The Honda Civic has long received praise as an excellent contender in the compact market, but the much-anticipated unveiling of the next-generation Nissan Sentra puts Honda in the hot seat for what’s to come. See what it all boils down to in our comparison of the 2020 Nissan Sentra vs the 2020 Honda Civic.
The Nissan Sentra enters generation eight strapped with a new engine, fresh styling and more standard features than ever before. The Honda Civic, on the other hand, carries over mostly unchanged save for some more standard driver assistance features. Check out the table below for a quick glance into some key differences
The all-new 2020 Nissan Sentra and the 2020 Honda Civic sedan are each powered by their own 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. Both engines link to a Continuously Variable Transmission, though the Civic's standard setup involves a six-speed manual. From the base configuration, the Sentra also saves more on trips to the pump with EPA estimates reaching up to 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway – an impressive feat for the segment.
Regardless of which lineup you choose, you’ll leverage a robust suite of standard active safety systems, though the variety will vary. Both contenders come equipped with automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert and automatic high beams – but only the Sentra tops it off with standard pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Looks are subjective, but we can’t help but chime in on the contrasting interiors. There’s no denying the restyled cabin of the 2020 Nissan Sentra provides a more mature appearance compared to the 2020 Honda Civic sedan. The upscale design incorporates soft-touch surfaces, a classic gauge cluster design, circular vents, an upright 8-inch touchscreen and optional quilted leather seats. Stacked up against the Sentra, the Civic just feels second-class.