2021 Toyota Camry vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2021 Toyota Camry strove to distance itself from its predecessors, which often appeared as generic sedans. Adopting Toyota's recent design language, the Camry attempted to infuse excitement through abundant styling details. Some of these elements were successful, like the flared wheel arches and thin headlights and taillights that visually broadened the car. However, certain trims, specifically the SE, XSE, and TRD, were adorned with fake vents, adding unnecessary visual clutter. The LE and XLE trims featured a somewhat cleaner, albeit still massive, grille. Sharing the TNGA-K platform with other Toyota models like the Avalon and RAV4, the 2021 Camry presented revised front-fascia styling on most trims for the model year, although the changes were subtle. The TRD performance model stood out with unique features like a larger rear spoiler. The Nightshade Edition, carrying over from 2020, applied blacked-out exterior trim and wheels to the SE trim level, boasting 17-inch alloy wheels standard on the base LE, with 18-inch and 19-inch options available on other models.

The interior mirrored the chaotic exterior styling. The dashboard of the SE Nightshade Edition test model seemed as if composed from parts of two distinct cars, with an array of trim elements including contrast stitching, piano black plastic, and vaguely carbon fiber-like plastic trim. XLE and XSE models offered leather upholstery, adding a premium touch, yet the materials often appeared and felt subpar in quality.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra adhered to its 2020 redesign, maintaining a look reminiscent of a downsized Altima. It featured a low-slung, coupe-like modern design, a significant progression from pre-2020 models. Available in vibrant colors such as bold blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," the Sentra also offered gray with a contrasting black roof option. Our test model, despite its sedate gray paint, highlighted Sentra's commitment to Nissan's current design language.

Inside, the Sentra excelled with a simple yet modern layout combining form and function seamlessly. Controls were user-friendly, and the trio of center dash vents lent an upscale feel. The front cabin was accentuated by a centerpiece touchscreen arising from the dashboard. With trims including S, SV, and SR, standard features ranged from basic necessities on the S to additional comforts on the SV and SR trims, making the Sentra's interior not only attractive but also functional.

The 2021 Toyota Camry offered a base powertrain of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, called Dynamic Force, generating respectable power for a naturally-aspirated engine—203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque with FWD, and slightly less with AWD. The XSE models with a dual exhaust system increased these figures to 206 hp and 186 lb-ft with FWD. An eight-speed automatic transmission complemented both FWD and AWD options. For those seeking more power, a 3.5-liter V6 engine was available, delivering 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with FWD and the same eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assistance for a total of 208 hp.

Our SE Nightshade Edition’s four-cylinder AWD setup offered substantial power, revealing a surprisingly enthusiastic character for a family sedan. The Dynamic Force engine was lively and had a pleasant sound, while the chassis tuning balanced handling and ride quality effectively. The Camry handled corners well without compromising ride comfort, though the steering, while responsive, lacked tactile feedback. Though not as refined as a Honda Accord or Mazda 6, the Camry outclassed many in its segment for driving excitement.

Conversely, the 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque across all trims. It came with a consistently smooth CVT and FWD. While the engine performance wasn't groundbreaking, the transmission efficiently managed power delivery, particularly noticeable when pressing the throttle. The Sentra had a Sport button hidden behind the shift knob, which had a negligible impact on performance, yet the base setup sufficed for both city driving and highway cruising.

The Sentra’s steering was well-balanced, and the car handled corners adeptly despite not being a performance-oriented vehicle. Its suspension absorbed most road irregularities well, though it struggled with harsh terrains. Overall, the Sentra excelled in providing a stable, comfortable ride suitable for commuting, city driving, and occasional trips.

The 2021 Toyota Camry boasted generous rear headroom and legroom compared to other midsize sedans, though front space was below average. Despite this, adjustability in the front seats ensured a comfortable driving position, complimented by excellent outward visibility. The Camry offered 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space, an average figure within its class but inferior to the Honda Accord's 16.7 cubic feet. In-cabin storage was limited, with small cupholders and door bottle holders, and items often getting stuck in door storage crevices. However, the presence of analog controls for key functions improved usability, despite their awkward placement.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Sentra provided 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, superior to many small sedans though slightly less than the Kia Forte’s 15.3 cubic feet. The Sentra’s standard 60/40 split-fold rear bench expanded cargo capacity but created a load-floor ledge that could complicate accommodating larger items. While lacking a power-opening trunk, the Sentra’s trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a dashboard button, with a spring-loaded mechanism popping it open.

The Sentra offered spacious seating in both rows. The front seats had ample headroom and legroom, while the rear seats provided decent legroom and headspace, albeit not as much as the front. Interior storage included large in-door trays and bottle holders, with the center console featuring numerous cupholders and gear trays.

The 2021 Toyota Camry came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free voice control, and SiriusXM satellite radio with a three-month trial. Higher trims upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, WiFi connectivity for up to five devices, navigation, and a premium nine-speaker JBL audio system. Additionally, XSE and XLE trims could be equipped with a 10-inch head-up display. The standard placement included a single USB media port, two USB charge ports, and a 12-volt outlet in addition to the single standard USB port.

Technology in the 2022 Nissan Sentra also included a 7-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. Higher SV and SR trims featured larger 8-inch touchscreens with the same smartphone integration capabilities. The Sentra’s system was user-friendly, thanks to convenient hard buttons along the screen’s bottom and tactile volume and tuning dials. The graphics, however, needed updating, and the absence of wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto was a drawback, especially as competitors like the Honda Civic offered such features on higher trims.

The 2021 Toyota Camry earned the prestigious “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS, as well as a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The new TSS 2.5+ safety package included features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. Enhancements for 2021 included better adaptive cruise control acceleration aids and more comprehensive forward-collision detection capabilities. Toyota also introduced the Rear Seat Reminder, standard across all trims, to prevent leaving occupants unattended in the back seat. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options or standard on higher trims.

Similarly, the 2022 Nissan Sentra came well-equipped with standard safety features like forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Our test model even had optional features like a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control, though the latter’s abrupt braking was less than ideal. The Sentra achieved a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, despite lower headlight ratings, thanks to high crash safety scores and effective driver assistance technologies.