Nissan Sentra vs Acura TLX

The 2024 Nissan Sentra received a fresh update despite its launch as the current generation model in 2020. The refreshed design showcased a wider grille blending seamlessly with the headlights, now featuring black interior bezel elements and chrome trim framing the edges. Designers created a sense of width by adding vertical elements at the front fascia's corners, mimicking air vents.

Nissan managed to preserve the Sentra's appealing look while enhancing it with new details. The available black roof and pronounced shoulders on the rear-quarter panels contributed to the perception of width, balancing the overall design. The Sentra's styling avoided the awkwardness seen in models like the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla, yet it managed to be more stylish than the Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta.

The Sentra lineup retained the S, SV, and SR trim levels from 2023, with the SV and SR offering a Premium Package. The base S model sported 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV came with newly designed 16-inch alloy wheels for 2024. The Sentra SR featured 18-inch wheels and unique styling touches, including darkened chrome trim and a reshaped lower rear fascia. The SR trim also offered the option of a black roof paired with vibrant colors like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Sentra’s interior drew inspiration from the Z sports car with large round air vents and a plunging dashboard framing the central touchscreen. The SR models boasted red-orange accent stitching on standard cloth seats, with leather upholstery offered on SV models along with a moonroof. A flat-bottom steering wheel, common across new Nissan models, added to the interior's sporty feel. Although material quality was typical for an entry-level car, the distinctive styling elements provided a unique ambiance.

In comparison, Acura's 2024 TLX received a subtle refresh following its redesign for the 2021 model year. The most notable exterior changes included the frameless front grille, with the large radar emitter previously housing the Acura emblem, removed. The resulting design offered a more elegant aesthetic with increased openness. Jewel Eye LED headlights and large air intakes rounded out the fascia’s styling.

The TLX exhibited restrained character lines along its sides, adding to its clean, sophisticated look. Trim levels, dubbed “packages” by Acura, started with the Technology Package, followed by the sporty A-Spec, and topped off with the high-performance Type S. The Type S model featured 20-inch Berlina black split-spoke rims, enhancing its aggressive stance.

Inside, the TLX presented itself as a genuine luxury sedan. Leather upholstery was standard across all trims, offering heated front seats. A new 12.3-inch center infotainment screen dominated the dashboard, though the busy center stack with physical controls for climate settings and an intricate push-button shifter system could be overwhelming at first. Red leather upholstery on the Type S underscored its sporty intentions, with the car delivering a true performance feel.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra continued with its singular 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating a modest 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT was redesigned for 2024 to enhance fuel efficiency and improve smoothness. An engine start-stop system was also added to aid in increasing gas mileage.

Despite its efficiency-oriented design, the Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience. The steering provided notable feedback and precision, making for responsive handling, while the suspension ensured a comfortable ride without sacrificing too much in terms of maneuverability. However, the CVT revealed some quirks during acceleration, particularly around 45 mph, causing an unexpected surge in power.

Conversely, the 2024 Acura TLX offered a robust lineup of engines across its trim levels. The majority of TLXs were equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Power was directed through a 10-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels in the Technology trim, with the A-Spec featuring Acura’s SH-AWD system capable of sending considerable power to the rear axle.

For those seeking ultimate performance, the TLX Type S was the go-to option. This variant boasted a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, delivering peak torque at a low 1,400 RPM. Accelerating from 0-60 mph in about five seconds, the Type S was slightly slower on paper compared to German competitors but felt zippy in real-world conditions. Multiple drive modes allowed fine-tuning of steering, suspension, and throttle response, particularly notable in Sport and Sport+ settings.

The TLX Type S leveraged adaptive dampers, robust stabilizers, and large Brembo brakes for its performance capabilities. Although the electrically assisted steering diminished some driver feedback, the TLX handled curves with agility and maintained stability without excessive body roll.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra provided decent interior space for a compact sedan, with front seats benefiting from ample headroom and legroom, supported by Nissan’s comfortable Zero Gravity seats. However, rear-seat legroom fell short compared to competitors like the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. The Sentra boasted practical interior features, including easy-to-reach cupholders and storage slots.

Cargo space in the Sentra measured 14.3 cubic feet, placing it above the Mazda 3 and Hyundai Elantra, but below the Kia Forte and Honda Civic. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats enhanced the car's versatility for longer items. Despite lacking AWD, the Sentra kept occupants cozy in cold weather with an All-Weather Package available for higher trims, adding conveniences like heated seats and remote start.

The 2024 Acura TLX was intriguingly positioned in the market. With a length of 194.6 inches, the TLX rivaled models like the Audi A6 and BMW 5 Series, yet its 113-inch wheelbase placed it closer to the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. This led to somewhat compromised rear-seat legroom at 34.9 inches, slightly less than a compact BMW 3 Series, despite a spacious front seating area.

The TLX offered 13.5 cubic feet of trunk space, which compared favorably to compact sedans but fell short among midsize competitors. The TLX's long hood added visual appeal but posed challenges in tight urban settings. The Acura Integra, with its practical liftback design and sporty Type S trim, provided an alternative for those prioritizing space and maneuverability.

Technologically, the 2024 Nissan Sentra included essential features but lagged behind rivals in some aspects. The base Sentra S came with a 7-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display with analog gauges, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a basic four-speaker audio system. Higher trims offered larger 8-inch touchscreens, a 7-inch instrument cluster display, a six-speaker audio system, and SiriusXM capability. Optional upgrades included an eight-speaker Bose system and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Sentra's infotainment systems were user-friendly but felt outdated compared to competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte, both of which featured more advanced graphics and functionality.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Acura TLX presented a more mixed tech experience. Standard across all trims was a high-quality ELS Studio audio system, with A-Spec and Type S trims enjoying an upgrade to a 17-speaker ELS Studio 3D system. Wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a wireless charging pad were standard, along with Amazon Alexa integration.

The TLX featured dual 12.3-inch displays, one for the digital gauge cluster and one for the infotainment center, both providing crisp visuals and rapid responsiveness. The True Touchpad Interface (TTI) controlled the infotainment system with one-to-one mapped touchpad responses. While innovative, it created usability issues with smartphone mirroring systems, leading to inefficient and potentially unsafe interactions while driving.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra’s safety ratings from the IIHS were mixed, with top "Good" scores for the original side-impact test but "Acceptable" ratings for the updated test. It scored "Advanced" for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention but "Basic" at night and received a "Poor" rating for headlights. NHTSA ratings were incomplete at the time, with high marks in rollover and side crash tests but missing frontal crash ratings.

Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 package of driver-assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning, came standard. SV and SR trims added adaptive cruise control and an optional 360-degree camera system.

Conversely, the Acura TLX impressed with comprehensive standard ADAS under the AcuraWatch banner, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic monitoring, and parking sensors. Upgraded blind-spot monitoring with lane-change alert and enhanced forward camera and radar views provided additional safety.

NHTSA awarded the TLX a five-star overall crash test rating. Though not yet confirmed for 2024, the TLX previously received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, showcasing superior safety performance.