2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had a significant design overhaul, shedding its dowdy, cost-conscious image for a more stylish and upscale appearance. The new Sentra, especially in Electric Blue paint, looked more like a scaled-down Altima, with a lower and wider stance. The car featured elegant creases in the sheet metal and a V-shaped grille that added to its mature and recognizable look. The interior also saw improvements, with a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and white-stitched leatherette dash that felt premium. 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 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, redesigned for the W213 generation, embraced a theme of "sensual purity" with fluid, curvier forms. The E-Class featured new bumpers, bigger air intakes, new exhaust tips, and new wheels, maintaining its elegant and handsome look. The standing hood ornament was removed, aligning with the popular Sport style. The cabin was a showcase of decadent materials and exuberant style, with rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber sweeping across the dash and doors. The black monolith on the dash revealed two 12-inch screens with crisp detail and brilliant color, making the E-Class's interior unmatched by any car at this price.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Sentra's acceleration tapered off after 30 mph, partly due to an overly sensitive throttle pedal. The CVT mimicked gear changes smoothly, and the independent suspension provided controlled cornering and agreeable ride quality. The Sentra's steering was quick with good on-center feel, making it a supportive and responsive drive. Fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA rating of 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saw a switch from conventional V6 engines to electrified inline-six powertrains for the E450 model, making it a hybrid with a 48-volt electrical system. The E450's 3.0-liter I6 engine produced 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an additional boost from the electric starter-generator. The AMG E53 model added a second turbo, producing 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, offering brisk acceleration and a healthy exhaust note. The AMG E63 S featured a 4.0-liter V8 engine with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, providing supercar-like performance. Fuel economy varied, with the E450 4Matic achieving 26 mpg combined and the AMG E63 sedan at 18 mpg combined.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra offered a surprisingly spacious backseat, accommodating a 5-foot-11 passenger comfortably. The front seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity cushioning, reducing fatigue on long drives. The lowered body profile improved side visibility, though the rear window's rake limited the rear view. The trunk space measured 14.3 cubic feet, with foldable seatbacks for additional cargo room. The driving position and controls were user-friendly, with knobs for volume and tuning.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class provided a spacious cabin for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom. The redesigned infotainment system and touchpads on the steering wheel improved usability. The E-Class sedan offered 13 cubic feet of trunk space, while the wagon provided up to 64 cubic feet with seats folded. The coupe and convertible had less trunk space, especially with the roof down. The E450 All-Terrain wagon added ground clearance and body cladding for a rugged look.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra lacked advanced features like ProPilot, navigation, and wireless charging. However, it came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and WiFi on the mid-level SV trim. The SV also included dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and remote engine start. Optional features included LED headlights, Bose stereo, sunroof, heated front seats, and 360-degree cameras.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured the MBUX infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, natural voice processing, and online searches. The system included live feed overlays for navigation and automatic front camera activation. Optional features included massaging seats, seat kinetics, and a wireless phone charger. Standard features included 4G WiFi, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a suite of connected services. Advanced driving assists were available, allowing for semi-autonomous driving.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top ratings. It included rear side airbags, knee airbags, 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.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan and wagon received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS. The coupe and cabriolet models were not tested but were considered equally safe. The E-Class featured Pre-Safe Sound, side collision bolsters, crosswind assist, and optional rear side airbags. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with 14 optional driver-assist features.