2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2021 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive appearance. Its broad grille and tapered tail made it instantly recognizable. The N Line treatment further enhanced its appeal with functional and stylistic changes, such as larger air intakes and gloss black side mirrors. The 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and a subtle gloss black lip spoiler added to its sporty look. Inside, the Sonata N Line featured sport front seats with Nappa leather bolsters and Dinamica suede inserts, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents. A panoramic sunroof was standard, providing a two-tone appearance and a roomier feel.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra, entering its eighth generation, showcased an athletic exterior with crisp lines and a bold V-Motion grille. The horizontally arrayed headlights gave it a serious look. Available in eight exterior paint colors, including vibrant options like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic, the Sentra stood out. The SR trim offered three two-tone paint schemes. The interior featured a layered dash with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, textured plastic on the center console, and a flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel. The second row was roomy, though better suited for two passengers. The trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for added utility.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 290 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 311 pound-feet of torque from 1,650 rpm to 4,000 rpm. It featured an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. Drivers could choose between Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom driving modes. The car also included an Active Sound Design engine note enhancement system and a sport-tuned exhaust. The Sonata N Line had stiffer engine and transmission mounts, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. It rode on 19-inch wheels with 245/40 all-season or summer performance tires. The car delivered a thrilling driving experience, with responsive steering, firm underpinnings, and reliable brakes. Despite its front-wheel-drive layout, understeer was minimal. The suspension effectively minimized body roll and excess motion, providing a comfortable ride. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 27 mpg combined, though real-world driving yielded 23.7 mpg.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Weighing between 3,036 and 3,084 pounds, the Sentra SR offered adequate performance for commuting and city driving. Fuel economy was rated at 29 mpg city/39 mpg highway/33 mpg combined for S and SV models, and 28 mpg city/37 mpg highway/32 mpg combined for SR models. The Sentra's driving experience was enhanced by its well-sorted CVT, four-wheel independent suspension, and dual-pinion electric steering. The car exhibited tidy road manners and cornering, making it almost fun to drive. The 149 horsepower provided a good balance of fuel economy and performance.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts, offering a balance of comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed rear air conditioning vents and a USB port, though legroom and thigh support were similar to the Elantra N Line. The panoramic sunroof alleviated claustrophobia, and the materials were of higher quality. Interior storage was generous, with a practical center console design. The trunk offered 16 cubic feet of space, with a 60/40-split folding rear seat for added utility. The Smart Trunk hands-free release feature was convenient, though the lack of an interior handle meant getting your hands dirty when closing the trunk.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-designed, with features like an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, traditional gear selector lever, open cupholders, and roomy covered storage. It had two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port. The Zero Gravity front bucket seats provided comfort on long rides, and the SV and SR models offered a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat with two-way power lumbar, heated front seats, leather or Prima-Tex seating, and a power-sliding glass moonroof as part of the Premium Package. The Sentra's interior was practical and comfortable, making it suitable for long trips.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included navigation, wireless smartphone charging, a Bose premium sound system, HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year subscription to Blue Link connected services. However, it lacked a WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system had a power/volume knob but no tuning knob, which could be frustrating. The voice recognition technology was mostly accurate. The system also offered Sounds of Nature, providing ambient noise tracks for relaxation. The Hyundai Digital Key allowed smartphone access, though it only worked with Android devices.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's standard audio system included AM/FM/USB with four speakers in the S, upgraded to six speakers and SiriusXM in SV and SR models. An optional Bose system with eight speakers was available in the SR. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth audio, and hands-free text-messaging assistant were standard. The S model had a 7-inch touchscreen, while SV and SR models had an 8-inch touchscreen. Navigation was available via subscription to NissanConnect services on SR models. NissanConnect also included a WiFi hotspot and remote access to vehicle functions through a smartphone app. The system could interface with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice commands and destination searches.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, driver-attention warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included Rear Occupant Alert, Safe Exit Warning, and Highway Drive Assist. The Sonata N Line's safety package was comprehensive and effective, though it had not been rated by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a host of standard safety features, including advanced airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, knee airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, three-point seatbelts, LATCH system, crumple zones, side-door guard beams, and an energy-absorbing steering column. It also had a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert. The Sentra's driver assistance features (Nissan Safety Shield 360) included intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a rear-view camera, vehicle dynamic control, traction control, intelligent engine brake, active ride control, intelligent trace control, hill-start assist, high-beam assist, and intelligent driver alertness. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS.