2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2022 Mazda MAZDA3

The 2021 Nissan Sentra entered its eighth generation with a bold, athletic exterior. It featured crisp bends and lines, a V-Motion grille, and expressive 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 dynamic look. Inside, the Sentra had 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, and the trunk offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 continued in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with the most variety found in the 2.5 S lineup. The car's deeply sculpted flanks and hatchback design were not universally appealing, but it had a mature, serious look. Inside, the Mazda3 featured refined materials and sophisticated design with polished metallic finishes. The front seats were snug but comfortable, with excellent thigh and side bolster support. However, the back seat was less accommodating for taller passengers, and there were no rear air conditioning vents or USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with a 20.1 cubic feet cargo capacity behind the rear seat, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra was powered by 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, making the Sentra a well-balanced vehicle for its intended purpose.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a range of engine options. The 2.0 sedan had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, focusing on fuel economy with 31 mpg combined. The 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 2.5 Turbo model had a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine, producing up to 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque with 93-octane fuel. The Turbo's fuel economy was lower, averaging 23.1 mpg in real-world driving. The Mazda3 excelled in driving dynamics, with smooth power delivery, nimble handling, and excellent steering feedback. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during aggressive driving on challenging roads.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-designed, with features like an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, traditional gear selector lever, and open cupholders. It had a big glove compartment and roomy covered storage beneath the center armrest. The Sentra offered two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port, all conveniently located. The Zero Gravity front bucket seats provided comfort on long rides, and the available six-way power-adjustable driver's seat with two-way power lumbar added to the comfort. The Sentra's trunk had a 14.3 cubic feet capacity, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for additional cargo space.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3's interior was driver-focused, with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats in most versions. The front seats offered excellent thigh and side bolster support, and the armrests were densely padded. However, the back seat was less comfortable for taller passengers, and there were no rear air conditioning vents or USB ports. Storage space was adequate, with large door panel bins, a big glove compartment, and a sizable center console bin. The cargo capacity was 20.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 47.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a standard AM/FM/USB audio system with four speakers in the S trim, upgraded to six speakers and SiriusXM capability in SV and SR trims. An optional premium 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 across all trims. The S trim had a 7-inch touchscreen, while SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen. NissanConnect services, available on SR models, included a WiFi hotspot, remote access to vehicle functions, and integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system with an 8.8-inch static display and primary controls on the center console. Mazda's approach avoided touchscreens, focusing on minimizing driver distraction. However, the lack of a physical tuning function and a voice recognition system that required specific commands were drawbacks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, providing an alternative to Mazda Connect's shortcomings. Mazda Connected Services offered remote access to vehicle functions via a smartphone app, and an eight-speaker audio system was standard, with a 12-speaker Bose system available in higher trims. An Active Driving Display projected data onto the windshield, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra came with a comprehensive array of standard safety features, including multiple airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert, and Nissan Safety Shield 360. This included intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The Sentra received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Mazda MAZDA3 also excelled in safety, with standard adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive front headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The Mazda3 received five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.