Compare the2024 Subaru ImprezaVS 2024 Nissan Sentra

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

Safety

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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.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Impreza is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Nissan Sentra, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Impreza	Sentra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.7 sec	1.9 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-6 MPH	-4 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.6 sec	.6 sec

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 and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 Subaru Impreza is safer than the Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	387
Head Peak Forces	no contact	84 G’s
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	112 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Subaru Impreza achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Sentra is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 Impreza’s reliability 27 points higher than the Sentra.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 11 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The Impreza’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (152 vs. 149) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (182 vs. 149) and 32 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 146) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	9.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	20.8 sec	26.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.6 sec	9.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	83 MPH
Top Speed	125 MPH	120 MPH

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Impreza has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sentra (16.6 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Impreza	Impreza Sport/RS	Sentra
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	12.4 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.2 inches	9” drums
Opt Rear Rotors			10.2 inches

The Impreza’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sentra SV/SR are solid, not vented.

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.

Tires and Wheels

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

The Impreza Sport/RS’ 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.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Sentra’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The Impreza is 6.7 inches shorter than the Sentra, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

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

The Impreza has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sentra (100.5 vs. 96.1).

The Impreza has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sentra.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

The Impreza’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Sentra

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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Impreza has a standard rear wiper. The Sentra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Impreza’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.

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 Impreza’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sentra’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Impreza has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sentra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Sentra and isn’t available on the Sentra S.

The Impreza’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 Subaru Impreza offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Sentra doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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