Nissan Sentra vs Honda Civic | 2023 Comparison 

Quick Take: The EPA classifies these cars differently, but they’re within a few inches of each other dimensionally inside and out. 

According to the EPA’s methodology for classifying vehicles, the 2023 Sentra is a compact car and the 2023 Civic is a mid-sizer. This is largely due to the Civic’s more voluminous passenger space overall, which measures 3 cubic feet greater than the Sentra. 

But, as we’ll dig into below, both of these cars are within a few inches of one another on important measurements like legroom and cargo space. The Civic hatchback is a few inches shorter than the Sentra. 

Engine Options & Specifications:

Quick Take: Both cars have similar base engines, but the Civic is more fuel-efficient and can be fitted with a manual transmission. 

On paper, the 2.0L inline-4 found under the hood of base model 2023 Sentras and Civics seems about the same with the Honda making an extra 9 horsepower. However, not only is the base Civic faster in the 0-60 race, it bests the base Sentra’s combined fuel economy figure by 2 mpg. 

From there, the 2023 Civic continues to deliver on its driver-focused mission by offering a manual transmission along with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an optional turbocharged mill with more power. And still, this upgraded engine is more fuel-efficient than the Sentra.

By the time you get to the 200-horse mill in the manual-only Civic Si, you’re trading fuel economy for fun behind the wheel, but not by much. And the Civic Type R is a flat-out rocket by comparison to the Sentra with a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 squeezing out a heady 315 horsepower. Fuel misers need not apply.

Transmission Options & Specifications:

Quick Take: The Sentra is a driving appliance, and the Civic offers driving fun.

It’s a CVT party with the 2023 Sentra, which only offers this transmission and most of the 2023 Civic lineup. However, the Civic offers the analog fun of a 6-speed manual transmission. In all cases, power is routed to the front wheels with no option for all-wheel drive on either car. 

Curious about the inner workings of the belt-and-pulley continuously variable transmission? Check out our Tech Talk section below for more information. 

TECH TALK: CVTs

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) does not use gears like a typical automatic transmission. Instead, it has two pulleys connected by a belt. One pulley connects to the engine, and the other connects to the wheels. The belt transfers the power between the pulleys. This setup allows the pulleys to continuously change positions as needed. The CVT automatically adjusts the pulleys as required, providing smooth and efficient power delivery.

An electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) uses electronic controls and electric motors to vary gear ratios instead of a belt and pulley system. Unlike a regular CVT, an eCVT has no physical pulleys or belts—the gear ratio is adjusted seamlessly by controlling the speeds of electric motors and generators. This electronic control allows faster, smoother gear ratio changes compared to a traditional CVT. An eCVT also provides more flexibility, needing less space and having fewer moving parts.

Quick Take: Find a good set of winter tires and beware of torque steer.
It’s a FWD-only affair with both the 2023 Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic. This is typical for the compact car class, though the Subaru Impreza bucks the trend with standard AWD. If you live in snowy climes and are concerned, just slap on a decent set of winter tires and you won’t miss AWD.

Another note here is torque steer, the slightly terrifying sensation of the steering wheel trying to jump free of your hands while accelerating hard in a FWD car. On the Sentra and entry-level Civics, this isn’t much of a concern given the relatively small power output figures.

However, the Civic Type R is another story. Fortunately, Honda’s engineering wizards created what they call a Dual Axis Strut to counteract this phenomenon rather than bolt on heavy AWD running gear.

S = Standard
U = Available in upgrade
E= electric on-demand AWD
D= AWD with rear driveline disconnect

Quick Take: Both cars score highly in safety testing, but the Civic does marginally better and offers more advanced driver aids.

NHTSA Safety Ratings:

As you can see below, the 2023 Sentra and Civic earn 5 stars from the NHTSA in the overall, side crash, and rollover categories with 4 stars in the frontal crash protocol. But, digging deeper reveals that within those 4-star frontal crash ratings, the Civic fares better. 

Both cars have 5 stars for frontal crash testing on the driver’s side, but the Civic earns 4 stars for the front passenger side crash test, while the Sentra earns 3 stars here.

IIHS Awards:

Like with NHTSA safety testing, the 2023 Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic perform equally well in IIHS testing, a test that adds protocols for roof strength, head restraints, seats, headlights, and automatic emergency braking. 

As you can see, they are both Top Safety Picks. However, going deeper reveals a slight safety advantage for the Civic. Across the battery of IIHS test protocols, the Civic earns nothing lower than an Acceptable rating, which applies to the updated moderate overlap front test.

But the Sentra is rated Poor for this test, which is the lowest possible IIHS test score. So, again, these cars are both very safe in crash testing, but the Civic is objectively safer.

Airbags & Head Restraints:

Often taken for granted in modern vehicles, the hidden airbag remains an extremely effective safety device. Both the 2023 Sentra and Civic make good use of them by fitting 10 airbags around the cabin. This includes dual front, dual front and rear side, dual front knee, and full curtain airbags.

