Setting out on a trip throughout the Santa Ana, Mission Viejo, and Tustin CA, areas in the right sedan can really add to your driving experience. Two of the most popular sedans to choose from are the 2020 Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra. Our team at Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Irvine is here to help you figure out which of these sedans is the right pick for you.
This Civic vs. Sentra comparison will show you what these vehicles offer and how they differ, so you can determine which sedan seems like the better choice for you. Schedule a test drive here.
Honda Civic vs Nissan Sentra Power & Performance
While both sedans seem similar, when you look under the hood, the differences are apparent. The Civic comes equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that generates 158 horsepower. The Sentra, on the other hand, also features a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, but it only achieves 148 horsepower.
Then, when it comes to fuel economy, the Honda Civic wins out again. Its base engine achieves an EPA-estimated 30 city/38 highway MPG.* The Sentra, on the other hand, falls short in rush-hour traffic with an EPA-estimated 29 city MPG.
Cabin Space & Comfort
The Civic and Sentra are each designed to carry five passengers within their respective cabins. The Honda Civic offers 97.8 cubic feet of space in its cabin, while the Nissan Sentra falls a little behind with 96 cubic feet of total cabin space.
While there are subtle differences between their respective passenger spaces, the most noticeable difference is in the rear headroom. The Honda Civic offers 37.1 inches of headroom, while the Sentra offers just 36.7 inches. Both vehicles come outfitted with cloth seating materials, but higher-end materials can be included with an upgrade.
Audio & Technology Features
The Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra each come outfitted with 4-speaker sound systems inside the cabin. These systems also include speed-sensitive volume control, which is a feature that automatically adjusts the audio levels to help combat the loud sound of the engine during peak performance. Read our 2020 Honda Civic review to learn more!
Both sedans feature touchscreen displays that can be used to access media through your smartphone including music, podcasts, and various other multimedia apps. They also both have Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capabilities, so you can easily sync your smartphone. Each vehicle includes Bluetooth® technology that allows for both hands-free phone calls and smartphone audio streaming.
Driver-Assistance Technology Features
A major difference between these vehicles is their driver-assistance technology features. The Honda Civic comes standard with Honda Sensing®—its suite of driver-assisting features. These features include the Collision Mitigation Braking System™, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation System, and even the convenient Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, which lets you set a cruising speed and distance from the vehicle ahead and automatically adapts to the flow of traffic.
The Nissan Sentra does offer some driver-assistance features; however, they don’t come standard with the base trim. Additionally, these features only include Automatic Emergency Braking, while other similar features in Honda Sensing® aren’t even included with the highest trims of the Nissan Sentra.
Civic Sport vs Sentra SV
These respective trims add a bit of sportiness to the core models. Each come with cloth-trimmed seating and 7-inch touchscreen displays. These screens incorporate Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, which can be used to integrate the paired phone into the screen. The Civic Sport adds HondaLink®, which gives you remote access to the vehicle with unlocking capabilities as well as vehicle location for crowded parking lots.
Civic EX vs Sentra SR
While there are not too many differences between the previous iterations of the Civic and Sentra, the Civic EX adds a crucial component: The 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The Sentra SR retains the 6-way manual adjustable seat. The EX also includes heated front seats for any uncharacteristically brisk morning commutes. The Civic EX also includes the HD Radio™, which provides higher-quality listening for the AM/FM radio stations.
Deciding Between the Honda Civic vs Nissan Sentra
In our 2020 Honda Civic vs. Nissan Sentra comparison, you certainly learned a lot about what these vehicles offer and how they differ. You got a strong sense of the 2020 Civic and its notable advantages that it has over the Nissan Sentra. At Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Irvine, you can learn even more about the Civic, what it offers–and, of course, how it feels on the road.
Schedule a test drive with us at Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Irvine. We’re happy to help drivers in Santa Ana, Mission Viejo, and Tustin along on the journey towards the right car that they can take out on the road!
* 25 city/36 highway/29 combined mpg rating for Sport 6MT trim. 30 city/38 highway/33 combined mpg rating for LX CVT and Touring trims. 29 city/37 highway/32 combined mpg rating for Sport CVT trim. 32 city/42 highway/36 combined mpg rating for EX & EX-L trims. Based on 2020 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
