2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over its modern, low-slung, coupe-like exterior into 2022. It resembled a downsized Altima, a significant improvement over its pre-2019 cartoonish design. The Sentra's current model showcased Nissan's design language effectively, with options for bold colors like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember." The interior of the Sentra stood out with its modern yet simple layout, featuring easy-to-use controls and a visually appealing touchscreen rising from the dash. The Sentra offered trims S, SV, and SR, each adding more features and enhancements, with the SR trim including sport cloth seats and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in its seventh generation since 2021, continued to impress with its S 500, S 580, Maybach S 580, and Maybach S 680 trims. The S 580e plug-in hybrid variant, with 4Matic all-wheel drive, showcased calm sophistication with clean lines and optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style bumpers. Inside, the S-Class offered eight leather upholstery colors and five trim materials, with our tester featuring Sienna Brown and Black leather. The panoramic sunroof and superb fit and finish, including soft headrests, added to the luxurious feel.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured 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 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 its cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road bumps decently but struggled with harsher conditions. Overall, the Sentra was great for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S 580e combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and an electric motor, offering 56 miles of all-electric range. The battery could be charged at 11 kW, filling up in about two hours and 20 minutes. The S 580e also supported 60 kW DC fast charging. The EPA rated it at 51 MPGe combined, but our test achieved 53.9 mpg over nearly 400 miles, with 223 miles driven on electric power alone. The gas engine provided 510 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in about 4.4 seconds. The S 580e excelled in comfort mode, with a buttery soft air suspension and rear-wheel steering for tight turns. The hybrid mode offered smooth transitions between electric and gas power, with seamless gear shifts.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench could hinder loading larger items. The trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a dash button. The Sentra's two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable front seats and decent rear legroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, with plenty of cupholders and trays in the center console.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and armrests, and power sunshades. The ambient lighting offered 64 colors for a customizable experience. The Energizing Comfort wellness program combined lighting, massage, audio, fragrance, and climate controls for a mood-boosting exercise. The center armrest provided ample storage, but the trunk space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet, with the standard S-Class offering 12.9 cubes. For more space, the Porsche Panamera plug-in hybrid was a better option.

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 needed updating, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were absent, unlike some competitors.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen with the latest MBUX infotainment system. The home screen displayed a map, with tiles overlaying it or laid out on a black background. The system included games for charging station waits, a natural-language AI assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The native navigation system with augmented reality was a highlight, providing numerical addresses and arrows overlaid on a video from the forward-facing camera. The system also included a large color head-up display, wireless charging, and USB-C ports. The standard Burmester sound system pleased audiophiles.

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 included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, though the latter's braking was abrupt. The Sentra earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with a "Superior" rating for driver-assistance features, earning a "Top Safety Pick" award.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with extensive ADAS safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. The hands-on highway driver-assist system used adaptive cruise control and lane-centering, with automatic lane changes. Crosswind Assist kept the car straight in strong winds, and Speed Limit Assist adjusted cruising speed based on traffic signs. The S-Class had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.