2025 Hyundai Sonata vs 2026 Nissan Sentra

While its standout features are its value and safety ratings, in N Line trim the Sonata also offers some emotional appeal. Affordable sports sedans are increasingly rare, and aside from the Kia K5 GT and Subaru Legacy Sport, there’s little else in the 2025 Sonata N Line’s segment that gives you this much horsepower for this kind of price. Of course, there is a penalty to pay at the gas pump, but otherwise the N Line delivers. In general, new rear-seat air conditioning vents and improved crash-test ratings boost the 2025 Sonata’s appeal and while gas models aren’t very fuel-efficient, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid fares better in this respect.

Verdict: Hyundai refreshed the Sonata in 2024 and improved its safety rating in 2025, keeping it competitive against midsize sedan rivals. All versions offer compelling value and are impressively safe, while the N Line model is pleasantly sporty.

If you’re hoping for a more powerful Sentra, the new 2026 model won’t bring you joy. However, if you have the need for speed, you’re likely not a typical Sentra buyer. Instead of focusing on what’s under the hood, Nissan has imbued the 2026 Sentra with tech and features that more and more shoppers are coming to value. Bright touchscreens, comfortable seats, and a stylish design make this the most appealing Sentra in recent memory.

Verdict: The 2026 Nissan Sentra is a stylish and safe compact sedan that delivers impressive technology at an attractive, affordable price. It’s not the most thrilling car in its segment (look to the Honda Civic or Mazda3 for that honor), but it nevertheless delivers premium, in-demand features.