2021 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had a significant design overhaul, making it more appealing than its predecessors. The new model, especially in Electric Blue paint, looked stylish and modern. The mid-level SV trim featured 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, and an all-black cloth interior, which felt far from drab. The Sentra's design was inspired by the Altima, giving it a poised and elegant look. The car was 2 inches lower and wider than the previous version, with detailed stampings and a V-shaped grille that added to its mature and recognizable appearance. The interior was upgraded with a flat-bottom leather steering wheel, white-stitched leatherette dash, and knurled climate knobs, making it feel like a more expensive car. The SV Premium Package offered quilted tan leather seats and Infiniti-grade materials, enhancing the overall luxury feel.

The 2021 Honda Civic, known for its segment-defining versions, continued to impress with its design. The 10th-generation Civic, available in sedan, hatchback, and performance-tuned Type R formats, had a polarizing yet familiar look. The Touring sedan in Cosmic Blue Metallic paint, with its 18-inch wheels, looked great from certain angles. The interior, though not as dramatic as when first introduced, still featured quality materials and thoughtful detailing. The cabin had an adventurous design, but the maximum infotainment screen size of 7 inches showed its age. Despite this, the Civic remained a trend-setter with its spacious and comfortable interior, comparable to a midsize car from a decade ago.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra came with a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The car's acceleration tapered off after 30 mph, partly due to an overly sensitive throttle pedal. The Eco button helped subdue this behavior, while the Sport mode held the revs longer. The CVT mimicked gear changes smoothly and responsively. The Sentra's independent suspension and quick steering provided a controlled and agreeable ride, though it wasn't particularly sporty. Fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA rating of 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined. Over 300 miles of mixed driving, the Sentra averaged about 30 mpg.

The 2021 Honda Civic offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, delivered 174 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, making the Civic more powerful and enjoyable to drive. The sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension and quick steering provided a composed and gratifying driving experience, especially with the Touring trim's 18-inch wheels. However, the CVT had its drawbacks, including a sloppy gear lever and droning noise. Despite these issues, the Civic's fuel economy was commendable, averaging 34.8 mpg on a 140-mile driving loop, surpassing the EPA estimate of 33 mpg combined.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra's backseat was surprisingly spacious, accommodating a 5-foot-11 passenger comfortably without knee or headroom issues. The front seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity cushioning, reducing fatigue on long drives. The lowered body profile improved side visibility, though the rear window's rake limited the rear view. The trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, slightly less than the previous model but still large for a compact car. The seatbacks folded for additional cargo space, and the overall interior layout was user-friendly with easily accessible controls.

The 2021 Honda Civic's low seating position made getting in and out a bit of a workout, but once inside, the seats were comfortable. The driver's seat offered eight-way power adjustment, while the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats provided excellent thigh support and a comfortable backrest angle, though the absence of rear air conditioning vents was a drawback. The center console was highly practical, with ample storage space, trays, cupholders, and a deep center bin. The Civic sedan's trunk was spacious, offering 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly reduced to 14.7 cubic feet in the Touring trim due to the premium sound system.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra lacked some advanced features like ProPilot, navigation, and wireless charging. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and WiFi as standard on the mid-level SV trim, along with additional USB ports and larger screens. The SV Premium Package included bright LED headlights, while the SR trim added a Bose stereo, sunroof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and 360-degree cameras. The SV trim also featured dual-zone climate control, proximity-entry key, adaptive cruise control, and remote engine start. Overall, the Sentra provided a decent array of technology for its price.

The 2021 Honda Civic's technology showed its age, especially in the base LX trim, which only offered a 5-inch LCD screen, Bluetooth, and a 1.0-amp USB port. The Sport trim upgraded to a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen, eight-speaker sound system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a more powerful USB port. The EX trim added HD Radio and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the Touring trim included navigation with voice recognition, digital traffic, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Despite these upgrades, the Civic's voice recognition system was unsophisticated, and the premium sound system, while nice, wasn't a significant improvement over the eight-speaker setup.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top ratings. It included rear side airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, auto high beams, and a driver attention monitor as standard safety features.

The 2021 Honda Civic came equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, Road Departure Mitigation, and a Lane Keeping Assist System. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a multi-angle reversing camera. The Civic offered LaneWatch, a camera-based blind-spot monitoring system, but it had limitations and did not cover the left side of the car. The Civic earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the Touring trim and received five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment.