2022 Honda Civic vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Honda Civic was offered in four familiar trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. Prices for the Civic started at $21,700 for the LX and went up to $28,300 for the Touring, excluding a $995 destination charge. A new five-door hatchback was set to return later in the year, while the two-door coupe was discontinued. The Civic Touring model, tested in the new Morning Mist Blue color, had a sticker price of $29,690, including destination charges. The Civic Sport, with Platinum White Pearl paint and the Honda Performance Development package, was estimated at just under $25,880. The redesigned 2022 Civic had a more conservative appearance, resembling the larger Accord sedan. Its interior featured a minimalistic design with improved materials, especially in the Touring trim, and a metal honeycomb mesh across the dashboard to hide air vents.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, largely unchanged from its 2020 redesign, resembled a downsized Altima with a low-slung, modern look. It was a significant improvement over previous models, which had a more cartoonish design. The Sentra was available in bold colors like blue, burnt orange, and Scarlet Ember, with gray being one of four colors offered with a contrasting black roof. The interior of the Sentra was a highlight, with a modern and simple layout that combined form and function. The front cabin featured a touchscreen rising from the dash, serving as the visual centerpiece. The Sentra was available in S, SV, and SR trims, each offering a range of features from basic to more advanced, including a Midnight Edition package for the SR trim with dark accents and unique badging.

The 2022 Honda Civic offered two engine options, both improved from the previous generation. The LX and Sport trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 lb-ft of torque. The EX and Touring trims came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 180 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with different CVTs for each engine. The Civic's Sport and Touring trims included a Sport transmission mode, enhancing the car's responsiveness. The Civic's handling was praised for its fun and engaging nature, with improvements in structural rigidity and suspension tuning. However, the Civic Touring's fuel economy fell short of the EPA's estimate, returning 30.4 mpg on a 95-mile loop.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. While not outstanding, the engine provided solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road conditions well, though it struggled with harsher bumps. Overall, the Sentra was suitable for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2022 Honda Civic was known for its comfort, with redesigned front seats offering better support. The Touring trim featured a power driver's seat with excellent adjustability, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The Civic's low ground clearance made entry and exit challenging for some, but the back seat offered more legroom than most competitors. The Civic's interior redesign included a new center console with less storage space but more accessible cupholders. Trunk volume was generous at 14.8 cubic feet, or 14.4 cubes with Touring trim, and a split-folding backseat added utility.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. However, the rear bench created a ledge, making it difficult to slide larger items through. The Sentra's trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a button on the dash. The Sentra offered spacious seating in both rows, with ample headroom and legroom in the front and decent space in the rear. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the center console provided plenty of 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 when the LED headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals were on. The Civic's infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a 9-inch display and additional features in the Touring trim. The Touring trim also offered a 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a navigation system.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch screen. The system included conventional hard buttons and volume and tuning dials. However, the graphics could use updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback compared to the Civic.

The 2022 Honda Civic featured the upgraded Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and Lane Keeping Assist. The Civic also offered a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert on the EX and Touring trims. The Civic's architecture was stronger, with new airbag designs and rear side-impact airbags. A rear-seat reminder system was standard.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, with high ratings for its driver-assistance features.