2020 Honda Civic Hatchback vs 2021 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, a compact car that had been redesigned half a decade prior, continued to evolve with subtle styling tweaks. It featured body-color crossbars on the air intakes, a new grille, and smoked headlights, enhancing its visual appeal. The Sport Touring trim, with its Platinum White Pearl paint, stood out with glossy black detailing, often mistaken for the more aggressive Type R. Inside, the Civic offered stitched leather on the steering wheel and quality materials, though hard plastics were still present. The six-speed manual gearbox, previously exclusive to the Sport trim, was now available in the Sport Touring, priced at $28,980. Despite its cost, it was significantly cheaper than the Type R, with the base LX trim starting at $21,650.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra, in its eighth generation, showcased an athletic exterior with crisp lines and a bold V-Motion grille. Its expressive headlights and various paint options, including two-tone schemes, added to its appeal. The Sentra's design was complemented by a fast roofline and muscular wheel arches, giving it an agile look. Inside, the Sentra featured a layered dash with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, textured plastics, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The second row offered decent space, though better suited for two passengers. The trunk provided 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 60/40 split rear seat for added versatility.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback, equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivered 174 horsepower in LX, EX, and EX-L trims, and 180 horsepower in Sport and Sport Touring trims. Torque varied with the transmission, offering 162 lb-ft with the CVT and 177 lb-ft with the manual. The Civic Hatchback provided a refined and quiet driving experience, with a softer ride compared to the Civic Si. It was fun to drive, offering confidence on winding roads, and achieved an EPA rating of 32 mpg combined, with real-world testing showing 32.7 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. Paired with an Xtronic CVT, the Sentra offered adequate performance for daily driving. Weighing between 3,036 and 3,084 pounds, it was relatively lightweight. Fuel economy was impressive, with 33 mpg combined for S and SV models, and 32 mpg for SR models. The Sentra's driving experience was enhanced by its well-sorted CVT, independent suspension, and dual-pinion electric steering, providing tidy road manners and enjoyable cornering.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback offered 25.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly more than the HR-V Touring. While it couldn't match the HR-V's maximum volume, the Civic's performance and fuel efficiency made it a compelling choice. The low seating position might not be as convenient as an SUV, but the heated leather front seats provided comfort. The center console storage was versatile, with a sliding armrest, tray, and cupholders. Rear seat comfort was good, though lacking air-conditioning vents and tinted glass.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-organized, with a traditional gear selector, open cupholders, and ample storage. It featured USB ports and a 12-volt outlet, though a covered compartment would have been preferable. The Zero Gravity front seats offered comfort for long drives, with optional power adjustments and heated seats available in higher trims. The Sentra's practicality was enhanced by large door pockets and a spacious trunk, making it suitable for longer journeys.

The 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker premium sound system in the Sport Touring trim. While it lacked a tuning knob and advanced voice recognition, it included features like automatic climate control and Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock for added convenience.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a 7-inch touchscreen in the S trim, upgraded to an 8-inch display in SV and SR trims. It offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SR trim had an optional Bose system and NissanConnect services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote access via a smartphone app. The system allowed voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, though these features were limited to higher trims.

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

The 2021 Nissan Sentra boasted a comprehensive safety package, including advanced airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert, and Nissan Safety Shield 360. It featured intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.