2021 Toyota Corolla vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Toyota Corolla, particularly in its 12th-generation form, was considered one of the most attractive Corollas in recent history. The SE and XSE trims added sporty design elements like sport-design bumpers, a mesh grille insert, a twin-outlet exhaust, and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The Celestite Gray metallic paint with a blue undertone made the Corolla genuinely appealing. However, some design aspects, such as the hood shut line and the over-styled rear bumper, were less well-received. The Apex Edition amplified these stranger design elements. The Corolla L, LE, and XLE trims offered a more anonymous look, while the Corolla Hybrid provided an affordable path to 50+ mpg.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over its modern, low-slung, coupe-like design into 2022. It resembled a downsized Altima, which was intentional. The Sentra's design was a significant improvement over its pre-2020 versions, which had a more cartoonish appearance. The current model featured a well-executed design language, with bold color options like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember." The interior of the Sentra was where it truly shined, with a modern yet simple layout, easy-to-use controls, and an upscale look. The front cabin featured a touchscreen as the visual centerpiece.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla SE and XSE were equipped with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a Dynamic Shift CVT, paddle shifters, and a Sport driving mode. The CVT used a mechanical first gear to eliminate drivetrain slip, and its ten programmed ratios helped hide typical CVT traits. The Corolla's TNGA platform provided a low center of gravity and enjoyable driving dynamics. The SE and XSE trims featured 18-inch aluminum wheels and more aggressive tires. The Corolla XSE demonstrated predictable handling characteristics and was engaging enough for spirited driving. The EPA estimated 34 mpg in combined driving, and our test averaged 31.1 mpg on a mountainous route.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. While the engine wasn't outstanding, the CVT managed power well, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road bumps well but struggled with harsher conditions. Overall, the Sentra was great for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE offered numerous upgrades, including SofTex leatherette seats with striped fabric inserts, front-seat heating, and an eight-way power driver's seat adjustment. This feature provided added comfort and a commanding driving position. The rear seats offered good support but had tight headroom and legroom, with no air conditioning vents for rear passengers. The Corolla's trunk provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, less than some competitors but more than others. The Corolla hatchback offered 17.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat.

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

The 2021 Toyota Corolla added Android Auto as standard equipment, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Every Corolla also had a free year of Safety Connect services and free access to a Wi-Fi hotspot for three months or 2GB of data. The SE and XSE trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with the XSE benefiting from Service Connect and Remote Connect. The SE and XSE offered a nine-speaker JBL premium sound system, dynamic voice recognition, dynamic navigation, and Destination Assist service. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for radio volume and tuning and physical shortcut buttons. The JBL sound system had depth but lacked clarity.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims featured a larger 8-inch touchscreen. The menu navigation was easy to follow, 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. The Honda Civic offered these features, along with wireless device charging, on higher trim levels.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, lane-centering assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Corolla also had standard rear side-impact airbags and an available blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance had some minor issues, but overall, the safety features performed well. The 2020 Corolla earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The 2021 model needed re-testing due to the addition of new airbags.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with 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 had additional features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise control responded well to speed increases, but braking was abrupt when reaching the virtual boundary with the car in front. The Sentra earned a 5-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," but the headlights received lower ratings. The Sentra earned a "Top Safety Pick" award.