the base S trim and 425 litres in SV and SR trims. This exceeded the cargo space of the Kia Rio sedan. The Versa's front seats provided more headroom and legroom than the Rio, although rear-seat space was slightly less generous. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility. However, the centre console bin was limited in storage capacity. The shifter's raised platform looked stylish but wasn't the most efficient use of space. The optional wireless charging pad was conveniently tucked away.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. This panel provided customization options and a Vehicle Activity display, which indicated the status of headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and navigation. Despite a slow startup, the system performed well, with improved voice recognition technology.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and three USB ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available in the SV and SR trims. The SV added a 7-inch driver-information display and a wireless charging pad, while the SR featured an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a six-speaker audio system. The touchscreens were small by modern standards, and the graphics appeared outdated. However, the digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, providing essential information alongside an analog speedometer.

The 2022 Honda Civic boasted an upgraded Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems. Standard features included 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 vehicle's architecture was strengthened for improved collision protection, and new airbag designs enhanced safety. A rear-seat reminder system was also standard.

The 2023 Nissan Versa impressed with its standard driver-assist technology. The base S trim included automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and high beam assist. The SV added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention alert. The Versa received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks in side-impact crash testing.