Compare the2023 Subaru ImprezaVS 2022 Nissan Sentra

The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sentra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Impreza has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sentra doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Impreza and the Sentra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Nissan Sentra:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Impreza its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sentra is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impreza’s reliability 47 points higher than the Sentra.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 8 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Impreza’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (152 vs. 149) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Sentra doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

For better stopping power the Impreza Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sentra:

The Subaru Impreza has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Sentra. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Impreza stops shorter than the Sentra:

For better traction, the Impreza Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sentra (225/40R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The Impreza Sport’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sentra SR’s 45 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the Sentra’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Impreza 5-door is 6.5 inches shorter than the Sentra, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Impreza Sedan has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sentra (99.8 vs. 96).

The Impreza Sedan has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sentra.

The Impreza has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Sentra (20.8 vs. 14.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Impreza. The Sentra doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sentra. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Impreza’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sentra’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Impreza’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Impreza Base). The Sentra doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Impreza Premium offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sentra doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Impreza Limited also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Impreza’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sentra offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Impreza Limited’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Sentra’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

The Subaru Impreza comes in sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Nissan Sentra isn’t available as a station wagon.

Insurance will cost less for the Impreza owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Impreza will cost $1065 to $2260 less than the Sentra over a five-year period.

The Impreza will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Impreza will retain 53.58% to 57.04% of its original price after five years, while the Sentra only retains 47.23% to 47.81%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Impreza is less expensive to operate than the Sentra because typical repairs cost less on the Impreza than the Sentra, including $31 less for a muffler, $133 less for fuel injection, $79 less for a fuel pump, $25 less for a timing belt/chain and $189 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Impreza will be $737 to $2333 less than for the Nissan Sentra.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Impreza, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Sentra isn't recommended.