2022 Nissan Sentra vs 2023 BMW 7 Series

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, carrying over its 2020 redesign, presented a sleek and modern exterior reminiscent of a smaller Altima. Its low-slung, coupe-like design marked a significant improvement over its predecessors, offering a more refined execution of Nissan's design language. Despite our test model's gray paint, the Sentra was available in vibrant colors like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," with options for a contrasting black roof. Inside, the Sentra's interior stood out with a modern yet straightforward layout, featuring user-friendly controls and a central touchscreen that served as the cabin's focal point. The Sentra offered three trims: S, SV, and SR, each adding progressively more features, from basic amenities like a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to more advanced options like a Midnight Edition package with dark accents and LED fog lights.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series introduced a bold new design language, highlighted by an oversized beveled grille and split lighting elements. While initially polarizing, the front-end styling could grow on observers over time. The profile maintained the classic 7 Series silhouette, with a long hood and extended wheelbase, while the rear end featured distinctive horizontal taillights. Inside, the 7 Series boasted a modern and minimalistic interior, with a broad horizontal layout and a curved pane of dark glass housing the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials were of premium quality, with options like light gray cashmere wool-blend upholstery adding a cozy touch. The rear seats offered a luxurious experience, especially with the optional Rear Executive Lounge Seating package, which included a reclining passenger-side seat and a theater screen.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While not exceptional, the engine provided consistent performance, with solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway capabilities. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance-focused car. The suspension handled most road bumps well, making it suitable for commuting and road trips.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series offered two powertrains initially. The base 740i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, delivering 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The 760i xDrive upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds. The V8-powered 760i xDrive impressed with its quick and fluid acceleration, smooth gear changes, and responsive handling. The ride quality was slightly stiffer than rivals, but Sport mode enhanced cornering and steering responsiveness, appealing to performance-oriented drivers.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, surpassing many small sedans, though slightly less than the Kia Forte's 15.3 cubic feet. The trunk could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench could hinder loading larger items. The Sentra's two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable front seats and decent rear seat space. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the center console offered cupholders and trays for storage.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured power-operated doors, though they could be cumbersome to use. Inside, the front seats were generously padded with numerous power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The rear seats were spacious, accommodating tall passengers comfortably, with the lounge seating option adding a reclining seat with massage functions. A 31.3-inch rear entertainment screen folded down from the panoramic sunroof, though its central placement could cause neck strain. The trunk offered 13.7 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly larger than competitors, with a wide and deep design for easy loading. Interior storage was adequate, with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and small door pockets.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the SV and SR trims upgrading to an 8-inch screen. The system was user-friendly, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics could use updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback compared to competitors like the Honda Civic.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series featured iDrive 8, the latest version of BMW's infotainment system, operable via touchscreen, central dial, or voice commands. While basic functions were easy to use, the menu structure was complex, requiring multiple steps for certain adjustments. Voice controls helped mitigate this, though they interrupted audio playback. The standard 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System provided excellent audio quality. The optional theater screen had usability challenges, with inconsistent touchscreen inputs and a missing remote control in our test vehicle. Overall, iDrive 8 felt less intuitive than previous versions and rival systems.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was equipped with a comprehensive suite of 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 included additional features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, with high ratings for crash testing and driver-assistance effectiveness.

The 2023 BMW 7 Series had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, which is common for luxury vehicles. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign reader, adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and safe exit warnings. The optional Driving Assistance Professional package added a hands-free automated driving system for highways. The adaptive cruise control and highway driving assistant performed smoothly, reducing driver fatigue on long trips. BMW planned to introduce a level 3 automated driving system in some markets, though it was not yet available in the U.S.