2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2021 Toyota Prius

The 2021 Toyota Prius retained its iconic boomerang-shaped hood and roofline, a design choice that had been part of its identity for over 15 years. Despite advancements in aerodynamic vehicle design, the Prius continued to sport this look, which many found unappealing, even in the trendy 2020 Edition with blacked-out trim. Inside, the Prius featured a unique and somewhat odd layout, with instrumentation in a strip of displays near the windshield, a toggle lever for transmission control, and a narrow center console. The interior's gloss-black trim was a magnet for dust and fingerprints, adding to the unconventional feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Sentra showcased an athletic exterior with crisp lines and a bold V-Motion grille. The Sentra's design was a significant departure from its earlier, more conservative looks. Available in eight exterior paint colors, including vibrant options like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic, the Sentra's SR trim levels could also sport two-tone paint schemes. The car's interior was well-organized, with a layered dash and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on higher trims. The Sentra's flat-bottomed steering wheel and roomy second row added to its appeal, making it a comfortable and practical choice.

The 2021 Toyota Prius focused on fuel efficiency, with the L Eco version achieving an impressive 56 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. Other front-drive models earned 52 mpg, while AWD-e versions managed 49 mpg. The Prius 2020 Edition, however, averaged 47.5 mpg during testing, falling short of EPA estimates. The Prius paired a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a 53-kilowatt electric motor, producing a total system output of 121 horsepower. While not powerful, the Prius felt lively off the line due to the electric motor's near-instantaneous 120 pound-feet of torque. The car offered various driving modes, including EV Mode for electric-only driving at speeds under 25 mph, and Eco, Normal, and Power modes to balance efficiency and responsiveness. The Prius handled well on curvy roads, thanks to its Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, but hard acceleration resulted in powertrain drone, and the steering lacked road feel.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra featured a new 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Weighing between 3,036 and 3,084 pounds, the Sentra SR was relatively lightweight and offered adequate performance for commuting and city driving. Fuel economy was 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 Sentra's CVT delivered smooth performance, and the car's suspension and steering provided tidy road manners and almost fun cornering. The Sentra's 149 horsepower felt well-balanced for its intended purpose, offering a good mix of fuel economy and performance.

The 2021 Toyota Prius offered more interior space than expected, accommodating up to five people. The seats were comfortable, though the SofTex synthetic leather upholstery could trap sweat. The test vehicle featured an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the low seating position made entry and exit challenging. The rear seats provided adequate foot room, legroom, and headroom, but lacked air-conditioning vents. Cargo space varied by trim level, ranging from 24.6 to 27.4 cubic feet behind the back seat, and 47.9 to 50.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's interior was well-designed, with features like an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on higher trims, traditional gear selector lever, and roomy storage compartments. The car included two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a 12-volt port, all conveniently located. The Sentra's Zero Gravity front bucket seats were comfortable for 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 offered 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat for additional storage.

The 2021 Toyota Prius came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring stereo-volume and tuning knobs, and shortcut buttons. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. However, the standard stereo speaker sound quality was poor, and road noise often overwhelmed it. The Limited trim offered a 10-speaker JBL premium sound system, navigation, and a natural voice recognition system, paired with an 11.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen infotainment system, though it lacked Android Auto.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra's standard audio system included AM/FM/USB 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 were standard across all trims, along with Bluetooth audio and hands-free capabilities. The SV and SR trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while the S trim had a 7-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 2021 Toyota Prius came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Safety Connect services were also standard, offering automatic collision notification, emergency assistance, roadside assistance, and a stolen vehicle locator. The Prius received favorable marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it did not achieve a Top Safety Pick rating.

The 2021 Nissan Sentra included a comprehensive array of standard safety features, such as advanced airbags, seat-mounted side-impact airbags, knee airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, and a tire pressure monitoring system with Easy-Fill Tire Alert. The Sentra also came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included intelligent forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.