2021 Nissan Sentra vs Honda Civic

Sentra vs Civic: Quick Facts

• Rear Automatic Braking and Intelligent Driver Alertness come standard in the Nissan Sentra but are not available in the Honda Civic.
• The 2021 Sentra and the Civic offer a Tire Pressure Monitoring System but only the Sentra has an Easy-Fill Tire Alert.
• The Sentra can be equipped with an Intelligent Around View® Monitor but this system isn’t available in the Civic.
• The Civic comes standard with a 5-inch infotainment display, while the Sentra offers a baseline 7-inch system.

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Baseline Safety Systems

Having an extra set of eyes on the road is a good thing. From running errands after work to weekend adventures, a better protected drive is a must have—and both these sedans deliver.

Inside the cabin of the 2021 Nissan Sentra and the 2021 Honda Civic, you’ll be assisted by a suite of available safety technologies that warn you of dangerous situations.

Coming standard in the Sentra and the Civic are the following safety systems:

• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning: Measures the distance between you and the car ahead, letting you know when you’re following too closely.
• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection: If a frontal collision seems imminent, it applies the brakes to avoid impact with another car, cyclist, or pedestrian.
• Lane Departure Warning: Alerts you to unintentional sway and when you may be about to leave your lane, applies gentle steering corrections to help you stay firmly on track.
• High Beam Assist: Maintains high beams to illuminate the road ahead at night. When another vehicle is approaching, it intelligently toggles to low beams, so no one’s view is obstructed.

Both of these sedans offer many great safety systems for your protection. If you’re hoping for a few more features to alert you on the roads, which one has more to offer?

Upgrade Your Protection

Of course, you can never be too safe. While those shared standard technologies will help keep you out of harm’s way, the Sentra is slightly more prepared, with the additional following baseline systems:

• Blind Spot Warning: Keeps an eye on your side blind zones and lets you know when another vehicle is detected, so you know when it’s safe to change lanes.
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert: When backing up in a crowded parking lot, this feature alerts you to any approaching vehicles, so you can safely be on your way.
• Rear Automatic Braking: Measures the distance between your car and rear obstacles and brings you to a halt, if it detects you’re too close.
• Intelligent Driver Alertness: Detects distracted or drowsy driving, and urges you to take a break.

On the other hand, if you want a comparable blind spot monitor in the Civic, you’ll have to upgrade to a higher trim level for that feature to be available.

Additionally, reversing out of spaces may not be as simple, since Rear Automatic Braking is not available in this Honda sedan. There also isn’t a comparable feature to alert you to distracted driving in the Civic, so long stretches behind the wheel of the Sentra may feel more secure.

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Sentra vs Civic: Additional Technology

To stay safely on the road, improve fuel economy, and make sure your tires last longer, it’s important to maintain the recommended amount of air pressure in your tires. Luckily, both the Civic and the Sentra come with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System to alert you when your tires need more air.

However, the Sentra also comes with an Easy-Fill Tire Alert. This feature monitors the tire pressure as you add air and lets you know when it's reached the proper pressure. Unfortunately, this feature isn’t available in the Civic.

Other advanced tech options for the 2021 Nissan Sentra include an available Intelligent Around View® Monitor. This feature utilizes cameras strategically placed around the exterior of your sedan to provide you with a panoramic view of your surroundings when backing in and out of tight parking spaces.

While the Honda Civic comes standard with a rearview camera, a system as comprehensive as the one found in the Sentra isn’t available, so you won’t have as clear of a view when moving in reverse.

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Sentra vs Civic: Entertainment Features

Choose the Right Entertainment to Suit Your Mood

No matter where the road takes you, it's essential to stay connected to your favorite entertainment. Luckily, both the Nissan Sentra and the Honda Civic offer a standard touchscreen display from which you can select your most beloved tunes.

With Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, you’ll gain instant access to an array of applications when you plug your compatible device into the USB port. Queue up your road-trip playlist or catch up on the latest episode of your favorite podcast—the possibilities are endless! Through this smartphone integration, you can also use your favorite navigation app—roam the open road with added confidence.

Smartphone integration is standard in the 2021 Sentra, allowing you to have a curated entertainment experience no matter which trim level appeals to you. However, if you’re interested in this type of connection in the Civic, you’ll need to choose a higher trim.

