2021 Subaru Impreza vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

Subaru had taken some styling risks with the Impreza in previous years, incorporating features like large round headlights and boxy fender flares. However, the 2021 version leaned more towards a conservative design. Although its appearance didn't immediately scream "Subaru," it was still considered a fairly handsome model by most standards. Both the sedan and hatchback versions featured sleek headlights and taillights that added an impression of width. The front end tapered nicely, and body sides had scalloping for visual appeal. A significant improvement over the previous generation was the toned-down wheel arch sheet metal, which many found to be awkward. The Impreza Sport models also boasted specific styling cues, including 18-inch alloy wheels, whereas the base models came with 16-inch steel wheels.

The interior of the Impreza didn't excite much, following the compact car norm of simplicity. The infotainment touchscreen split the dashboard, and the rest of the interior consisted mostly of various forms of plastic. The Impreza Sport gained some distinct touches like contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and aluminum pedals. At the top, the Impreza Limited offered standard leather upholstery and LED headlights.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra carried over the design language established in 2020. Its exterior resembled a downsized Altima: low-slung, coupe-like, and modern. This was a striking departure from its pre-2020 predecessors, which appeared more boxy and somewhat cartoonish. The new model was a clean execution of Nissan's current design language. Although our test model was a subdued gray, the Sentra came in bold colors like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," with gray available as one of four colors offering a contrasting black roof.

The Sentra's interior was rather impressive. Its modern yet straightforward layout balanced form and function. The control placements were user-friendly, and the central trio of vents provided an upscale look. The centerpiece of the front cabin was a touchscreen rising from the dash.

Trims included S, SV, and SR. Base S trim equipped standard 16-inch steel wheels, active grille shutters, halogen headlights, dual power side mirrors, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, pushbutton start, a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, cloth upholstery, split-fold rear seats, and a 4.2-inch driver’s display. It also featured a 7-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV trim added 16-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, proximity keyless entry, premium cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The SR trim upgraded to 17-inch wheels, unique LED headlights, remote start, integrated turn signals for mirrors, exterior side sills, and distinctive front and rear bumpers. The interior of the SR featured dual-zone climate control, sport seats with orange stitching, and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

For 2022, the Sentra offered a Midnight Edition package for the SR. This added dark accents inside and out, including black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, a dark grille emblem, and unique badging. Our test model featured optional ambient cabin lighting and under-car lighting, which was tastefully executed, a far cry from the flashy trends of the early 2000s.

Every 2021 Subaru Impreza was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. With its Subaru-signature boxer engine layout, the design allowed for a lower center of gravity. Most models equipped a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), though a five-speed manual was available for the base sedan, hatchback, and Impreza Sport hatchback. The Sport model also included model-specific suspension tuning and a torque vectoring feature for the all-wheel-drive system.

In terms of driving experience, the Impreza was an agreeable daily driver. It didn’t offer the same engagement as a Honda Civic or Mazda 3 but provided a refined ride. It felt solid, far from an econobox. The Impreza Sport’s suspension struck a good balance between ride quality and handling, and torque vectoring fostered a neutral balance. However, the noncommunicative steering and engine’s relative lack of power made it shy of being a true driver’s car, a role better suited for the WRX.

Every 2022 Sentra came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The engine, while not remarkable, performed adequately for daily driving, and the CVT managed power efficiently. A Sport button on the shift knob, though not transforming performance dramatically, was present for those seeking a mild boost in driving dynamics. The base setup provided satisfactory low-end acceleration and held its own on highways, which was impressive since most compact cars excelled primarily in one driving environment.

The Sentra’s steering was well-weighted and offered sharp cornering for a model not marketed for high performance. Its suspension dealt well with most road conditions but could struggle with larger bumps or potholes. Overall, the Sentra was well-suited for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

Both the 2021 Subaru Impreza hatchback and sedan provided reasonable legroom, although headroom was somewhat below average. The sedan’s trunk space was limited to 12.3 cubic feet, the smallest among compact sedans. Nevertheless, it did have a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat for carrying longer items.

The Impreza hatchback offered 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, which was more than models like the Mazda 3 or Toyota Corolla hatchback but less than the Honda Civic hatchback. With the rear seats folded, the Impreza’s cargo space extended to 55.3 cubic feet, besting the Civic. All hatch trims except the base model came with standard roof rails.

Higher trim levels of the Impreza, such as the Premium and above, featured an All-Weather Package, including heated front seats, a heated windshield, and heated mirrors. The Sport trim added keyless entry and pushbutton start, while the Limited included a six-way power driver’s seat and automatic climate control, with a power moonroof available as an option on most trims.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, better than many small sedans, although not surpassing the Kia Forte’s 15.3 cubic feet. The trunk space was expandable with a standard 60/40 split-fold rear bench. However, the rear bench’s ledge could complicate the loading of larger items. While lacking a power-opening trunk, the Sentra allowed for remote trunk opening via the key fob or a button on the dash. Once released, the trunk popped up vigorously, mimicking a power-opening mechanism.

The Sentra featured spacious seating in both rows. The front seats offered generous headroom and legroom, with rear seats providing good legroom and decent headroom, though slightly less than the front row. The front doors housed ample cargo trays and bottle holders, complemented by a center console with multiple cupholders and trays.

The 2021 Subaru Impreza’s base and Premium trims included a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trim levels upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. An option package on the top Limited trim added TomTom-based navigation and a Harman Kardon audio system.

One unique feature was the secondary display in a hood over the main touchscreen, showing information like estimated range near the driver’s line of sight. However, its redundancy was noted as Subaru also included an LCD display in the gauge cluster. Overall, the infotainment system was user-friendly, with large touchscreen icons that were easy to spot, and important functions easily accessible without delving into menus. Though basic, it met the expectations within its price range.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra boasted a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a USB port, and Bluetooth as standard. The SV and SR trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen with similar connectivity features. Both screens offered easy menu navigation, complemented by conventional hard buttons and volume and tuning dials.

While the system’s graphics could use an update, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was noted, the Sentra’s infotainment still offered solid utility. Comparatively, models like the Honda Civic provided wireless connectivity and charging options, albeit on higher trims.

Both the 2021 Subaru Impreza sedan and hatchback earned an IIHS “Top Safety Pick” award, receiving the highest “Good” ratings in all crash tests. The standard headlights, rated “Marginal,” prevented a “Top Safety Pick+” award, but the headlights on the Limited trim achieved a “Good” rating.

The NHTSA awarded both body styles of the Impreza a five-star overall safety rating, excelling in all crash tests. The Impreza’s standard Subaru EyeSight safety system on CVT models included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and lead vehicle start alert. Other standard features included a rear-seat reminder, with optional blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and steering-responsive headlights.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came equipped with numerous 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 also had a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, which responded smoothly to speed adjustments. Brake action in adaptive cruise control was abrupt upon reaching a set virtual distance, which could be jarring.

The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a “Good” rating across all IIHS crash tests, with the agency also rating its driver-assistance features as “Superior.” However, its headlights received lower ratings, enough to earn a “Top Safety Pick” status.