Compare the2025 Nissan VersaVS 2025 Honda Civic

The Versa SR has standard NissanConnect Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Civic doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Versa and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Versa is safer than the Honda Civic:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Versa is safer than the Honda Civic:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Versa for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the Civic (2/24,000 vs. 1/12000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Honda.

On the EPA test cycle the Versa CVT gets better fuel mileage than the Civic Sedan Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder (32 city/40 hwy vs. 31 city/39 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Versa gets better mileage than the Civic Hatchback:

The Versa stops shorter than the Civic:

The Versa has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Civic doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Versa SR handles at .86 G’s, while the Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Sedan pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Versa’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Civic LX/Sport Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Versa’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Civic Sport/Sport Touring Hybrid’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Nissan Versa may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Honda Civic.

The Versa has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom and 1.2 inches more rear hip room than the Civic.

The Versa’s optional folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Civic LX Sedan’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Versa Manual can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Versa can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Civic can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Versa’s standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The Civic LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Versa and the Honda Civic, based on reliability, safety and performance.