Compare the2023 Hyundai ElantraVS 2023 Nissan Sentra

Both the Elantra and Sentra have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Elantra has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic.

Both the Elantra 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Elantra 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, its standard front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Elantra 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.

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

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Elantra 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.

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 Elantra’s reliability 29 points higher than the Sentra.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 57 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Elantra is faster than the Nissan Sentra:

On the EPA test cycle the Elantra gets better mileage than the Sentra:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Elantra SE’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Sentra doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Hyundai Elantra 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 Elantra stops shorter than the Sentra:

For better traction, the Elantra’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sentra (225/45R17 vs. 215/45R18).

The Elantra has standard rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Sentra’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Elantra Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sentra SR (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

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

The Hyundai Elantra may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 300 pounds less than the Nissan Sentra.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Elantra Limited is quieter than the Sentra SR (35 vs. 38 dB).

The Elantra has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sentra (99.4 vs. 96).

The Elantra has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sentra.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Elantra SEL/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 Elantra and the Sentra have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Elantra 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.

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Elantra’s standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light. The Sentra’s standard uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Elantra’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sentra’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Elantra (except SE)’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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Hyundai Elantra (except SE) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Sentra doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Insurance will cost less for the Elantra owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Elantra will cost $830 less than the Sentra over a five-year period.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2021 issue and they ranked the Hyundai Elantra Limited higher than the Nissan Sentra SR.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Elantra as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. The Sentra has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Elantra outsold the Nissan Sentra by 52% during 2022.