Civic Outsold the Focus and Sentra in 2014

The 2015 Honda Civic sedan is an IIHS top-safety pick as well as the winner of the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award. On top of that, the Civic was the fifth best-selling car in 2014, outpacing the Nissan Sentra and Ford Focus. See how the Civic compares to the Focus and Sentra:

How the Honda Civic compares to the Ford Focus

Civic has Better Fuel Economy, more Standard Features, and Greater Residual Value

The 2015 Honda Civic LX has better fuel economy* than the 2015 Ford Focus S sedan. The Civic gets 30 city/ 39 highway/ 33 combined mpg, while the Focus gets 26/36/30 mpg. The Focus is priced about $2,100 less than the Civic, however the Civic has a higher residual value. After 36 months the Civic holds 54 percent of its value, while the Focus holds 46 percent. After 60 months, the Civic holds 39 percent of its value, whereas the Focus holds 33 percent. The Civic comes standard with an automatic transmission, while an automatic transmission is optional in the Focus. Both vehicles have front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. The Focus has more horsepower and torque. The Focus gets 160 horsepower at 6,500 RPM, while the Civic achieves 143 horsepower at 6,500 RPM. The Focus has 146 pound-foot torque at 4,450 RPM, while the Civic has 129 pound-foot torque at 4,300 RPM.

Related: Accessories for your 2015 Honda Civic Sedan

The Focus and Civic have similar safety features, however the Civic has variable assisted steering. This feature is not an option on the Focus. the Civic scored a 5-star overall safety rating by the NHTSA. The 2015 Focus has not been rated, but the 2014 Focus is also 5-star rated overall. Both vehicles have rearview cameras, tire pressure monitors, traction control, and vehicle stability control systems. Standard features on the Civic that are not available on the Focus are:

• Cruise Control
• Steering-Wheel-Mounted Controls
• Map Lights
• Remote Trunk/Tailgate Release
• Exterior Temperature Gauge
• Stereo Anti-Theft
• Automatic on/off Headlights

The Civic has 4 more cubic feet of passenger space than the Focus and there is about 3 inches more legroom in the second row. The Focus has more cargo space.

Related: How does the Honda Civic Compare to the Elantra and Jetta?

How the Honda Civic compares to the Nissan Sentra

Civic has Higher Residual Value, More Horsepower, Better Safety

Even though the 2015 Nissan Sentra S is priced about $2,400 less than the 2015 Honda Civic LX, the Civic has better residual value. After 36 months the Civic holds 54 percent of its value while the Sentra holds 50 percent. After 60 months, the Civic holds 39 percent and the Sentra holds 36 percent. Both vehicles have similar fuel economy* with the Civic getting 30 city/ 39 highway/ 33 combined and the Sentra getting 30/39/34 mpg. The Civic has more horsepower than the Sentra with 143 horsepower at 6,500 RPM. The Sentra has 130 horsepower at 6,000 RPM. Both vehicles come with automatic transmissions, front disc brakes, and rear drum brakes.

As for safety, the Civic has a better overall safety rating with 5 stars while the Sentra scored 4 stars in the NHTSA crash tests. In the front passenger crash test, the Civic received 4 stars and the Sentra was rated 3 stars. Second row head restraints come standard on the Civic, while they are not offered on the lower-trim Sentra. Both vehicles have traction control, brake assist, and tire pressure monitors. A rearview camera comes standard on all Civics, while a rearview camera is not an option on the lower-trim Sentra. In comparing standard features, cruise control, steering-wheel-mounted controls, and auto on/off headlights are standard on the Civic and not options on the Sentra. Floor mats are standard on the Civic, but optional on the Sentra. There is also slightly more shoulder room in the front seats as well as more hip room and headroom in the second row.

Related: The Importance of the Honda Civic CNG and other Natural Gas Vehicles

If you would like to see why the Honda Civic was a top-five, best-selling car in 2014, visit Fisher Honda in Boulder, Colo. Call us at 303-245-6417 with your questions or to schedule a test drive. View our inventory of the Honda Civic.

*Based on EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.