2020 Nissan Sentra vs 2021 Toyota Corolla
Overview | |
MSRP$19,310 | MSRP$20,025 |
Average price$18,033 | Average price$19,536 |
Listings982 | Listings3186 |
Ratings & Reviews | |
User Reviews | User Reviews |
Expert reviews7.7 out of 10 | Expert reviews7.8 out of 10 |
Pros
| Pros
|
2020 Nissan Sentra Reviews SummaryFor 38 years, Nissan has peddled the Sentra as its definitive starter car. It’s a household name like Civic, Corolla, and Jetta—all of which are brand-new or have been refreshed in the last couple of years. The eighth-generation Sentra has the look of a larger, more luxurious car. It reflects major upgrades in style, technology, and driving dynamics. Compact sedans have a high bar to clear, even at $20,000. The 2020 Sentra delivers in every respect. | |
2021 Toyota Corolla Reviews SummaryEverybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. | |
Popular Features & Specs | |
Engine2.0L 149 hp I4 | Engine1.8L 139 hp I4 |
Drive TrainFWD | Drive TrainFWD |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Horsepower149 hp @ 6400 rpm | Horsepower |
MPG City29 | MPG City30 |
MPG Highway39 | MPG Highway38 |
Engine | |
Engine Name2.0L 149 hp I4 | Engine Name1.8L 139 hp I4 |
Torque146 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | Torque |
Horsepower149 hp @ 6400 rpm | Horsepower |
DrivetrainFWD | DrivetrainFWD |
Fuel Economy | |
MPG City29 | MPG City30 |
MPG Highway39 | MPG Highway38 |
Interior | |
Seating Capacity5 | Seating Capacity5 |
Safety | |
Front Crash Overall4 | Front Crash Overall5 |
Side Crash Overall5 | Side Crash Overall5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | |
Cargo Space14.3 cu ft | Cargo Space13.1 cu ft |
Curb Weight3047 lbs | Curb Weight2910 lbs |
Height56.9 in | Height56.5 in |
Length182.7 in | Length182.3 in |
Width71.5 in | Width70.1 in |
Wheelbase106.8 in | Wheelbase106.3 in |
Maximum Payload910 lbs | Maximum Payload825 lbs |
Number of doors4 | Number of doors4 |
Overview | ||
MSRP | $19,310 | $20,025 |
Average price | $18,033 | $19,536 |
Listings | ||
Ratings & Reviews | ||
User reviews | 4.0 | 4.3 |
Expert reviews | 7.7 out of 10Read full review | 7.8 out of 10Read full review |
Pros & cons | Pros
| Pros
|
Summary | For 38 years, Nissan has peddled the Sentra as its definitive starter car. It’s a household name like Civic, Corolla, and Jetta—all of which are brand-new or have been refreshed in the last couple of years. The eighth-generation Sentra has the look of a larger, more luxurious car. It reflects major upgrades in style, technology, and driving dynamics. Compact sedans have a high bar to clear, even at $20,000. The 2020 Sentra delivers in every respect. | Everybody knows somebody who owns or has owned a Toyota Corolla. Thanks to a deserved reputation for affordability, reliability, and efficiency, the Corolla is what comes to mind when all you want is a cheap, dependable, and thrifty set of wheels. Over the nameplate’s 55-year history, Toyota built a handful of Corollas that were anything but rolling appliances. But those fun-to-drive gems were relative rarities. Under the tenure of Akio Toyoda, the automaker’s current president and a man who loves to drive, the Corolla has become something more than a bore. It’s a car that makes you want to cruise instead of snooze. We’re talking about the Corolla SE and XSE, of course. Toyota still makes dull and duller versions of its compact car, but the SE and XSE trim levels add some spice to the basic commuter-car recipe. This year, the 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE are available in a new limited-production Apex Edition flavor. It’s got a track-tuned sport suspension, a lowered ride height, revised steering calibration, a sport exhaust system, and lightweight 18-inch gloss black aluminum wheels that you can wrap in optional summer performance tires. Unfortunately, it also comes with a “Lookit me, Officer, I like to go fast!” body kit. Fearing this would be the example Toyota sent to us for review, we instead happily accepted the key fob to a Barcelona Red Corolla XSE and discovered that you don’t need the Apex Edition treatment to enjoy driving this car. |
Video | ||
Popular Features & Specs | ||
Engine | 2.0L 149 hp I4 | 1.8L 139 hp I4 |
Drive Train | FWD | FWD |
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Horsepower | 149 hp @ 6400 rpm | |
MPG City | 29 | 30 |
MPG Highway | 39 | 38 |
Engine | ||
Engine Name | 2.0L 149 hp I4 | 1.8L 139 hp I4 |
Torque | 146 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm | |
Horsepower | 149 hp @ 6400 rpm | |
Drivetrain | FWD | FWD |
Fuel Economy | ||
MPG City | 29 | 30 |
MPG Highway | 39 | 38 |
Interior | ||
Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
Safety | ||
Front Crash Overall | 4 | 5 |
Side Crash Overall | 5 | 5 |
Dimensions & Capacity | ||
Cargo Space | 14.3 cu ft | 13.1 cu ft |
Curb Weight | 3047 lbs | 2910 lbs |
Height | 56.9 in | 56.5 in |
Length | 182.7 in | 182.3 in |
Width | 71.5 in | 70.1 in |
Wheelbase | 106.8 in | 106.3 in |
Maximum Payload | 910 lbs | 825 lbs |
Number of doors | 4 | 4 |
By: CarGurus + AI
This car comparison has been created with using generative AI. It is based entirely on CarGurus expert review content, ratings and data, and leverages our extensive library of hands-on product tests to create thousands of unique comparisons to help shoppers choose the right car.