HEELS ON WHEELS COMPARISON: 2010 HONDA CIVIC vs 2010 NISSAN SENTRA

SEE ALSO: Nissan Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: Honda Buyers Guide

HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel

INTRO TO THE CIVIC AND SENTRA VEHICLES

Practical. Affordable. Great for the daily commute. Both the 2010 Honda Civic and 2010 Nissan Sentra sedans are excellent choices if you are looking to spend an average of $20k for a car that will get you to where you need to go in modern, reliable and well-rounded style.

I drove a 2010 Honda Civic sedan with the 140-horsepower 1.8-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Civic has always offered a dizzying array of trims to choose from: DX-VP, LX, LX-S, EX, and the EX-L. Additionally, both the EX and EX-L offer trims with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with a voice-recognizing system. But there is also a coupe, Si and hybrid version to choose from too. I lucky was given a top-of-the-line Honda EX-L with the navigation system as my test drive, which features Bluetooth capabilities, XM radio, a 6-speaker audio system, leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, and a moonroof. Total vehicle price came to $23,805.

I also drove 2010 Nissan Sentra with the 140-horsepower 2.0-liter DOCH 4-cylinder engine and Nissan’s automatic Xtronic Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). The Sentra comes in the following trims: 2.0. 2.0 S, 2.0 SR, 2.0 SL, SE-R and SE-R Spec V. My test drive was the modest 2.0 S trim that came with a 6-speaker audio system, steering wheel controls, suede cloth seats and the CVT. Options included a $850 Convenience Package (keyless entry, Bluetooth capability, leather-wrapped steering wheel), a $370 VDC Package (Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control) and $140 splash guards. Total vehicle price came to $19,350.

The immediate problem with pitting any vehicle against the trustworthy Honda Civic is just that – the Civic has such a strong history of customer satisfaction and road longevity. But the 2010 Nissan Sentra is not new to the market and has a few surprising edges over the 2010 Honda Civic. The first is a lower cost of ownership, from a comparably equipped price that stands a little more than $3k cheaper from the Civic as well as a better 5-year maintenance and repair cost estimate. The second is a bigger 2.0-liter engine that offers more torque and yet still achieves an average of 29-mpg just like the Civic.

HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA

Stylish But Comfortable Results: The Sentra offers a nice 3-dial climate control system for managing airflow, heat and defrost settings. The small audio screen is still able to display music information. The shifter is located in the upper console area, which creates more centrally located storage space for the driver. Ample cargo or trunk space is a great benefit. However, the steering wheel controls on the Sentra need refinement. I also missed not having leather or a navigation system and would recommend paying for the upgrades (Nissan does offer them for the Sentra). The Civic, on the other hand, offers a striking 3-D depth arrangement on the dash that layers or aligns the steering wheel, rpm dial and digital mph readout. The leather-trimmed seats further elevate the interior, as does the navigation system with voice-recognizing software. But even if you stripped away these features, when it comes to inside and outside appearances, the Civic has a tendency to please more than the others.

Reliability & Safety Factor: The 2010 Honda Civic received 5-star crash ratings in frontal driver and passenger as well as rear side crash from the NHTSA. Front side and rollover earned a 4-star rating. The Sentra’s ratings vary slightly: 5-star ratings in driver and passenger front and side, but 4-star ratings in rear side and rollover. Since 30% of all serious car injuries occur from side impact according to the Consumers for Automotive Reliability and Safety, both the Civic and Sentra need to work on improving the strength of their side doors. Both offer a long list of safety standards from an anti-lock braking system to side-impact airbags, but Nissan offers a $370 VDC Package (Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control) which I recommend.

Cost Issues: Again, when comparably equipped, the Sentra is about $3,305 cheaper than the Honda Civic. That can save you money over time. And fuel-efficiency averages the same as the Civic at 29-mpg. But I would go with modern technology and upgraded seating material if you plan on logging a lot of miles in either car. But when swinging back to the costs, when fully loaded with leather and a navigation system a 2010 Nissan Sentra costs around $20,500 compared to the 2010 Civic’s $23,805.

Activity & Performance Ability: I obviously expected a little more from the Sentra’s bigger 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, but I just couldn’t feel it. The handling on the Sentra also lacked a sense of thrill and composure. At best, the ride was nimble and efficient – definitely able to do its job with what it was given.

The Green Concern: With a fuel-economy rating of 29-mpg for both the Sentra and Civic, both commuter sedans are excellent choices for those looking to save money on gas. The Civic Hybrid goes above and beyond both for an average of around 41-mpg, if you’re really looking for the one model that can save the earth.

FINAL PARTING WORDS

Can the Honda Civic continue to slide by on great engineering or good looks when sedan competitors like the Nissan Sentra are heating things up by offering an overall cheaper price, bigger engine and identical fuel-efficiency results? Truth be told, when the exteriors of the two cars are aligned side-by-side, the Sentra just doesn’t possess the Civic’s strong and sleek looks which can turn a cheap-looking commuter car into a more desirable car. With a new Civic being unveiled at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, it will be interesting to see what Nissan does to compete…stay tuned.

©2010 Katrina Ramser