Compare the2025 Nissan SentraVS 2025 Kia K4

The Nissan Sentra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The K4 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sentra’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The K4 doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Sentra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the K4’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sentra has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the K4 LXS/EX/GT-Line offers Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning.

The Sentra SV/SR offers optional NissanConnect Services, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The K4 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Sentra and the K4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available daytime running lights and around view monitors.

The Sentra’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the K4 runs out after 100,000 miles.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sentra for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Nissan will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the K4.

There are over 36 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sentra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sentra second among compact cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The K4 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 2 more horsepower (149 vs. 147) and 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (146 vs. 132) than the K4’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Sentra gets better fuel mileage than the K4 with its standard engine (30 city/40 hwy vs. 29 city/39 hwy).

The Sentra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The K4 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Nissan Sentra has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The K4 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Sentra has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sentra flat and controlled during cornering. The K4 base model’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The front grille of the Sentra uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The K4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Sentra has 1.5 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room and 1.4 inches more rear hip room than the K4.

The Sentra’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The K4’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Sentra’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The K4’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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