Subaru Impreza vs Nissan Sentra

The 2024 Subaru Impreza, as part of its sixth-generation overhaul, displayed a more aggressive and sporty design compared to its predecessor. The grille had become larger and more angular, flanked by narrower LED headlights that imbued the car with a focused, serious expression. The body-colored wheel arches distinguished it from other Subaru models, while the RS trim added side skirts, enhancing its low-slung appearance. At the rear, the flared fenders gave an impression of a wider and more athletic stance when compared to the Honda Civic or Mazda 3 hatchback. Despite its street-oriented style, the Impreza maintained a rugged look that differentiated it from its rivals.

Inside, the Impreza’s cabin showcased a modernization with the introduction of a vertical 11.6-inch infotainment touchscreen standard on the Sport and RS trims, while the Base model featured dual 7-inch displays. The dashboard and steering wheel remained largely similar to the previous generation. However, the RS trim added vibrant red stitching and red seat upholstery accents for a touch of sportiness. The materials used in the interior were of commendable quality, particularly the well-cushioned, soft-touch materials in areas frequently contacted by the driver and front passenger. The rear seats utilized harder plastics, favoring durability—a practical choice for those with children or pets.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Sentra, while built on a design introduced in 2020, received notable updates including a wider grille that seamlessly blended with the redesigned headlights featuring black interior bezel elements and chrome trim. The front fascia incorporated vertical elements mimicking air intakes, enhancing the car’s width perception. The Sentra maintained a balanced aesthetic, avoiding the eccentricity of models like the Hyundai Elantra while offering more flair than the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta. The trim levels remained consistent with prior years, including the S, SV, and SR grades, each with specific wheel designs and additional subtle styling cues. The SR trim stood out with 18-inch wheels and a two-tone paint option, such as a black roof paired with vibrant body colors like Monarch Orange Metallic or Electric Blue Metallic.

The Sentra’s interior, inspired by the Z sports car, was distinctive with large, round air vents and a central touchscreen framed by a sweeping dashboard. The SR models added red-orange accent stitching on the cloth seats, while the SV models offered leather upholstery as an option alongside a moonroof. The material quality was typical for an entry-level car but elevated by these unique styling elements.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza presented two engine choices. The Base and Sport trims were powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The RS model was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine pushing 182 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), with the Sport and RS trims featuring steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, providing a traction advantage over front-wheel-drive (FWD) rivals.

When testing the RS model, its performance was more dynamic than expected for a vehicle with CVT, though acceleration was adequate rather than thrilling. The engine remained quiet under light-to-moderate acceleration, becoming more vocal with harder inputs. Handling was notably sporty, bolstered by AWD and a sport-tuned suspension in the Sport and RS trims, making it more confident in corners compared to FWD rivals. Ride quality was commendable, balancing comfort and stability over rough surfaces, and enhanced sound insulation reduced road noise.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Nissan Sentra, despite its legacy of performance variants, focused more on efficiency. It featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, connected to a CVT that had been reengineered for improved fuel efficiency and smoother operation. An engine start-stop system was introduced to further enhance fuel economy.

Though not performance-oriented, the Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience. The steering provided good feedback and precision, contributing to an easy, controlled driving experience. The suspension was comfortably tuned, ensuring a smooth ride without excessive body roll during cornering. However, the CVT exhibited an unexpected surge of acceleration around 45 mph in the test vehicle, which raised questions about its consistency.

Inside the 2024 Subaru Impreza, front-seat passengers enjoyed a spacious, function-oriented cabin with logically placed controls. The narrow front roof pillars aided visibility through sharp turns, while the large rear hatch glass improved rearward visibility, albeit slightly obstructed by the rear headrests. The RS trim offered additional practical features like a wireless charging pad and a large center armrest bin.

Rear seats in the Impreza were quite accommodating, with ample headroom and legroom for six-footers. The cargo area offered 20.4 cubic feet, expandable to 56 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, though the seatbacks did not lie flat. The vehicle also supported various roof rack options, catering to the active lifestyles of Subaru owners, although it wasn't rated for heavy overlanding tent platforms.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra provided decent interior space, especially in the front where headroom and legroom were comparable to rivals like the Kia Forte and Mazda 3. However, rear-seat legroom was less generous, limiting comfort for taller passengers. The front seats, with Nissan’s Zero Gravity design, were particularly comfortable, and low window sills offered good forward visibility.

The Sentra included practical storage options between the front seats and in the center console, with innovative slots to keep items secure. While lacking AWD, the Sentra's All-Weather Package added conveniences like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Sentra’s trunk space measured 14.3 cubic feet, more than some rivals but less than the Honda Civic.

In the technology department, the 2024 Subaru Impreza stood out with its 11.6-inch touchscreen in the Sport and RS trims, which was both visually impressive and user-friendly. The system featured large on-screen buttons and physical controls for volume, tuning, and temperature, ensuring easy operation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with wireless connectivity in higher trims. The Starlink system added a Wi-Fi hotspot and other connected services, making the tech experience smooth and intuitive.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, while functional, lagged behind some rivals in tech offerings. The base S model came with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display, but only offered wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SV and SR models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, along with a six-speaker audio system. An optional Bose audio system and Wi-Fi connectivity were available in higher trims. Despite these features, the graphics and overall functionality felt dated compared to competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte.

The 2024 Subaru Impreza aimed for high safety standards, leveraging a more rigid chassis and an array of standard safety features through Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist suite. This included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-centering. The higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. These features performed reliably during testing, aligning with the expectations for modern hatchbacks.

For the 2024 Nissan Sentra, available safety ratings were mixed. While it achieved high marks in certain aspects, such as side crash tests, its headlights were rated poorly, and pedestrian protection ratings were less than ideal. Standard features included Nissan Safety Shield 360, offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system as options, ensuring a competitive safety offering despite the mixed ratings.