Compare the2022 Hyundai AccentVS 2022 Nissan Sentra

The Accent has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sentra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Accent and the Sentra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes and daytime running lights.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Accent is safer than the Nissan Sentra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Accent is safer than the Nissan Sentra:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Accent comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Sentra’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Accent 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Sentra. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Sentra ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Accent’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sentra’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Accent for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sentra.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Accent first among small cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Sentra was rated second in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai 7th in reliability, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Accent stops shorter than the Sentra:

For better maneuverability, the Accent’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Sentra’s (33.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Hyundai Accent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 400 pounds less than the Nissan Sentra.

The Accent is 10.1 inches shorter than the Sentra, making the Accent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Accent Limited’s trunk can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Sentra doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The power windows standard on both the Accent and the Sentra have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Accent is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Sentra prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Accent’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Sentra’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Accent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Accent will cost $590 to $1610 less than the Sentra over a five-year period.

The Accent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Accent will retain 45.14% to 46.51% of its original price after five years, while the Sentra only retains 38.28% to 43.99%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Accent is less expensive to operate than the Sentra because typical repairs cost much less on the Accent than the Sentra, including $86 less for a water pump, $57 less for a muffler, $30 less for front brake pads, $14 less for fuel injection, $90 less for a fuel pump, $47 less for front struts, $143 less for a timing belt/chain and $318 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Hyundai Accent will be $4634 to $5062 less than for the Nissan Sentra.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Accent and the Nissan Sentra, based on reliability, safety and performance.