Overhead airbags, a relatively new technology, aim to protect occupants’ heads during a collision and are not offered in either the Sentra or Civic. You also won’t find active head restraints, which are designed to reduce whiplash, in either of these compact cars as it is more common in the luxury market.

Semi-Autonomous Driving:

As semi-autonomous driving technology continues to permeate the automotive industry, the 2023 Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic continue to add these systems to their respective rosters of content. However, it’s the Civic that has a more robust offering. 

In the Sentra, automatic emergency braking, brake assist, electronic brakeforce distribution, and rear automatic braking are all lineup standard features. The same is true of the Civic, but it also includes continuous assistive steering, corrective steering, and adaptive cruise control on all models.

That latter system differs from the Sentra’s traditional cruise control by managing vehicle speed and distance from preceding vehicles automatically.

Driver Warning Systems & Telematics:

Within the category of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are driver warning systems and telematics, both of which can be found on a new Sentra and Civic. In the Sentra, standard ADAS consists of lane departure warning, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring (BSM) with rear cross-traffic alert (RCTA), and a driver attention monitor. 

Honda largely mirrors Nissan here but BSM and RCTA are optional on the Civic, while traffic sign recognition is standard. Both cars offer a telematics system on certain models, but neither can be had with intersection turn assistance, safe exit assist, or a rear occupant alert.

Road Visibility Features:

Mostly gone from modern cars are halogen headlamps, replaced by the crisp and bright beams of LEDs. This type of headlight makes a world of difference with nighttime visibility and is standard only on the 2023 Civic versus the Sentra on which it is available. 

Automatic high beams, a system that turns your high beams on and off for you, are standard on both cars as is a backup camera. Neither the Sentra nor the Civic offers a head-up display or adaptive headlights, but the Civic does offer rain-sensing wipers versus the Sentra, which does not.

Quick Take: You’ll find a similar lineup of noteworthy cabin features in the Sentra and Civic, but a larger overall space in the Honda.

Interior Features:

The “must have’ Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems, which mirror your smartphone screen onto a car’s infotainment display, are both standard on the 2023 Sentra and Civic. Heated seats are unfortunately not standard, though the Nissan and Honda do offer them. 

Something you will not find on these cars is a heated seat subscription. Not sure what that means? You’re not alone, but this growing “Features On Demand” marketplace in which owners only pay for features when they need them is set to take off according to McKinsey, so you may want to get familiar with the concept.

Interior Dimensions:

These two compact cars, the 2023 Sentra and Civic, both technically seat 5 people, but you might be considered rude for trying to stuff more than 4 adults in either car. If you did, the extra 4 inches of rear hiproom in the Sentra would surely be appreciated in some cases, but taller folk would likely prefer the extra 3 inches of rear legroom in the Civic. 

Trunk space for the Sentra and Civic sedan is within half a cubic foot of total volume, but the Civic hatchback predictably dominates this metric with 24.5 cu. ft. of storage space versus 14.3 in the Sentra. Overall, the Civic has a larger cabin that offers 3 extra cubes of passenger volume versus the Sentra. 

Quick Take: The latest Sentra and Civic stack up closely in exterior measurements, but the Civic takes the style win.

Exterior Features:

Showing the econobox roots of both of these cars, 16” steel wheels and hubcaps are the base setup for the 2023 Sentra and Civic. Moving through the trim ladder, however, opens up size 17 and 18 rims with available black finishes on both cars.

Only the Honda Civic can be fitted with big 19” rims, but that requires the mighty Type R variant, a model that also boasts a giant rear spoiler for more visual punch and downforce, of course. 

Both the Sentra and Civic can be painted in the usual shades of black, gray, white, blue, and red. But if you need more style points, check out the two-tone Monarch Orange and black finish on the Sentra or Smokey Mauve Pearl – AKA purple – on the Civic.

Exterior Dimensions:

Whether you call the Sentra and Civic compact or midsize, the fact remains that these cars have very similar footprints. A 2023 Sentra is about 1” shorter, a half-inch wider, and roughly 1” taller than its Civic counterpart. 

Interestingly, the Sentra is close to 4” longer than a hatchback Civic, and yet the inherent practicality of this body style still delivers far more cargo space as discussed earlier. Though this may not be on most owners’ radar, the Sentra and Civic both tip the scales around the 3,000-pound mark.

Quick Take: Basic and powertrain warranty coverage is identical here, but only Honda includes complimentary maintenance. 

The industry average 3 years or 36,000 miles of basic warranty coverage and 5 years or 60,000 miles of powertrain coverage apply to a new Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic. Both also include 3 years of roadside assistance, but only the Civic comes with 2 years of complimentary maintenance. 

As of this writing, the 2023 Nissan Sentra has no outstanding recalls, while the 2023 Civic has 2 open recalls, including one for an incorrectly assembled steering rack.