2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2022 Honda Civic

The 2021 Nissan Sentra, having entered its eighth generation, showcased a significant evolution from its origins as a sub-compact sedan in 1982. Over the years, it transformed through various body styles before settling into a compact four-door sedan form in 2000. The Sentra's exterior was marked by an athletic design with crisp lines and a bold V-Motion grille, complemented by expressive headlights. It offered eight exterior paint colors, including vibrant options like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic. The SR trim featured two-tone paint schemes, enhancing its sporty appearance. Inside, the Sentra boasted a layered dash with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, textured plastic surfaces, and a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel. The second row provided ample space for two passengers, and the trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The 2022 Honda Civic, available in LX, Sport, EX, and Touring trims, started at $21,700 and went up to $28,300, excluding destination charges. The redesigned Civic resembled the larger Accord sedan and adopted a more conservative and mature look compared to its predecessor. The interior embraced a minimalistic approach with a span of metal honeycomb mesh across the dashboard, hiding the air vents. The materials, especially in the Touring trim, reflected a newfound maturity. The Civic's interior redesign included a new center console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. The trunk volume remained generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with the Touring trim, which had a smaller trunk due to premium sound system components.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a front-wheel-drive system and an Xtronic CVT, providing adequate performance for commuting and city driving. The Sentra's fuel economy was rated at 29 mpg city/39 mpg highway/33 mpg combined for S and SV models, and 28 mpg city/37 mpg highway/32 mpg combined for SR models. The suspension setup included MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link rear, contributing to tidy road manners and almost fun cornering. The Sentra's 149 horsepower struck a balance between fuel economy and performance.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the EX and Touring trims. Both engines were paired with CVTs, featuring Step Shift programming for a more traditional automatic feel. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing responsiveness. The Civic's improved structural rigidity, revised suspension tuning, and better steering feel made it enjoyable to drive. However, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior featured well-placed controls, a traditional gear selector lever, open cupholders, a large glove compartment, and roomy covered storage beneath the center armrest. It included two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port. The Zero Gravity front bucket seats provided comfort on long rides, and the $2,270 Premium Package on SV and SR models added a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, leather or Prima-Tex seating, and a power-sliding glass moonroof.

The 2022 Honda Civic's redesigned front seats offered better support, especially in the leather-lined Touring trim with a power-adjustable driver's seat. The back seat had more legroom than most in the segment, though the backrest angle might feel too reclined for some. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, and the Touring trim lost heated rear cushions. The new center console had less storage space but more accessible cupholders. The trunk volume was 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with the Touring trim, and the split-folding backseat added utility.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a standard audio system featuring AM/FM/USB with four speakers in the S trim, upgraded to six speakers and SiriusXM capability in SV and SR trims. The SR trim offered an optional premium Bose system with eight speakers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth audio, and hands-free text-messaging assistant were standard. The S trim had a 7-inch touchscreen, while SV and SR trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. NissanConnect services, available on SR models, included a WiFi hotspot, remote access to vehicle functions, and voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display showed when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The standard infotainment setup included a 7-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Sport and EX trims had eight speakers, while the Touring trim offered a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint 2 premium surround-sound audio system. The Touring trim also had a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, HD radio, satellite radio, and a navigation system.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags, knee airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert. The Sentra also included Nissan Safety Shield 360, which featured intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-view camera, and intelligent driver alertness. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Honda Civic's upgraded Honda Sensing collection included Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also featured a wide-view front camera and eight ultrasonic sonar sensors. The Civic EX and Touring trims had a proper blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic's new vehicle architecture provided better protection in collisions, and it included new front airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A standard rear-seat reminder system was also included.