2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2020 Toyota Corolla

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, despite its modern redesign, was not considered particularly attractive, often compared to a menacing alien. However, the SE or XSE trims with the Celestite paint color improved its appearance significantly, making it a more appealing compact sedan. The interior quality saw a notable upgrade, with soft-touch surfaces replacing the cheap plastics of previous models, although the transmission shifter still felt subpar.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Sentra sported an athletic exterior with crisp lines and a bold V-Motion grille. The Sentra offered a variety of vibrant paint colors and optional two-tone schemes, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Sentra featured a layered dash with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen and a flat-bottomed steering wheel, adding a sporty touch. The rear seat was spacious but better suited for two passengers due to the narrow center cushion.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla came with two engine options. The L, LE, and XLE trims had a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 139 horsepower, paired with a CVT. The SE and XSE trims offered a more powerful 169-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, also with a CVT but with paddle shifters and a physical launch gear. The Corolla XSE's driving dynamics were well-tuned, providing a smooth and stable ride thanks to its independent rear suspension. However, the car struggled with acceleration, especially when more power was needed. Fuel economy for the XSE was rated at 31 mpg city, 38 highway, and 34 combined, with an observed average of 29.8 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It was equipped with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The Sentra's lightweight design and well-sorted CVT provided adequate performance for daily commuting. Fuel economy was 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined for S and SV models, and slightly lower for the SR trim. The Sentra's driving experience was enhanced by its independent suspension and dual-pinion electric steering, offering tidy road manners and almost fun cornering.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla, despite being classified as a compact car, offered a roomy interior. However, the lack of rear air-conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and privacy-tinted rear glass made it less comfortable for rear passengers, especially during hot weather. The front seats were comfortable, but the low seating position made entry and exit challenging. Storage space was limited, with small cupholders and few storage bins. The trunk offered 13.1 cubic feet of space, enough for a couple of suitcases and additional bags.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-designed, with features like a traditional gear selector, open cupholders, and ample storage space. It included two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port, all conveniently located. The Zero Gravity front seats provided excellent comfort for long drives, and the available six-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support added to the comfort. The Sentra's trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40 split rear seat for additional cargo flexibility.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla came with the Entune 3.0 infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a high-mounted touchscreen, volume and tuning knobs, and main menu buttons. Higher trims offered additional features like advanced voice recognition, HD Radio, and a JBL premium sound system. The Corolla also included Amazon Alexa compatibility, Siri Eyes Free, and various trial subscriptions for navigation and connectivity services.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra offered a standard audio system with four speakers in the S trim, upgraded to six speakers and SiriusXM capability in SV and SR trims. An optional Bose system with eight speakers was available for the SR. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims, along with Bluetooth audio and hands-free capabilities. The SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while the S trim had a 7-inch screen. NissanConnect services provided additional features like a WiFi hotspot, remote access, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The 2020 Toyota Corolla was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included features like low-light pedestrian detection, daytime cyclist detection, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. The system generally operated with refinement and accuracy, though the lane-departure warning alert was considered irritating. The Corolla also offered a blind-spot monitoring system, standard on higher trims and optional on lower ones. The NHTSA gave the Corolla a 5-star rating for frontal-impact protection, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a comprehensive set of standard safety features, including multiple airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert, and Nissan Safety Shield 360. This suite included intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Higher trims offered intelligent cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.