2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, with its recent styling tweaks, presented a bold and modern look. The redesign included body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, which gave it a more refined appearance. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint, stood out with glossy black detailing, often mistaken for the more aggressive Type R model. Inside, the Civic offered a mix of stitched leather and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The six-speed manual gearbox added a sporty touch, and the overall build quality impressed with its solid feel and noise reduction.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Sentra underwent a transformation that made it more appealing than its predecessors. The Sentra adopted a scaled-down Altima design, giving it a more substantial presence. Its Electric Blue paint and mid-level SV trim with 16-inch alloy wheels provided a stylish yet practical look. The Sentra's interior featured a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and a leatherette dash, elevating its class. The SV Premium Package offered luxurious touches like quilted tan leather seats, making the Sentra feel more upscale. Despite some hard plastics, the fit and finish were commendable, rivaling even the Mazda3.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, particularly in Sport and Sport Touring trims, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. This powertrain delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque varied depending on the transmission, with 162 lb-ft for the CVT and 177 lb-ft for the manual. The Civic Hatchback offered a refined and quiet driving experience, with a softer ride compared to the Civic Si. It was fun to drive, especially on winding roads, and achieved an impressive 32.7 mpg in combined driving.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. Power was sent to the front wheels via a CVT, which mimicked gear changes smoothly. The Sentra's independent suspension improved handling, providing a flat cornering experience and agreeable ride quality. While not sporty, the Sentra offered a confident driving experience with good steering response. Fuel economy was rated at 33 mpg combined, making it an efficient choice for daily driving.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered practicality with its 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing the HR-V Touring. While the Civic's low seating position made entry and exit slightly challenging, the heated leather front seats provided comfort. The center console storage was cleverly designed, accommodating various items, including oversized water bottles. Rear seat comfort was decent, though the lack of air-conditioning vents and dark tinted glass could make it uncomfortable in hot weather.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra excelled in rear-seat space, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity cushioning, reducing fatigue on long drives. Visibility was generally good, though the rear window's rake limited the view. The trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, with foldable seatbacks for added versatility. The Sentra's interior design prioritized ease of use, with intuitive controls and a comfortable driving position.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. While it lacked a tuning knob and advanced voice recognition, features like automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock added convenience.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, while lacking ProPilot and navigation, offered standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The SV trim added more USB ports and larger screens. The SV Premium Package included LED headlights and other premium features. The Sentra's technology package was basic but functional, with dual-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control enhancing the driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback included the Honda Sensing suite, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Civic received top marks for crash-test performance but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to headlight performance.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, though not crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, was expected to perform well. It included rear side airbags, knee airbags, forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. The Sentra's comprehensive safety features made it a strong contender in its class.