Why Choose a Honda Civic Over a Nissan Sentra?

Deciding on the right compact car can be tough, especially when drivers in Opelousas, Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, and Alexandria are choosing from two well-trusted models, the Honda Civic and the Nissan Sentra. Despite their similarities, these two cars have quite a few differences that could ultimately sway you in a certain direction. At Team Honda of Acadiana, our sales team looks forward to helping out our customers by answering their questions, and letting them compare for themselves! We’re here to help you all throughout the car-shopping and buying process.  

We outlined a Civic vs. Sentra comparison that we hope to help in your research for the right match. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact or visit our Honda dealership in Opelousas today! 

Safety Features

The Civic comes standard with Honda Sensing®, which is a collection of driver-assisting technology features. The Sentra also adds the new Nissan Safety Shield® 360 system. These features work with exterior-mounted sensors that measure the speed of the vehicle and the distance from the object ahead. Using these measurements, the Honda Sensing® features will provide warnings, and will apply brake pressure to give the driver a chance to react.

Each sedan includes collision mitigation, emergency braking, and even lane keeping systems. However, the Honda Civic also adds Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which is a feature that automatically adjusts the vehicle’s cruising speed to ensure that it keeps a safe distance from the car ahead.

Engine Specs & Options

Despite both compact cars being in the same class, their respective engines and performances yield very different results. The Civic comes outfitted with a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that’s mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission, producing 158 horsepower. The Sentra includes a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine, also paired with a CVT, but its performance is limited to just 149 horsepower.

The Civic offers an optional turbo engine to propel its performance: The 1.5L 4-cylinder turbo engine. This engine is capable of boasting an impressive 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.

Audio Entertainment & Technology

Both the Honda Civic and Nissan Sentra include dashboard-mounted displays that are used to select the media options for the ride. Each sedan features AM/FM radios, USB and auxiliary inputs to connect portable media players, and even Bluetooth® technology for both hands-free phone calling and audio streaming.

Each vehicle also offers available connectivity features like Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. These features integrate your phone into the screen so you can have easy access to your apps, contacts, ad texts. The Civic also includes the Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC), which adjusts your audio levels when the engine performance is loud. While the Civic comes with eight standard speakers, the Sentra only offers six. 

Interior Comfort & Exterior Style

Size shouldn’t compromise comfort, so regardless of your daily commute or weekend adventures, enjoying the ride is important to compact car owners. In terms of space, the Honda Civic offers more room in the front and back of the car than the Nissan Sentra. For cargo, you will also find a little more space for your things in a Civic with 15.1ft vs the Sentra with 14.3ft when all seats are in place. 

	Honda Civic	Nissan Sentra
Headroom (front/rear)	39.3 inches/37.1 inches	37.5 inches/36.7 inches
Shoulder Room  (front/rear)	57 inches/55 inches	56.4 inches/54.5 inches
Hip Room (front)	53.7 inches	53.5 inches
Legroom (rear)	37.4 inches	34.7 inches

We hope that this Civic vs. Sentra comparison has helped you get a stronger sense of what these sedans offer, how they differ, and of course, which one seems like the better fit for you. Of course, while the Civic seems to offer you more, you still may need more info to go on before you decide. The Nissan Sentra and the Honda Civic are nearly identical in interior space, trunk room and optional power choices. But the Civic has more standard horsepower, offers more safety features and has three body styles. We believe that you will conclude after you finish your research that the Honda Civic wins overall.

When you’re ready, schedule your test drive with our friendly sales team at Team Honda of Acadiana! We’re happy to help drivers all throughout the Acadiana area for when it’s time to find their next car!

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