Compare the2023 Acura IntegraVS 2023 Nissan Sentra

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Integra and the Sentra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura Integra is safer than the Sentra:

	Integra	Sentra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	160	387
Head Peak Forces	no contact	84 G’s
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	959 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	112 lbs.	178 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	1.02 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	290 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	602 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Integra its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sentra last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Integra comes with a full 4-year/50,000-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 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the Integra 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Sentra. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Sentra ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the Integra for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sentra.

Reliability

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 Integra’s reliability 61 points higher than the Sentra.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura 7 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Integra’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 51 more horsepower (200 vs. 149) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (192 vs. 146) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura Integra is faster than the Nissan Sentra:

	Integra	Sentra
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.5 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.6 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	87 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Integra CVT gets better fuel mileage than the Sentra SR (30 city/37 hwy vs. 28 city/37 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Integra’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 Integra has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Sentra doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Integra	Sentra
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	9” drums
Opt Rear Rotors		10.2 inches

The Acura Integra 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 Integra stops shorter than the Sentra:

	Integra	Sentra
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Integra has larger standard tires than the Sentra (215/50R17 vs. 205/55R16). The Integra A-Spec’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sentra (235/40R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The Integra’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sentra S/SV’s standard 55 series tires. The Integra A-Spec’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Sentra SR’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Integra has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Sentra S/SV.

Suspension and Handling

The Integra offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Sentra’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Integra’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the Sentra (107.7 inches vs. 106.6 inches).

The Integra A-Spec Technology handles at .87 G’s, while the Sentra SR pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Integra a Large car, while the Sentra is rated a Mid-size.

The Integra has .8 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sentra.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 22% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Integra A-Spec with Technology Package, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Sentra doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Integra’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Sentra doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Integra A-Spec with Technology Package has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and warning readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sentra doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Integra’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Sentra’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Integra’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.

On a hot day the Integra’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance with the keyless remote or at the outside door handle. The driver of the Sentra can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Integra A-Spec’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sentra’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Integra’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Sentra’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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

The Integra’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Sentra SV/SR.

When the Integra A-Spec with Technology Package is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Sentra’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Integra offers an optional center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Sentra S doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Integra’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Sentra S doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

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

Recommendations

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

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Integra as the 2023 North American Car of the Year. The Sentra has never been chosen.