2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Sentra in West Burlington IA

Vehicle Overview

The Honda Civic needs no introduction. It’s one of the most iconic small sedans ever manufactured. The Civic sells well year in and year out, and the critics love it. Consider that the 2020 Honda Civic was selected as an Editors’ Choice by Car and Driver and as the Top Rated option in its class by Edmunds! Nissan positions the Sentra as the budget-friendly alternative to the Civic and other sedans, but it’s unclear whether consumers actually agree. For the 2020 model, Nissan went back to the drawing board, and the result is impressive: a sleek exterior, a more powerful base engine and a compelling standard equipment group. Since drivers considering a sedan will undoubtedly compare the Civic to the Sentra, we offer our 2020 Honda Civic vs 2020 Nissan Sentra comparison across a number of crucial categories.

Exterior - 2020 Honda Civic

Both the 2020 Nissan Sentra and 2020 Honda Civic feature modern exteriors that are sleek and stylish but true to the traditional sedan form. Fundamentally, both are similar. The Sentra has a slightly longer wheelbase: 106.8 vs 106.3 inches. But they are both the same overall length at 182.7 inches. Width, height and ground clearance are all rather close as well. A notable difference is the trunk. Honda has focused on bigger trunks to compete with crossovers and allows for 15.1 cubic feet here. The Sentra only affords 14.3 cubic feet, which may seem a huger difference on paper but can be significant.

Interior - 2020 Honda Civic in West Burlington

The Sentra and Civic both provide seating for five. The Civic offers a bit more passenger volume at 97.8 cubic feet as opposed to 96.0. The Sentra does allow for 1.7 additional inches of legroom for the driver, which may matter for taller people. But the Civic offers more room in most other areas. This includes rear legroom where your passengers will enjoy 37.4 rather than 34.7 inches.

Mechanical - Civic specs in West Burlington IA

The Honda Civic sedan is a front-wheel-drive vehicle offered with several different powertrains. The LX and Sport feature a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter i-4 mated to your choice of a continuously variable automatic transmission or a six-speed manual. The EX, EX-L and Touring features a 174-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged i-4 mated to a CVT. The Si features a high-output version of the 1.5-liter turbo that makes 205 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque and is exclusively mated to the six-speed manual. The 2020 Nissan Sentra is also front-wheel drive sedan but only available with a single powertrain: a 149-hp 2.0-liter i-4 paired with a CVT.