Top-of-the-Line Entertainment Systems

Whether you’re cranking the tunes or relaxing to a new audiobook, you want your entertainment to sound clear and refined. Luckily, both sedans come standard with four speakers. However, if you want to upgrade your sound, opt for the premium sound systems to add more speakers and fully immerse your drive in quality sound.

Of course, you can’t enjoy these speakers without the proper entertainment center. In the 2021 Nissan Sentra, you can access your infotainment system on a 7-inch screen for easy use on the fast-paced road ahead. You may have a harder time viewing the standard display in the Civic, though, since it’s much smaller, at only five inches.

A 7-inch display is available in the Civic but it still falls short of the available 8-inch screen in the Sentra.

The Sentra also has an available Wi-Fi Hotspot, which allows you and your passengers to stay connected no matter how far from home you stray on up to seven devices. Continue to stream your favorite music or play your kids’ favorite movie, so they stay thoroughly engaged in the back seat. Unfortunately, this amenity is not available on the Civic.

Charged and Ready for Whatever Comes Next

In our modern world, it is important to stay connected. You need effortless charging, so you and your passengers can be ready to snap photos of the memories you’re making.

The Nissan Sentra can include up to three USB ports to keep your smart devices charged and connected, including one USB port for the rear seat passengers. Additionally, the driver and the front passenger can enjoy the class-exclusive benefits of an available USB Type-C port. This unique feature will help you charge faster, so you can still power up—even on a short drive.

The Honda Civic has two USB ports and one power outlet in the front of the cabin. However, your passengers might feel left out and disconnected. No USB ports or outlets are available in the rear seats. If your friends in the backseat need to power up, they better bring a long charging cable!  

If you want to make sure everyone's device in is charged and ready to go when you arrive at your destination, the Nissan Sentra is more accommodating, with its impressive charging capabilities.

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Sentra vs Civic: Conquer the Seasons

You want to be comfortable in your ride no matter the time of year. Luckily, both the Sentra and the Civic have features to help you out in any weather. Both have a standard rear defroster, so you can clear up your foggy windows on a cold day and get back to ruling the roads.

In the winter, switch on the available heated front seats in these sedans and be treated to a warm and cozy ride to work. If you want a bit of extra comfort, the Sentra offers an available heated steering wheel to keep your hands warm. Since this feature is not available in the Civic, you might need to pack your mittens.

Both sedans come standard with front and rear all-season tires, so your wheels can withstand a variety of conditions as well as hot or cold temperatures. This added feature will help your vehicle get great traction all year round.

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Sentra vs Civic: First-Class Dimensions

Both the Sentra and the Civic are capable sedans that are easy to navigate, whether you’re cruising down the road or weaving in and out of traffic, thanks to their compact exterior dimensions.

What about interior comforts? You may find the 2021 Nissan Sentra is a little roomier since it offers 44 inches of front legroom. As you jet down the open road enjoying an audiobook, you’ll be able to relax fully into your cozy driver’s seat. You may feel a little cramped in the Civic, with only 42.3 inches of front legroom.

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Sentra vs Civic: Customizable Design

When you purchase a new vehicle, you want an interior and an exterior look that is as stylish as you are. Both the Nissan Sentra and the Honda Civic come with customizable color options for your perusal.

The 2021 Honda Civic includes five exterior colors at no extra cost:

• Crystal Black Pearl
• Lunar Silver Metallic
• Meteorite Gray Metallic
• Rallye Red
• Aegean Blue Metallic

These colors have a refined shine but three additional colors—Platinum White Pearl, Morning Mist Metallic, and Sonic Gray Pearl—cost extra. As for interior design, only Black Cloth is available.

The Nissan Sentra takes it up a notch, with six standard exterior color options:

• Fresh Powder
• Brilliant Silver
• Gun Metallic
• Rosewood Metallic
• Electric Blue Metallic
• Super Black

If you want to upgrade, the additional colors of Aspen White and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat are also available. For an additional fee, you can choose a 2-tone color palette: combine the brilliance of Two-Tone Aspen White TriCoat, Two-Tone Gun Metallic, Monarch Orange Metallic, or Electric Blue Metallic with accents of Super Black.

The Sentra also includes five interior options, compared to the Civic’s one:

• Charcoal Cloth
• Charcoal Premium Cloth
• Tan Quilted Leather
• Charcoal Sport Cloth
• Charcoal Prima-Tex™

Ultimately, if you want more choices when crafting your look, the Nissan Sentra is the clear winner, with its many interior and exterior color options.