Compare the2022 Nissan SentraVS 2022 Honda Civic

The Sentra SR offers an optional Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Civic only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sentra has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Civic Touring/Sport Touring has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Sentra and the Civic have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available daytime running lights.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sentra second among compact cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Civic isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan fifth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 27th.

The Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (146 vs. 138) than the Civic LX/Sport’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Sentra is faster than the Civic LX/Sport 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Sentra S/SV gets better fuel mileage than the Civic LX/Sport Sedan Sport 2.0 4-cylinder CVT (29 city/39 hwy vs. 30 city/37 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Sentra gets better mileage than the Civic Hatchback:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Sentra uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Civic EX/EX-L/Touring requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Sentra higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda Civic (3 to 7). This means the Sentra produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Civic every 15,000 miles.

The Sentra stops shorter than the Civic:

The Sentra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Civic doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sentra is 1.5 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Civic.

The Sentra SR handles at .88 G’s, while the Civic Touring Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The front grille of the Sentra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Civic doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Sentra SR is quieter than the Civic Touring Sedan (76 vs. 78 dB).

The Sentra has 1.7 inches more front legroom and 4.4 inches more rear hip room than the Civic Hatchback.

The Sentra’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Civic LX Sedan/Sport Sedan’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Sentra’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Civic LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sentra SV/SR’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Civic doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Sentra and the Honda Civic, based on reliability, safety and performance.