2019 Hyundai Elantra vs 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra had undergone a significant redesign, featuring new styling elements forward of the windshield and front doors, redesigned wheels, and a new trunk lid, taillights, and rear bumper. The design was described as kaleidoscopic, with a focus on geometric patterns, which some found less appealing than the previous year's model. Inside, subtle changes improved the interior, with new air vents, a carbon-texture finish on some plastic housings, updated gauges, and revised controls on the center dashboard. The interior quality was high, with a robust and solid shifter, although some materials felt inexpensive, which was expected in a compact car. The Elantra was available in various trims, with prices starting at $17,100 plus destination charges, and the Limited trim with the Ultimate Package offered advanced features and a total cost of $26,690.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, was a scaled-down version of the Altima, giving it a more substantial feel. The new design was 2 inches lower and wider than the previous version, with detailed stampings and a V-shaped grille motif that looked mature and recognizable. The interior featured high-quality materials, such as a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and white-stitched leatherette dash, with climate knobs that had a fine tactile feel. The SV Premium Package offered quilted tan leather seats and Infiniti-grade materials, making the Sentra's interior close to the classiest non-luxury compact interiors. The Sentra's design and interior quality were praised for their elegance and attention to detail.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra was equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. It offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Sport mode adding liveliness but also unwelcome weight to the steering. The Elantra's driving dynamics were described as decent but not particularly inspiring, with a busy ride quality due to its inexpensive torsion-beam rear-axle suspension. The EPA rated the Elantra at 32 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it returned 29.3 mpg on a modified loop and 32.4 mpg after a week of driving.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, sent to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT mimicked gear changes of a conventional automatic and was smooth and responsive. The Sentra's steering response and handling were high points, with an independent suspension replacing the torsion beam rear axle, resulting in controlled cornering and agreeable ride quality. The EPA rated the Sentra at 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined, with the SR trim delivering slightly lower figures. During mixed driving over 300 miles, the Sentra averaged about 30 mpg.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra offered good front-seat comfort with height adjustment for both the driver and front passenger seats, making it easier for people with mobility challenges to get in and out. Most trims included heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The backseat comfort was less impressive, with hard plastic front seatbacks and no air conditioning vents or USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a good-size center-console storage bin, a sizable glove box, and a tray for smartphones. The Elantra's trunk offered 14.4 cubic feet of space, with a hands-free Smart Trunk feature on most trims.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra's backseat was surprisingly spacious, accommodating taller passengers without knee or head discomfort. The front seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity cushioning, reducing pressure on muscles and fatigue. The lowered body profile improved side visibility, but the rear window's rake limited the rear view. The driving position and controls were user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning. The trunk space measured 14.3 cubic feet, slightly less than the previous model, but still large for a small car, with foldable seatbacks for added versatility.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra, except for the base SE, came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The Limited trim included an Infinity premium sound system, and the Ultimate Package added an 8-inch display, navigation, and SiriusXM Data Services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a good balance of knobs and buttons, and the Limited's Infinity audio system delivered impressive sound quality. The Value Edition and Limited trims also offered a free 3-year trial subscription to Blue Link services, providing a range of safety and convenience functions.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra did not offer ProPilot, navigation, or wireless charging, but the mid-level SV trim included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and WiFi. The SV also added two more USB ports, including USB-C, and larger screens. The SV Premium Package and SR trim offered additional features like LED headlights, Bose stereo, sunroof, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and 360-degree cameras. The SV trim came with dual-zone climate control, proximity-entry key, adaptive cruise control, and remote engine start, along with a full suite of driver-assist features.

The 2019 Hyundai Elantra included important driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems starting with the SEL trim, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-monitoring system. The Limited trim added adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beam headlights, and a Safe Exit system. The Elantra received top marks from the IIHS, except for an Acceptable rating for LATCH child-seat anchors, and a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top ratings. It included rear side airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, auto high beams, and a driver attention monitor as standard features.