Kia K5 vs Nissan Sentra

The 2024 Nissan Sentra experienced a revamp in its styling, building on the foundation of its 2020 redesign. The newly widened grille seamlessly merged with the headlights, which now incorporated black interior bezel elements. Chrome trim framed the edges, adding a touch of sophistication. Vertical elements simulating air vents were positioned at the edges of the front fascia, creating a broader impression. Nissan’s design mantra of “longer, lower, wider” certainly shone through in these updates.

The Sentra’s existing features like the black roof and rear-quarter panels with pronounced shoulders melded well with the new elements, resulting in a balanced and visually appealing small sedan. It managed to avoid the quirkiness seen in models like the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla, while still boasting more flair than a Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta.

The trim levels remained consistent with the 2023 lineup—S, SV, and SR—with the SV and SR offering a Premium Package upgrade. The base Sentra S featured 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV came standard with newly designed 16-inch alloy wheels. The SR trim level sported larger 18-inch wheels and distinctive styling touches, including darkened chrome trim and a reshaped lower rear fascia for 2024. Vibrant color options like Monarch Orange Metallic and Electric Blue Metallic paired with a black roof were also available for a bold exterior.

Inside, the Sentra boasted round air vents inspired by the Z sports car and a plunging dashboard that framed the central touchscreen nicely. The SR trim featured striking red-orange accent stitching on standard cloth seats, adding a sporty touch, with leather upholstery and a moonroof available on SV models. A flat-bottom steering wheel, consistent with recent Nissan designs, rounded out the interior. While the material quality was typical for an entry-level car, the stylish elements provided a distinctive touch.

Turning to the 2024 Kia K5, we found a similarly striking aesthetic. While photographing the K5 GT-Line in Passion Red Tint Coat, it drew immediate admiration from cyclists passing by—a clear testament to its visual appeal. Though the K5 had been around since 2021 as the successor to the Optima, not everyone recognized its presence, indicating it might not have fully penetrated the public consciousness despite its sharp looks.

The GT-Line positioned itself as a stylish midpoint between the base LXS and the more upscale EX trim. It offered an attractive price range from $25,390 to $31,790, plus a $1,125 destination charge. Our test model included upgrades like the Premium Package, Panoramic Sunroof Package, and extra-cost paint, pushing the as-tested price to an impressive $30,530.

Inside, the K5 didn’t reach luxury-car quality but had distinctive design elements such as textured metallic trim around air vents and a refined transmission shifter. Despite the presence of some hard and glossy surfaces, it was easy to overlook given the stylish interiors and overall impressive attention to detail.

In terms of performance, the 2024 Nissan Sentra was notably straightforward. Throughout its 42 years on the market, the Sentra had flirted with performance variants, including the SE-R, SR Turbo, and NISMO models. However, for 2024, Nissan streamlined its offerings to focus on efficiency rather than sporty performance.

Under the hood, the Sentra housed a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a front-wheel-drive system. It utilized a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which had been standard since the 2020 model launch. For 2024, the CVT was reengineered to enhance fuel efficiency and provide smoother operation. Additionally, an engine start-stop system was included to further improve miles per gallon.

While not a performance heavyweight, the Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience. Its steering provided impressive feedback and accuracy, ensuring a quick response to minor adjustments without feeling excessively fast. The suspension wasn’t tuned for high-speed thrills but provided a comfortable ride without throwing rear passengers around on corners. Despite some hiccups with the pre-production model’s CVT, which exhibited an unexpected acceleration surge around 45 mph, the overall driving experience was fairly agreeable.

Contrastingly, the 2024 Kia K5 offered more robust performance options. Most versions of the K5 came equipped with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generating 180 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels. All-wheel drive was available with the GT-Line trim.

For higher performance, the K5 GT model boasted a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing an impressive 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive. The K5 also presented various driving modes, including Smart, Normal, Sport, Custom, and an AWD-exclusive Snow mode. The GT model added a Sport+ mode with launch control, alongside sport-tuned suspension, better steering, bigger brakes, and larger alloy wheels with more aggressive rubber.

It was important not to confuse the K5 GT-Line with the high-powered GT. While the GT-Line sported a similar aesthetic, it didn’t match the GT’s performance but was designed to be more fuel-efficient, boasting an EPA rating of 31 mpg in combined driving with FWD. However, our real-world tests fell short, with the K5 GT-Line averaging 24.5 mpg across various driving situations.

