Honda Civic vs. Nissan Sentra

By Kevin Daniel
Staff Writer

The 2007 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL. The 2007 Honda Civic EX. They’re two reliable, cheap, compact sedans with lots of bells and whistles. And I like them both.

This Sentra SL is more luxurious than its predecessors and has a roomier passenger compartment. Leather seats are standard, as is a keyless entry and ignition system. Bluetooth technology gives you a hands-free phone system operated by a button on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The look reminds me of a small Nissan Maxima.

But don’t forget cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels, electric windows and locks or the side curtain airbags. They’re all standard, too.

The biggest standout feature is something you don’t actually see on the highway – the powerful CVT (continuously variable transmission). It makes for such a quiet ride that you barely hear it switch gears. That’s because there are none.

When I first got in the Sentra, I instantly noticed how roomy it was. The ceiling is high, allowing for incredibly tall people to be comfortable, and not have to crouch over. Sitting in the leather seats was obviously a plus, and made it more comfortable to sit in.

When starting it up, without the key mind you, is when I first noticed the CVT working. It made me feel like it was going to be a fun car to drive. The engine sounded clean.

The ride was smooth, a little more than you’d expect from any normal compact sedan. It handled quite well, going around curves gripping the leather-wrapped steering wheel seemed effortless and enjoyable.

The bottom of the SL series carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, of $18,400. Its invoice is $17,113. So, don’t get suckerpunched at the dealership. You can buy the SL for substantially less than the MSRP.

I’d give the SL an overall “A” performance for a compact sedan.

The only main problem with the Sentra is that it doesn’t retain it’s resale value as well as it should.

The Honda Civic EX, however, retains its value quite well. Honda’s name is synonymous with durability, and the Civic EX is a fantastic car.

Its standard features include power locks and windows, as well as air conditioning.

This year’s EX looks sporty, even futuristic. That’s a big improvement over past models that just looked gross, in my opinion.

Entering the Civic was a instantly a noticeable improvement than previous Civic models. The seats, though not leather, were just as comfortable. The inside looked sportier than the Sentra.

One small feature I really liked was the telescopic steering wheel. Not only can you adjust it up and down, but you can pull it out and push it back in.

Starting the Civic up seemed more powerful than the Sentra, but the Sentra brings a 2.0 liter engine to the Civic’s 1.8. This could have been due to the Sentra’s quiet CVT.

I liked the dashboard set up of the Civic. It’s a bit different. The only big change is the speedometer is in it’s own section. It’s more at eye level so you can keep your eyes focused on the road. It’s also digital.

The Civic’s ride was even smoother than the Sentra’s. It handled better than the Sentra, and made the whole ride seem more luxurious. But it doesn’t come with the Nissan’s luxury and gadgets.

Its MSRP is $19,510. But its invoice is $17,857, so there is some wiggle room when you talk turkey with the sales staff at the dealership.

So, you’ll have to decide: Do you want the durability and long-term value of the Civic EX? Or, do you want the comfort and convenience of the Sentra SL’s leather, Bluetooth and keyless features?