2023 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's long-standing tradition in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door sedan even as other models like the Maxima were phased out. The Altima featured updated front styling with a revised grille and new wheel designs, particularly enhancing its visual appeal in higher trims with 19-inch wheels. However, these stylish wheels were prone to curb damage due to their flush design. In Canada, the Altima was available in four trims: S, SR, SR Premium, and Platinum, and stood out as the only mid-size sedan with standard all-wheel drive. Despite its appealing exterior and comfortable interior, the Altima's use of hard plastics and simulated wood trim reminded consumers of its mainstream sedan status.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in the Sport Touring trim, presented a dynamic and sporty appearance, especially when adorned with 18-inch alloy wheels and the vibrant Boost Blue colour. While the rear end appeared slightly stubby, the overall styling was generally well-received. The Civic Hatchback lineup in Canada included the Sport and Sport Touring trims, with the latter offering a more premium experience. The interior of the Sport Touring trim was noted for its quality materials and elegant detailing, including a metal honeycomb mesh dashboard and high-resolution digital displays. The Civic Hatchback's design and features made it a compelling choice for those seeking a blend of practicality and style.

The 2023 Nissan Altima in Canada was equipped with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The standard all-wheel-drive system could deliver up to half of the engine's output to the rear wheels. While the power was adequate, the Altima's performance was merely satisfactory, with a firm ride and some noise issues at highway speeds. The CVT was well-tuned to mimic a traditional automatic, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim, with slightly higher figures for the SR, SR Premium, and Platinum trims. The Altima's handling was competent, but its steering lacked feedback, and the brakes showed signs of overheating under certain conditions.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback in Canada came with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 177 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 and 4,500 rpm. The Sport Touring trim offered a choice between a six-speed manual and a CVT with paddle shifters and a Sport driving mode. The Civic Hatchback was praised for its lively and engaging driving experience, with the CVT making good use of the turbo engine's torque. Fuel economy for the CVT model was rated at 7.7 L/100 km city, 6.3 highway, and 7.1 combined. The Civic Hatchback was noted for its fun-to-drive nature, although it was somewhat noisy on the highway.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was straightforward and user-friendly, with controls laid out logically and clear analog gauges. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima offered dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, and the design of the floor mats was problematic. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom, but the trunk space was limited to 437 litres, and the lack of a handle made closing the trunk lid inconvenient.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback provided a well-equipped interior, especially in the Sport Touring trim, which included leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a sliding centre armrest. The rear seat was spacious enough for two adults or three children, with good support and USB quick-charge ports in the Sport Touring trim. However, the absence of rear air conditioning vents was a drawback. The Civic Hatchback offered 693 litres of cargo space, significantly more than the Altima, and the 60/40-split rear seat allowed for additional storage flexibility.

The 2023 Nissan Altima featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The SR Premium and Platinum trims offered a new 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker audio system was available on higher trims, though its performance varied. The new infotainment system was a significant improvement, with a better user interface and graphics, and the voice recognition system was effective.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback's Sport trim included a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which were basic compared to competitors. The Sport Touring trim upgraded to a 10.2-inch digital display and a 9-inch touchscreen, adding wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, HD Radio, and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with quick and accurate voice recognition.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProPilot Assist was available on higher trims, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The Altima received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated side-impact test.

The 2024 Honda Civic Hatchback featured Honda Sensing, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring was standard, with rear cross-traffic alert and parking sensors exclusive to the Sport Touring trim. The Civic Hatchback earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with an Acceptable rating in the updated side-impact test.