Hyundai Elantra vs Nissan Sentra

Although the base Elantra trim comes standard with a 2.0L engine, the N-Line trim has added pep in its step. Enjoy a mighty 201-horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque—compared to the standard 149-horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque found in the Sentra. It’s worth noting that the Sentra has only one engine option available, whereas the Elantra has two. Another point in Elantra’s favor comes in the form of fuel efficiency. The Elantra’s EPA-estimated 33 city/43 highway MPG rating trumps the EPA-estimated 29 city/39 highway MPG in the Sentra¹.

Their respective safety suites are designed with your safety in mind from the moment you’re buckled in. Some of these shared features include:

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist

The Hyundai SmartSense suite provides additional safety features not found in the Sentra. Take, for instance, the available Highway Driving Assist. This not only keeps you centered in your lane, but it also makes sure you’re traveling at a safe distance behind the car ahead. Most impressively, it can set your speed based on GPS and highway data—an intelligent feature the Sentra does not have.

The 40.6 inches of front headroom in the Elantra is nearly two inches more than the 38.9 inches in the Sentra. Your rear passengers, too, are given additional headroom with 37.3 inches as compared to the Sentra’s 36.7 inches. The more space, the merrier.

These cars are more than just their coziness, of course. Both sport their own infotainment systems that are chock-full of features—but it’s here the Elantra shines again. The standard 8-inch touchscreen display bests the standard 7-inch screen in the Sentra. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are standard in both vehicles—yet it’s only Elantra that offers wireless capability. You’ll need a cable with the Sentra.