2024 Nissan Sentra vs 2024 Honda Civic

The 2024 Nissan Sentra underwent a styling update, enhancing its visual appeal. The wider grille seamlessly integrated with the headlights, which featured black interior bezel elements, and chrome trim accentuated the edges. Vertical elements resembling air vents were positioned at the front fascia's edges, creating a broader appearance. The Sentra maintained its balanced design, avoiding the eccentricity of some competitors while offering more flair than the Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta. The interior boasted large round air vents inspired by the Z sports car, a plunging dashboard, and distinctive red-orange accent stitching in the SR models.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si retained its stealth-mode styling, reminiscent of early pocket rockets. It featured LED headlights, fog lights, and a gloss-black lip spoiler on the trunk lid. The 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with a matte-black finish and discreet “Si” badges added to its subtle yet sporty look. Inside, the Civic Si was more expressive with red seat and door panel inserts, a metal mesh strip hiding the dashboard air vents, and polished metal detailing. The cabin was equipped with a simple yet effective digital instrumentation paired with a touchscreen infotainment system.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with front-wheel drive. In Canada, a six-speed manual transmission was available on the S and SR grades, while a reengineered CVT aimed to improve fuel efficiency. The Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience with precise steering feedback and a laid-back suspension setup. However, the CVT exhibited an unexpected surge of acceleration at around 70 km/h in the test car.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si featured a high-output turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It came with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission with a downshift rev-matching feature. The Civic Si's drivetrain included a lightweight flywheel and a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing cornering performance. The car offered a thrilling driving experience with responsive steering and tenacious grip from its Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. However, the braking system showed signs of overheating during hot testing conditions.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra provided decent interior space, particularly in the front row, with comfortable Zero Gravity seats. It offered competitive front-seat legroom but lagged behind rivals in rear-seat legroom. The Sentra's trunk space measured 404 litres, accommodating longer items with a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. Standard features included heated front seats and mirrors, with additional amenities like dual-zone climate control and a heated steering wheel available on higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si balanced performance with practicality, featuring sport-bolstered front seats and a roomy back seat. The Civic Si offered generous legroom in the rear, allowing taller adults to sit comfortably. Cargo space was commendable at 408 litres, with the ability to stow full-size suitcases on their sides. The Civic Si included dual-zone climate control, heated seats, and a power sunroof, though it lacked rear-seat air conditioning vents.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra's tech offerings included a 7-inch touchscreen on the base model, with an 8-inch screen on higher trims. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but wireless versions were unavailable. The SV and SR models featured a six-speaker audio system and additional USB ports. While functional, the Sentra's infotainment system felt dated compared to competitors.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si came with a 9-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The system included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, providing impressive sound quality. The infotainment interface was user-friendly, with physical controls for volume and tuning, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra received mixed safety ratings. It earned a "Good" rating in the original side-impact crash test but only "Acceptable" in the updated version. The Sentra's front crash prevention scored "Advanced" in daytime testing but "Basic" at night. Standard safety features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, with adaptive cruise control available on higher trims.

The 2024 Honda Civic Si was equipped with Honda Sensing, offering a range of advanced driving assistance systems. However, some features, like lane-keeping assist, proved irksome during testing. The Civic Si earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though it received an "Acceptable" rating in some crash tests.