2023 Nissan Altima vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2023 Nissan Altima continued Nissan's legacy in the family car segment, offering a sizable four-door sedan with updated front styling and new wheel designs. The higher trim levels, featuring 19-inch wheels, enhanced its visual presence, although the wheels were prone to curb damage. 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. However, the variable-compression turbocharged engine was exclusive to the U.S. market. The interior, while appealing, had a significant amount of hard plastic, and the simulated wood dashboard trim was not convincing. Despite these drawbacks, the Altima maintained its mainstream sedan status.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si, approaching its 40th anniversary, offered a sportier version of the Civic sedan with a focus on performance and driving engagement. It featured LED headlights, a gloss-black lip spoiler, dual exhaust outlets, and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The interior was more expressive, with red seat and door panel inserts, a metal mesh strip hiding the dashboard air vents, and a touchscreen infotainment system. The Civic Si's base price in Canada was $35,630, and it came with a Blazing Orange Pearl paint option in the U.S., which was not available in Canada. The Civic Si maintained a balance between practicality and performance, making it a compelling choice for enthusiasts.

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. The Altima's performance was adequate, with torque arriving at 3,600 rpm. The CVT was programmed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, and the SR Premium trim included paddle shifters for added driver engagement. Fuel economy ratings were 9.1 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.9 combined for the base trim. The Altima's ride was firm, and rear visibility was poor, necessitating reliance on the reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert system. In mountainous areas, the Altima displayed commendable grip but had lifeless steering and brake issues.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured a high-output turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature. The Civic Si's drivetrain included a single-mass lightweight flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential. Larger brakes, thicker suspension stabilizer bars, and a dual-pinion variable-ratio steering system were standard. The Civic Si offered Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, and its turbocharged engine provided a burst of torque when needed. On the highway, the Civic Si was loud but provided good passing power. In mountainous areas, the Civic Si was a joy to drive, with excellent steering and tenacious grip. However, the braking system experienced overheating issues during hot testing weather. Fuel economy was rated at 7.7 L/100 km combined, with an average of 8.0 L/100 km during testing.

The 2023 Nissan Altima's interior was simple and comfortable, with controls laid out logically. The Zero Gravity seats were exceptionally comfortable, though the leather upholstery was somewhat sticky. The Altima featured dual-zone automatic climate control, a power sunroof, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, making entry and exit challenging. Rear seat comfort was good, with ample legroom and headroom. Interior storage was reasonable, but the trunk offered only 437 litres of cargo space, smaller than some competitors.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced practicality and performance with sport-bolstered front seats and a manual transmission. The driver's seat had a manual height adjuster, ensuring a proper driving position. The Civic Si included dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power sunroof. The back seat was roomy, with generous legroom, though rear air conditioning vents were absent. Cargo space was 408 litres, with the ability to stow full-size suitcases on their sides. A 60/40-split folding back seat allowed for longer items, and hidden storage was available under the trunk floor.

The 2023 Nissan Altima came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including Bluetooth, wired Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A new 12.3-inch touchscreen was available on higher trims, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The Bose nine-speaker premium audio system was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims. The 12.3-inch infotainment system represented a significant improvement, with a superior user interface and voice recognition technology.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured a 9-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with onboard navigation, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and HD Radio. Pairing an iPhone and using wireless Apple CarPlay was seamless. The infotainment system included a knob for stereo power and volume, and steering wheel controls for volume and tuning. A 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system was standard, offering impressive audio quality due to early collaboration with the audio component company.

The 2023 Nissan Altima included the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver monitoring system. ProPilot Assist was available on SR Premium and Platinum trims, adding adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring 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 Si came with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. The safety features were more effective on highways, but the adaptive cruise control was not responsive to changing traffic conditions. The Civic Si earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.