2023 Mazda MAZDA3 vs 2024 Nissan Sentra

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 was a visual feast with its rakish headlights framing a large, aggressive grille. The model came in both sedan and hatchback body styles, but it was the hatchback that truly shined with daring design. The futuristic elements of the hatchback's rear angles evoked a sense of clean, forward-thinking design, rivaling some electric vehicles. This daring design, however, did come with some practicality issues that we'll discuss later.

Inside, the Mazda3 continued its minimalist yet elegant design. The infotainment system organically emerged from the dash, showcasing simplicity and sophistication that would make even Tesla designers take notes. The conventional shifter eschewed the modern trend of complicated proprietary designs, and the climate controls were refreshingly straightforward. A large pushbutton start and a slightly cluttered yet elegant steering wheel rounded off the cabin's main features.

The Mazda3 offered a variety of trims, starting from the 2.5 S, which included standard features like 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, two USB ports, and an 8.8-inch infotainment display compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Select trim added 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, and synthetic leather upholstery, while the Preferred trim added a moonroof, heated front seats, and power-adjustable mirrors. The Carbon Edition provided unique styling elements, and the Premium added paddle shifters, a head-up display, and real leather upholstery. The 2.5 Turbo models increased performance while the top-of-the-line 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus restored additional luxurious features and added advanced driver assistance technologies like reverse automatic emergency braking and a 360-degree parking monitor.

Turning to the 2024 Nissan Sentra, the car received updated styling for 2024, including a wider grille blending into the new black-interior-bezel headlights, surrounded by chrome trim. Vertical elements resembling air vents accentuated the front fascia, adding a sense of width and reinforcing the “longer, lower, wider” design philosophy. This revision blended well with earlier styling hits, such as the available black roof and pronounced rear-quarter-shoulders, creating a balanced and chic appearance that stood out more than a Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta but did not venture into Hyundai Elantra's or Toyota Corolla’s quirky design territories.

The Sentra maintained its existing trim levels: S, SV, and SR. The base Sentra S included 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV upgraded to 16-inch alloy wheels with a new design for 2024. The SR featured 18-inch wheels and unique styling touches, including a dark chrome trim and a reshaped lower rear fascia. The SR also offered an option for a striking black roof combined with bold colors like Monarch Orange Metallic or Electric Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Sentra made a statement with large, round Z sports car-inspired air vents and a plunging dashboard framing the central touchscreen. The Sentra SR added red-orange stitching, while leather upholstery and a moonroof were available for the SV. The flat-bottom steering wheel and ample use of various textures and materials, though just average in quality for the segment, made for an interior that at least stood out stylistically.

The 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 offered a base engine that was a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four, producing 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Power went to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, but an option for all-wheel drive (AWD) was also available. For those preferring manual control, a manual transmission was an option, though only on front-wheel drive Premium models.

However, the real star was the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft with premium fuel. This engine came standard with automatic transmission and AWD. From ignition, the turbo engine offered an engaging and satisfying auditory experience. Though acceleration off-the-line was moderate, the true performance shine occurred from second gear onward, particularly in Sport mode, which optimized gear retention and turbocharger performance. The driving experience was amplified by perfectly weighted steering and exceptional brake feel, delivering a sports car-like precision. The Mazda3 handled corners with impeccable balance, blending performance and daily driving comfort seamlessly.

Conversely, the 2024 Nissan Sentra held to a more conservative performance ethos with its sole 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. Aimed more at efficiency than thrills, the Sentra featured a reengineered CVT for smoother operation and better fuel efficiency, along with an engine start-stop system for enhanced mileage.

Despite its modest power figures, the Sentra was surprisingly pleasant to drive. The steering provided adequate feedback and made quick, precise corrections without feeling overly twitchy. The suspension was more comfort-focused, ensuring smooth rides even when cornering, making it a decent choice for everyday driving. During testing, however, the CVT exhibited some quirks, such as unexpected acceleration surges at mid-range speeds, though this might have been due to the pre-production test vehicle.

The interior of the 2023 Mazda MAZDA3 sedan provided 13.1 cubic feet of cargo space, which was relatively small next to competitors like the Honda Civic, Kia Forte, and Nissan Sentra. The hatchback version offered more substantial space at 20.1 cubic feet, still less than many small SUVs but practicably usable. However, the interior usability diminished when it came to rear seating. Rear legroom was seriously compromised, especially if taller adults occupied the front seats. The sloping roofline further cut into rear headroom, making the back seats viable only for short trips or smaller passengers. On the plus side, the front seating area boasted ergonomic design with a decently sized center console and easily accessible cupholders, though the console lid had a finicky sliding mechanism.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, meanwhile, offered front row headroom comparable to the Kia Forte and Mazda3, just falling short of the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. The rear legroom, unfortunately, paled in comparison to rivals. The Sentra outclassed its competitors in front-seat legroom but lagged in back-seat space. Nonetheless, its Zero Gravity front seats ensured exceptional comfort. Low window sills and a neatly designed dashboard provided excellent forward visibility, and rearward vision was surprisingly unimpeded despite thick rear roof pillars.

With 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, the Sentra slightly edged out the Mazda3 sedan and fractionally surpassed the Hyundai Elantra while falling short compared to the Kia Forte and Honda Civic. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat added flexibility for accommodating longer items, enhancing functionality.

For the 2024 Nissan Sentra, safety ratings were somewhat inconsistent. The IIHS gave it a top “Good” rating in the original side-impact crash test but only an “Acceptable” grade in the updated version. It received a mixed “Advanced” rating for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention but a “Basic” rating for nighttime scenarios, and a “Poor” headlight rating. The NHTSA ratings were partial, with five stars for side crash and rollover tests, but incomplete for frontal and overall safety.

Nevertheless, the Sentra offered comprehensive standard driver assistance technology through Nissan Safety Shield 360, including forward collision warning, front and rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. SV and SR trims added adaptive cruise control and an optional 360-degree camera system.