Starting at
Starting at
14.3 | Max. Cargo Volume (cu.ft.) | 13.1 |
Yes | Zero Gravity Seats | No |
Standard | Blind Spot Monitor | Available |
For the average consumer, transportation is a necessity. Whether you have a family to worry about or just need to get to and from the office each morning, an affordable method of getting here and there is on the minds of many. And while the SUV and crossover have been enjoying an immense boom in popularity over the past few decades, there are still a great many consumers who still favor the economical alternative in the form of the four-door sedan. Usually cheaper to insure and more fuel efficient, the four-door sedan has long been praised as a practical choice that won’t break the bank.
Two of the most popular choices that have remained in the public eye and set an example in terms of sustainability are the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla. Nissan has always been praised for its ability to focus on advancing the technology that enhances the driving experience. On the other hand, Toyota has a reputation for quality and sustainability. And today, we’re placing both of those reputations to the test as we evaluate individual offerings from these two celebrated manufacturers. It’s the 2023 Nissan Sentra vs 2023 Toyota Corolla, and only one can come out on top, so let us begin with our evaluation.
We’ll begin our examination with the first thing the average car-shopper looks at; cost. There’s a good chance that you have many concerns about stretching your budget and making everything fit within its confines accordingly. The purchase of any automobile comes with a decent amount of other expenses that have to be taken care of on a regular basis. Aside from the upfront cost, there are insurance and repairs, which are impossible to ignore.
The starting MSRP for both vehicles is surprisingly affordable, which will come as a delight to any driver who has a keen eye for saving money. The Nissan Sentra starts at $20,200, which is less than the Corolla’s beginning MSRP of $21,700.[a] Both of these are considered close to the industry average, but the Sentra manages to sell at a lower price than models like the Volkswagen Jetta.
While matters such as insurance premiums and repairs are non-linear, as driving habits and other variables have a profound effect on them, both vehicles can retain their cost-effectiveness in both categories. The repair costs for both vehicles will stay below the threshold of $500 when properly maintained, and the chances for a major repair remain low.
There is a noticeable difference in insurance premiums for both vehicles, and much like repairs, this will vary on the driver. Many deciding factors go into insurance premiums, such as age, credit, driving record, and what provider you choose. On average, a Toyota Corolla will cost upwards of $1,927 annually to insure. The Nissan Sentra costs less to insure, as it averages out to $1,738. This difference might not seem drastic, but when it comes to cutting costs with what you drive, every little bit counts.
When we were children, we were always told to “Never judge a book by its cover.” This is important wisdom when it comes to our relationships with other individuals, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to the vehicles we drive and the clothes we wear. Style, aesthetics, and presentation all play a considerable part when we shop for a vehicle. The four-door sedan is a vehicle that’s designed to be practical and ideal for the average commute. The challenge for any manufacturer is to offer a design that appeals to our sense of style and makes for a memorable first impression. And, as so many of us are aware, you never get a second chance to do this.
The exterior of the Toyota Corolla is more or less what one would expect from a four-door sedan geared to benefit the average consumer. While it certainly possesses the aerodynamic design that Toyota has been known for implementing, it won’t win any beauty contests anytime soon. The Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, manages to take the basic concept of the four-door sedan and inject some excitement. Aerodynamic with some jagged portions and a stylish front grill, Nissan demonstrates its capacity for making a statement in terms of presentation.
Returning to the childhood wisdom of not judging a book by its cover, it’s time we look at the interior of both vehicles to see what each one has to offer. After all, this is where you’ll be spending your time, so it should have a certain level of style and comfort for you to enjoy. For the Toyota Corolla, the interior possesses a design that’s not ill-fitting by any means but just one that appears to be jumbled together.
Anchored by an eight-inch infotainment screen that’s placed on top of the dash, this is easily the high-water mark of the design that Toyota has brought forth. So much so that it almost appears to be out of place with the rest of the area. A cumbersome gear shifter and mundane design are placed so close together that someone of above-average height won’t have much room to stretch and breathe.
If the exterior of the Nissan Sentra were any indication of what the interior would be, then you would be exactly right. Nissan’s reputation for having its finger on the pulse of what consumers find appealing is nowhere more evident than the interior design of the Sentra. The aesthetic of black and chrome elevate the appearance far beyond what one might have expected.
A standard seven-inch infotainment screen is perfectly placed into the dashboard at eye level with the steering column. Below the screen sits an attractive arrangement of three chrome-tipped HVAC vents and a stylish gear shifter that immediately catches the eye. It’s the details that take our breath away, and many of them can be found in the style and presentation of the Sentra, inside and out. To top off the already alluring interior is the inclusion of Zero Gravity Seats, specifically designed to reduce fatigue and discomfort, especially on those long drives. Unfortunately, the Corolla doesn’t offer unique seating like this, giving it a disadvantage on those lengthy excursions on the road.
As our examination of the two vehicles comes to its inevitable conclusion, we now shift our attention to what’s underneath the hood. And as one can expect, this is an area where both vehicles are neck and neck with one another regarding what they have to offer.
Both vehicles have powertrains that are similar to one another and take the form of a 2.0L four-cylinder engine. The Corolla emphasizes power, with its 169 hp compared to the Sentra’s 149 hp. And while both vehicles are equipped with a continuously variable transmission for adapting to the stop-and-go traffic patterns associated with city driving, the Sentra is by all accounts better at handling and maneuvering than the Corolla.
Regarding fuel economy, both vehicles perform at a very close level with one another. As a matter of fact, the differences are quite minimal. The EPA estimates that both will save you over $1,250 on fuel costs over five years compared to the industry average. Both will allow you to travel over 400 miles on a full tank. One of the most notable differences is that the Corolla will cost you more to fill up, as its gas tank is slightly larger. In a sense, you can expect both vehicles to perform at about the same level in terms of fuel consumption. That said, paying less at the pump for a full tank is too good to pass up. Our pick is the Nissan Sentra. Paying less for a vehicle, less at the pump, and having more style than expected makes it easy to see why this is.