2022 Hyundai Elantra vs 2021 Nissan Sentra

2021 Nissan Sentra
2021 Nissan Sentra
$19,510MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 Hyundai Elantra
2022 Hyundai Elantra
$20,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Sentra
$19,510MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 Hyundai Elantra
$20,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$19,510

MSRP

$20,200

Average price

$16,744

Average price

$18,404

Listings

2479

Listings

1121

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Expert reviews

8.7 out of 10
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Quiet cabin
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • All-wheel drive not available
  • Stereo is lacking
  • Manual transmission not available
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Uncomfortable seats
  • Noisy

2021 Nissan Sentra Reviews Summary

Following a makeover for the 2020 model year, the Nissan Sentra has ripened into a prime specimen of the compact sedan genre. With competitive safety, technology, and fuel economy now supplemented by an attractive exterior and interior design, the Sentra no longer feels like a compromise—it feels like a smart choice.

2022 Hyundai Elantra Reviews Summary

Fresh off a transcendent 2021 redesign, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra continues to offer stylish exterior design, a roomy cabin, excellent fuel economy, impressive standard safety features and driver-assistance tech, top-notch product quality, and an industry-leading warranty—all at a bargain price.
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.0L 149 hp I4

Engine

2.0L 147 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

149 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

147 hp @ 6200 rpm

MPG City

29

MPG City

31

MPG Highway

39

MPG Highway

41
2021 Nissan Sentra
2021 Nissan Sentra
$19,510MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 Hyundai Elantra
2022 Hyundai Elantra
$20,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Nissan Sentra
$19,510MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2022 Hyundai Elantra
$20,200MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$19,510
$20,200
Average price
$16,744
$18,404
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.5
4.2
Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Read full review

8.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Quiet cabin
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • All-wheel drive not available
  • Stereo is lacking
  • Manual transmission not available
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Fuel-efficient
  • Excellent value for money
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Uncomfortable seats
  • Noisy
Summary
Following a makeover for the 2020 model year, the Nissan Sentra has ripened into a prime specimen of the compact sedan genre. With competitive safety, technology, and fuel economy now supplemented by an attractive exterior and interior design, the Sentra no longer feels like a compromise—it feels like a smart choice.
Fresh off a transcendent 2021 redesign, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra continues to offer stylish exterior design, a roomy cabin, excellent fuel economy, impressive standard safety features and driver-assistance tech, top-notch product quality, and an industry-leading warranty—all at a bargain price.
Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.0L 149 hp I4
2.0L 147 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
149 hp @ 6400 rpm
147 hp @ 6200 rpm
MPG City
29
31
MPG Highway
39
41
Look and feel
2021 Nissan Sentra
7/10
2022 Hyundai Elantra
9/10

The 2021 Nissan Sentra entered its eighth generation with a bold new look. It featured an athletic exterior with crisp lines and a V-Motion grille, giving it a serious, squinty appearance thanks to its horizontally arrayed headlights. The Sentra offered eight exterior paint colors, including vibrant options like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic. The SR trim levels could sport two-tone paint schemes, enhancing its design. Inside, the Sentra's layered dash and 8-inch infotainment touchscreen provided a spacious feel. The flat-bottomed multi-function steering wheel added a sporty touch, while the second row offered ample room for two passengers. The trunk could hold up to 14.3 cubic feet of cargo, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for larger items.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra underwent a dramatic redesign, transforming it into a striking four-door coupe. With a longer wheelbase, wider stance, and lower roofline, the Elantra's exterior styling was unique and eye-catching. The "Z" shape created by the creases and folds on the doors added character. Inside, the Elantra's material quality was above average for its class, despite some hard plastics. The N Line trim featured sporty elements like N Line design front and rear fascias, chrome twin-tip exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted N Line sport seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals, creating a sporty look and feel.

Performance
2021 Nissan Sentra
6/10
2022 Hyundai Elantra
8/10

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It featured front-wheel drive with an Xtronic CVT, providing adequate performance for commuting and city driving. The Sentra's fuel economy was impressive, with 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 suspension setup and dual-pinion electric steering offered tidy road manners and almost fun cornering. The Sentra's 149 hp struck a balance between fuel economy and performance.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra offered multiple powertrain options. The standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine produced 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The Elantra Hybrid featured a 1.6-liter Atkinson-cycle engine, a 32-kilowatt electric motor, and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering 139 hp and up to 195 lb-ft of torque. The N Line trim had a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 201 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT. The N Line's sport-tuned suspension, steering, and multi-link independent rear suspension provided confident handling. The DCT offered crisp shifts, and the drive modes enhanced the driving experience.

Form and function
2021 Nissan Sentra
7/10
2022 Hyundai Elantra
7/10

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-designed, with features like an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, traditional gear selector lever, and roomy covered storage. It had two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port, along with big door pockets for water bottles. The Zero Gravity front bucket seats provided comfort on long rides, and the Premium Package added power-adjustable seats, heated front seats, and a power-sliding glass moonroof.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra was easy to live with, thanks to its compact size and clear instrumentation. The N Line's low seating position made entry and exit a bit challenging, but the car offered excellent visibility. The rear seat could accommodate three children comfortably, though taller adults would prefer the front seats due to limited headroom. The Elantra's trunk had 14.2 cubic feet of cargo space, though the narrow trunk opening made access a bit tricky. The power tilt-and-slide moonroof had a droning noise when fully open, and the lack of USB ports and air vents in the rear was a minor inconvenience.

Technology
2021 Nissan Sentra
7/10
2022 Hyundai Elantra
9/10

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a standard AM/FM/USB audio system with four speakers, upgraded to six speakers and SiriusXM in SV and SR trims. The SR trim offered an optional Bose system with eight speakers. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Bluetooth audio, and hands-free text-messaging assistant were standard. The SV and SR trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the S trim had a 7-inch screen. NissanConnect services, available on SR models, included a WiFi hotspot, remote access, and voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra came with an 8-inch display audio touchscreen, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and four speakers in the base SE trim. The SEL, Hybrid Blue, and N Line trims added two speakers, satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. The Limited and Hybrid Limited trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and wireless device charging. Hyundai Digital Key was standard on N Line and Limited trims, allowing keyless access via an Android smartphone.

Safety
2021 Nissan Sentra
8/10
2022 Hyundai Elantra
9/10

The 2021 Nissan Sentra included a comprehensive array of safety features, such as dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags, knee airbags, curtain airbags, and three-point seatbelts for all seating positions. It also had a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert, intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and intelligent driver alertness. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Hyundai Elantra's standard SmartSense suite included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-departure warning, and lane-centering assistance. Additional features included driver-attention warning, automatic high-beam headlights, rear-seat reminder, and Safe Exit Warning. Higher trims offered intersection turn assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear automatic braking, and Highway Drive Assist. The Elantra received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Nissan Sentra is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2022 Hyundai Elantra scores 8.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is the clear winner, offering more advanced technology, better performance options, and a higher overall rating. If you're in the market for a compact sedan, the Elantra is the better choice.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Nissan Sentra is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2022 Hyundai Elantra scores 8.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is the clear winner, offering more advanced technology, better performance options, and a higher overall rating. If you're in the market for a compact sedan, the Elantra is the better choice.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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