2022 Nissan Sentra vs 2021 BMW 5 Series

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had a restrained design, lacking the flourishes of the 3 Series and the imposing size of the 7 Series. It received a minor styling refresh, featuring sleeker LED headlights and a larger twin-kidney grille. The car also had trapezoidal tailpipes, L-shaped taillights, and new bumpers for the M Sport Package. The interior maintained the familiar BMW layout, with specific design elements like the touchscreen positioning and the shifter typeface. Lower trims had SensaTec upholstery, while higher trims offered Dakota and Nappa leather. The aluminum trim added a high-end feel, but the sport steering wheel felt out of place.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra carried over its 2020 redesign, resembling a downsized Altima with a low-slung, modern look. The interior was a highlight, featuring a simple yet functional layout with easy-to-use controls and a touchscreen as the visual centerpiece. The Sentra came in various trims—S, SV, and SR—each adding more features like alloy wheels, heated mirrors, and premium upholstery. The SR trim included sport cloth seats with orange stitching and a leather-wrapped shift knob. The Midnight Edition package added dark accents and unique badging, enhancing the car's aesthetic appeal.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series offered multiple powertrain options. The base 530i had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds. The 540i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 335 hp and 362 lb-ft of torque, and reaching 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The M550i xDrive had a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 532 hp, while the M5 boasted 617 hp, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds. The 530e plug-in hybrid combined a 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor, offering 288 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The engine provided solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its suspension handled most road conditions well, making it suitable for commuting and road trips. The Sport button on the shifter offered minimal performance improvement, but the base setup was consistent in both city and highway driving.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series was available as a four-door, five-seat sedan in the U.S. It offered spacious front seats and adequate rear-seat room. The trunk had 14.0 cubic feet of space, with a 40/20/20 split-fold rear bench for longer items. The test car featured 16-way power front seats with heating and ventilation, but forward visibility was poor due to the long hood. A surround-view camera system helped with parking.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench. The trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a dashboard button. The Sentra had spacious front seats with ample headroom and legroom, while the rear seats offered decent legroom and headroom. The front row included large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, with plenty of cupholders and trays in the center console.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series came with a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It included Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM 360L, and a WiFi hotspot. The rotary knob controller provided a tactile feel, and voice control responded to "Hey BMW." Gesture controls were available but less precise than traditional volume knobs.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the SV and SR trims had an 8-inch touchscreen. The system included conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. The graphics could use updating, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto were not available, unlike some competitors.

The 2021 BMW 5 Series had not been crash-tested by the IIHS for 2021, but the 2020 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" award. Standard safety features included lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. The Driving Assistance Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-jam assist, and lane-keep assist. The adaptive cruise control provided smooth operation, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with standard driver-assistance features like forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, with high ratings for crash tests and driver-assistance features.