Despite mixed fuel economy results, the K5 GT-Line was delightful to drive, with its turbo four-cylinder delivering ample torque from low rpm and smooth, rapid gear shifts. The suspension balanced ride comfort and dynamic control impressively, though the steering was somewhat lackluster due to its column-mounted configuration. Brake performance was adequate for daily driving but not suited for aggressive mountain driving.

When comparing interior space, the 2024 Nissan Sentra offered decent comfort levels—particularly for those seated in the front. First-row headroom matched rivals like the Kia Forte and Mazda 3, though it trailed slightly behind the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. However, the Sentra’s second-row legroom was limited compared to its competitors. Despite this, it offered superior front-seat legroom compared to its peers but fell short in the rear-seat dimension.

Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats provided exceptional comfort for the driver and front passenger, enhancing long journeys. Visibility was good, thanks to low window sills and an unobtrusive dashboard, although the thick rear pillars did somewhat limit the rear view. Despite being a compact car, the Sentra’s design ensured there was ample space for front passengers, including generous cup holders and dedicated slots for phones and smaller items.

One of the Sentra’s shortcomings was the lack of all-wheel drive, though it came equipped with an All-Weather Package for SV and SR trims, offering heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, remote engine start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space was competitive, with 14.3 cubic feet in the trunk, slightly outperforming the Mazda 3 and Hyundai Elantra but trailing the Kia Forte and Honda Civic. A 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat provided flexibility for transporting longer items.

The Kia K5, on the other hand, combined style with practical comfort and utility. The GT-Line trim included SynTex artificial leather and cloth seat inserts, though the material could be sticky under certain conditions. A 10-way power driver’s seat and a manual front passenger seat height adjuster were standard, with a full SynTex offering available in EX and GT trims.

The K5’s interior featured dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats, with options like a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats available in higher trims. Our test model’s panoramic sunroof was a notable benefit at its price point, though it might impact headroom for taller passengers in the rear seat.

The Kia provided considerable storage options, albeit with hard plastic linings that could be noisy with hard items. Cargo space was generous, featuring 16 cubic feet and a Smart Trunk function that opened the lid with just a presence behind the car.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra delivered functional tech but lagged behind some competitors. The base Sentra S model came with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display with analog gauges. It featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although wireless versions were not available. Other standard features included Bluetooth, a single front USB port, and a four-speaker sound system.

Upgrading to Sentra SV and SR trims meant an 8-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch instrument cluster display, and a six-speaker audio system with SiriusXM compatibility. These models also added a front USB-C port and a charge-only USB-A port. An eight-speaker Bose audio system and Wi-Fi connectivity were available in the Premium Package for SV and SR trims. While the larger screens were functional, their graphics appeared dated compared to the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte.

In comparison, the Kia K5 offered a more advanced setup. The base K5 LXS included an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, wireless in the LXS and requiring a wired connection in the more expensive trims. Both systems supported Bluetooth for multiple devices, with the larger screen adding navigation, SiriusXM, and access to Kia Connect services.

Kia Connect allowed for features like 911 Connect, stolen vehicle recovery, remote start, and teen driver notifications. A Wi-Fi hotspot was also available. The system included a digital voice assistant, but an active subscription was necessary to utilize it. Unfortunately, the standard voice recognition was not as competent as Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant.

Higher trims with the larger touchscreen also came with a wireless charging pad and a 12-speaker Bose audio system, further enhancing the K5’s tech appeal.

Safety features were a high priority for both cars, though ratings from independent organizations varied.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra had variable IIHS safety ratings. It received a top “Good” rating in the original side-impact crash test but only an “Acceptable” rating in the updated version. It garnered an “Advanced” rating for front crash prevention in daytime pedestrian tests but a “Basic” rating for nighttime scenarios. Headlights were rated “Poor.” The NHTSA had given it five stars for rollover and side crash tests, but full results were unavailable.

Nissan offered a solid array of standard driver assistance features under the Safety Shield 360 umbrella, including forward collision warning, front and rear automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. SV and SR trims added adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system as part of the Premium Package.

Kia’s Drive Wise suite provided the 2024 K5 with an extensive list of standard driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot monitoring, active rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and a safe exit warning. Additional safety features included automatic high beams, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder.

Optional upgrades brought further safety enhancements like cyclist detection, automatic intersection braking, parking sensors, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera, and an active safe exit warning. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, curve speed control, and Highway Driving Assist (HDA) were also available, with the HDA proving effective in various real-world scenarios.

Despite this comprehensive suite of safety features, the K5 received low marks in updated IIHS evaluations for moderate overlap frontal-impact and side-impact tests, securing Poor and Marginal ratings, respectively. It did earn high scores in other safety assessments, however.