2021 Hyundai Sonata vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata, redesigned for the 2020 model year, presented a bold and distinctive look that was immediately recognizable. The N Line treatment further enhanced its appeal with functional and stylistic changes, such as a restyled front fascia with larger air intakes, gloss black side mirrors, and bold 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear featured a subtle gloss black lip spoiler and a reworked bumper with a four-outlet exhaust system, giving the Sonata a stealthy yet appealing look. Inside, the Sonata N Line boasted sport front seats with premium Nappa leather bolsters, red stitching, aluminum pedal covers, and dark chrome accents, along with a standard panoramic sunroof that added to the car's spacious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra, carrying over from its 2020 redesign, offered a modern and coupe-like exterior that resembled a downsized Altima. The Sentra's design was a significant improvement over its predecessors, with a well-honed execution of Nissan's current design language. The interior of the Sentra was where it truly shined, featuring a modern yet simple layout with easy-to-use controls and an upscale look. The front cabin was highlighted by a touchscreen that served as the visual centerpiece. The Sentra was available in various bold colors, including blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," with some options for a contrasting black roof.

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. This engine was paired with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters, rev-matching, and a launch control system. The Sonata N Line offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Sport+, and Custom, and featured an Active Sound Design (ASD) engine note enhancement system. The car's performance was further enhanced by significant improvements in engine and transmission mount stiffness, faster rack-mounted electric steering, larger brakes, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Sonata N Line's 19-inch wheels with performance tires provided excellent grip, and the car's handling was impressive on winding mountain roads. The EPA estimated fuel economy for the Sonata N Line was 27 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing yielded an average of 23.7 mpg.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While the Sentra's engine was not particularly outstanding, the CVT managed power well, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory performance on the highway. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance-oriented car. The suspension did a decent job of absorbing most road bumps, making the Sentra suitable for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line featured heated front sport seats with Dinamica suede inserts that provided a balance between comfort and lateral support. The front passenger seat had a manual height adjuster, making it comfortable for both front-seat occupants. However, the rear seats were not significantly more accommodating than those in the smaller Elantra N Line, with limited legroom and thigh support. The Sonata's interior storage was generous, though the center console design was somewhat inelegant. 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 hands dirty when closing the trunk.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, which was better than many other small sedans. The trunk space could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench could make it difficult to slide larger items through. The Sentra's trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a button on the dash. The Sentra's interior offered spacious seating in both rows, with plenty of headroom and legroom in the front seats and decent legroom in the rear seats. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the center console had ample cupholders and trays for gear.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line came equipped 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, the system lacked a WiFi hotspot and a tuning knob, which could be frustrating for users. The infotainment system also offered Sounds of Nature, providing ambient noise tracks for a calming driving experience. Hyundai Digital Key was standard, allowing Android users to unlock and start the car with their smartphone.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims came with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, also with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was easy to navigate, with conventional hard buttons and volume and tuning dials. However, the graphics could use updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback compared to some competitors.

The 2021 Hyundai Sonata N Line was equipped with Hyundai’s SmartSense collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including 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 had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of review, but the standard Sonata had high ratings for occupant protection.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Our test model included additional features such as a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS in all crash tests. The IIHS also rated the Sentra's driver-assistance features as "Superior," though the headlights received lower ratings. The Sentra was awarded a "Top Safety Pick."