2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in familiar trim levels: LX, EX, Sport, and Touring. The sedan body style was the focus of this review, with the hatchback and performance variants covered separately. In Canada, the Civic's pricing started at an MSRP of $24,465 for the LX and went up to $30,265 for the Touring, excluding a $1,700 destination charge. The Civic Touring, tested in Morning Mist Blue, had a total cost of $32,396, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at $31,467. The 2022 Civic's design was more conservative, resembling the larger Accord, and featured a minimalistic interior with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over into 2022 with a modern, low-slung design reminiscent of a downsized Altima. It was a significant improvement over previous models, with a well-executed design language. The Sentra was available in bold colours like blue, burnt orange, and Scarlett Ember, with a contrasting black roof option. The interior was a highlight, with a simple yet modern layout, easy-to-use controls, and a touchscreen as the centrepiece. The Sentra was offered in S, SV, and SR trims, each adding more features, with the SR trim including sport cloth seats and a Midnight Edition package with dark accents.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque for the LX, EX, and Sport trims, and a turbocharged 1.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque for the Touring trim. Both engines were paired with a CVT, featuring Step Shift programming for a traditional automatic feel. The Civic's handling was enjoyable, with improved structural rigidity and suspension tuning. However, the Civic Touring's fuel efficiency fell short of expectations, returning 7.7 L/100 km compared to the estimated 6.9 L/100 km.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. In Canada, a six-speed manual transmission was standard, with a CVT available. The Sentra's engine was adequate, with the CVT managing power well. The Sport button on the shifter offered minimal performance improvement. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its suspension handled most road conditions decently. It was a reliable choice for commuting and road trips, though not exceptional in performance.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering excellent support. The Touring trim featured leather-lined, heated front seats, though not ventilated. The Civic's low stance made entry and exit challenging, but rear legroom was generous. The Civic lacked rear air conditioning vents, but the Touring trim included heated rear seats. The redesigned interior had a new centre console with less storage but more accessible cupholders. Trunk space was 419 litres, or 408 litres for the Touring trim, with a split-folding backseat for added utility.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 404 litres of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. The trunk could be opened remotely via the key fob or a dash button. The Sentra's interior provided spacious seating, with comfortable front seats and decent rear legroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the centre console had ample cupholders and trays.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured digital instrumentation, with the Touring trim offering a 10-inch display panel. The Vehicle Activity display showed headlight and taillight status, enhancing safety. The standard infotainment system had a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Touring trim offered a 9-inch display with wireless connectivity and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The system performed well, with excellent voice recognition technology.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the SV and SR trims had an 8-inch screen. The system was user-friendly, with hard buttons and dials for navigation. However, it lacked wireless connectivity and device charging, which were available in the Civic.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing suite, including Traffic Jam Assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic replaced its LaneWatch system with a proper blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic alert. The vehicle's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra included standard driver-assistance features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, though its headlight ratings were lower.