2021 Honda Accord vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Honda Accord was a standout in the midsize sedan segment, having received a mid-generation refresh to keep up with its competitors. It featured a wider, restyled grille that gave it a more sculpted appearance, complemented by LED headlights and lowlights for improved night visibility. The Accord's design updates included smaller fog light openings and new alloy wheel designs, enhancing its sophisticated look. Inside, the Accord offered a range of trims with varying levels of luxury, from cloth seats in the SE and Sport trims to leather-trimmed seats in the EX-L and Touring trims. The interior was spacious and well-appointed, with a power moonroof available from the Sport trim, though it slightly reduced headroom for front-seat occupants.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra carried over its design from the 2020 redesign, presenting a modern, low-slung, coupe-like exterior reminiscent of a downsized Altima. It was a significant improvement over previous models, with a sleek execution of Nissan's design language. The Sentra was available in various bold colours, adding to its visual appeal. Inside, the Sentra's interior was a highlight, featuring a modern and functional layout with easy-to-use controls and a central touchscreen. The Sentra offered three trims—S, SV, and SR—each with its own set of features, including different wheel designs, upholstery options, and technology upgrades. The SR trim, in particular, added sporty elements like LED headlights and unique bumper designs.

The 2021 Honda Accord offered two engine options, catering to different driving preferences. The standard engine was a 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder, delivering 192 pound-feet of torque and paired with a CVT. This engine was available in the SE, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims. For those seeking more power, the Accord Sport 2.0 and Touring 2.0 featured a 2.0-litre turbo-four engine producing 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Accord's front-wheel-drive setup provided engaging driving dynamics, with the 2.0-litre engine offering a more spirited experience. Fuel economy varied between the two engines, with the 1.5-litre achieving 7.2 to 7.5 L/100 km combined, while the 2.0-litre consumed 9.1 L/100 km combined.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, it came with a standard six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, with a CVT available as an option. The Sentra's engine provided satisfactory performance for daily driving, with consistent acceleration both in city and highway settings. The CVT managed power well, though the Sport button offered minimal performance enhancement. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its suspension handled most road conditions comfortably, making it a reliable choice for commuting and road trips.

The 2021 Honda Accord was designed with practicality in mind, offering ample interior space for five passengers. The front and rear seats provided good head-, hip-, and legroom, ensuring comfort for all occupants. The Accord came with a range of standard convenience features, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and push-button start. The rear seats featured a 60/40 split, allowing for pass-through access to the spacious 473-litre trunk. The cabin layout was driver-friendly, with all essential controls within easy reach, though small-item storage was somewhat limited.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 404 litres of trunk space, which was competitive for its class. The trunk could be expanded with the 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench could make loading larger items challenging. The Sentra's trunk could be opened remotely via the key fob or a dash button. Inside, the Sentra provided spacious seating for both front and rear passengers, with ample headroom and legroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, while the centre console offered plenty of storage options for small items.

The 2021 Honda Accord was well-equipped with technology, featuring an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with physical volume and tuning knobs. The system was responsive and visually appealing, with standard features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims added satellite radio, a wireless phone charger, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Touring trims included an on-board navigation system, rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display, providing a comprehensive suite of tech features.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen, maintaining the same connectivity options. The system was user-friendly, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics could use an update, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback compared to some competitors.

The 2021 Honda Accord was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including vehicle stability assist, traction control, brake assist, a rearview camera, and LED daytime running lights. The Honda Sensing suite added advanced driver-assist technologies like lane-keeping assist, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Accord received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, earning a Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall safety rating, respectively.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra also offered a robust set of standard driver-assistance features, such as forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control were available. The Sentra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, though its headlight ratings were lower.