Comparing the 2025 Nissan Sentra vs Honda Civic Sedan

2025 Nissan Sentra	VS	2025 Honda Civic Sedan
$21,590 [a]	MSRP	$24,250
8 in	Screen Size	7 in
146 lb-ft	Torque	133 lb-ft
43.8 in	Legroom	42.3 in

Compact sedans are some of the most important vehicles in the auto industry since they represent a fantastic starting point for many drivers. Whether you are a driver looking for your first new car or you simply prefer to keep costs down while still getting a great vehicle that you can count on day after day, few options can compete with a new, compact sedan. However, since you have numerous options available to you in this segment, it can be difficult to figure out which one will best meet your needs. Looking at one or two at a time can make things a lot simpler, like comparing the 2025 Nissan Sentra vs 2025 Honda Civic Sedan to see what they each offer and determine which one will work better for you.

These are both compact cars, so they are great picks if you want a small vehicle that can easily navigate crowded streets and fit into pretty much any lifestyle. Both of these cars also have a lot in common, particularly at first glance, which can make it even harder to figure out which one is right for you. For starters, looking at standard engines, they have nearly identical powertrains with very similar performance—the Nissan Sentra does provide more torque, however, which is important for accelerating and getting the most from these compact cars. Fuel efficiency is also very good with both of them.

What is most notable about these two cars, however, is the number of options available to you and how they are provided. You have four trim levels available with the Nissan Sentra, which lets you explore different options, like getting an eight-inch infotainment display rather than the standard seven-inch screen. While the Honda Civic Sedan technically has four trims available, two of them are hybrid models; if you want a traditional gasoline engine, then Honda only gives you two trims to choose from. This greatly limits your options and means you have a lot more freedom to get what you are looking for with the Nissan Sentra. Not only that, but the Sentra starts at a much lower price; the highest trim for the Sentra is almost the same price as the starting Honda Civic model.

Performance

2.0L Comparison

A small sedan like the Nissan Sentra or Honda Civic does not need a massive, overpowered engine, but it should still have a powertrain that makes it fun to drive. Fortunately, Nissan understands this well, which is no surprise since it has always been known for sporty vehicles that offer drivers a great time. Both of these cars have very similar standard engines, which is great for you when looking at what’s available, but Honda focuses too much on available options like hybrid powertrains. Nissan keeps things simple, and you ultimately get to benefit from that when you choose the Sentra.

The 2025 Nissan Sentra has a standard 2.0L I-4 engine that provides 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a smooth driving experience. By comparison, the 2025 Honda Civic Sedan has a standard 2.0L I-4 engine that offers 150 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque, which is also paired with a CVT. You will quickly notice these two engines offer nearly identical performance; the Nissan Sentra gives you more torque, however, which does make a difference when you are driving each day.

In terms of efficiency, the numbers for both of these vehicles are also very similar; both models are only offered with front-wheel drive, which makes things simple. The 2025 Sentra gets an estimated 30 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and 34 MPG combined fuel efficiency. On the other hand, the Honda Civic Sedan gets an estimated 32 MPG in the city, 41 MPG on the highway, and 36 MPG combined fuel economy—but only in its stripped-down base trim. Upgrade to the better-equipped Civic Sport, and you will get 31 MPG in the city, 39 MPG on the highway, and 34 MPG combined. That you get such great performance and efficiency with the Sentra at a price that is more than $2,500 lower to start with showcases what tremendous value Nissan’s sedan represents.

Interior

More Features at Lower Prices

Since your time on the road with your vehicle is spent with you inside of it, we always suggest taking a good look at the interior features of any model you are interested in. Both of these cars have a lot of similar features in their cabins, especially when you look at their starting options. The fact that these similar features come at a much lower price with the Nissan Sentra is one of the reasons so many drivers choose Nissan models year after year. Plus, you can get a lot more with the Sentra and its available options compared to gas-engine Honda Civic models.

The 2025 Nissan Sentra has standard cloth seating, with a six-way adjustable driver’s seat and room inside for five passengers. A seven-inch NissanConnect infotainment display is standard, along with a driver display and a four-speaker sound system. Looking at higher trims, however, you can get available TailorFit leatherette seating with heated front seats, power-adjustable seating, and a heated leatherette steering wheel. Higher trims come with an eight-inch infotainment screen, plus you can choose an available eight-speaker Bose Premium sound system to elevate your time on the road and create a driving experience you will look forward to each day.

While Honda technically offers four trim levels for the Civic Sedan, only two of them are available with a traditional gasoline engine—the two highest trims are offered exclusively with a higher-priced hybrid powertrain. Much like the Nissan Sentra, the Honda Civic has a standard seven-inch infotainment display, plus cloth seating and a four-speaker sound system. Upgrades like heated front seats, a larger infotainment screen, and a Bose speaker setup are only available on hybrid models, so unless you want to pay the price for such an engine, Honda drivers miss out. Plus, with the lower cost of the Sentra in general, you can choose its highest trim and best features at a cost very similar to the starting Honda Civic Sedan price tag.

Safety

Additional Standard Features From Nissan

Safety features and technology are some of the most important things to us here at Illini Nissan because we want to ensure all drivers—even if they are not our customers—are safe on the road. Every 2025 Sentra comes with Nissan Safety Shield 360, standard, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection. This package also includes Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and High Beam Assist to help you avoid blinding oncoming traffic. You get Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, standard, plus Rear Automatic Braking to help keep you and others safer when you are backing up. More great safety tech is available, like Intelligent Cruise Control and an Intelligent Around View Monitor, which gives you a virtual 360-degree view around your vehicle while at low speeds.

In a similar fashion, every 2025 Civic Sedan model comes with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features that includes Forward Collision Warning, Brake Assist, and a Lane Keeping Assist System. Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Auto High-Beam Headlights are also standard on every trim. Enhanced safety systems like a Blind Spot Information System and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor are available on the higher Sport trim but not standard like they are for the Nissan Sentra, which is a shame. Other features, like Low-Speed Braking Control, are only offered on the hybrid trims, further limiting what is available to Honda drivers, while Nissan makes everything accessible to folks who want a Sentra with the standard engine.

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