2023 Subaru WRX vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, carrying over its 2020 redesign, presented a sleek and modern exterior reminiscent of a smaller Altima. Its low-slung, coupe-like design marked a significant improvement over its predecessors, which had a more traditional sedan appearance. The Sentra's design was a refined execution of Nissan's current design language, offering a variety of bold colour options, including blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlett Ember," alongside a contrasting black roof option. Inside, the Sentra's interior was a highlight, featuring a modern yet straightforward layout that balanced form and function. The controls were user-friendly, and the centre dash's trio of vents added an upscale touch, complemented by a prominent touchscreen.

In contrast, the 2023 Subaru WRX distinguished itself from its Impreza roots with unique styling elements. The WRX's design featured a wide-body look with box fender flares and body cladding, linking it visually to the Subaru Crosstrek and Outback. The signature hood scoop remained functional, feeding air to the intercooler. The WRX's exterior styling conveyed its performance-oriented nature, with a tuner aesthetic that aligned with Subaru's design theme. Inside, the WRX's interior was basic but durable, with the top Sport-Tech trim offering a 10-way adjustable driver's seat and Ultrasuede upholstery. Lower trims featured cloth with red stitching, maintaining a sporty feel.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, it came standard with a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive, with an optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT managed power effectively, providing satisfactory low-end acceleration and highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance-focused car. The suspension handled most road conditions well, making it suitable for commuting and road trips.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, with its 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder Subaru boxer engine, produced 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It offered more horsepower than a Volkswagen Golf GTI but less than a Golf R, positioning it between the Honda Civic Si and Type R. The WRX featured all-wheel drive, with a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional Subaru Performance Transmission (SPT) CVT. The SPT/CVT provided quick throttle responses, mimicking a conventional automatic transmission. The WRX's driving experience was competent but muted, with quiet exhaust and laid-back steering, making it a comfortable daily driver with confidence-inspiring grip on twisty roads.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 404 litres of trunk space, surpassing many small sedans, though slightly less than the Kia Forte's 433 litres. The trunk could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though it created a ledge that could hinder loading larger items. The Sentra's two rows of seating provided ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable front seats and decent rear-seat space. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, with a centre console offering plenty of storage options.

The 2023 Subaru WRX, as a compact sedan, offered practicality with slightly more front headroom and legroom than a Honda Civic Si, though the Civic provided more rear-seat space. The WRX's trunk space was 354 litres, less than the Civic Si's 408 litres but more than the Volkswagen Jetta GLI's 299 litres. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat was standard, though Subaru did not provide a cargo-space figure with the seat folded. The WRX maintained good outward visibility with low window-sill lines and thin roof pillars, though it lacked a convenient spot for a smartphone, an ergonomic oversight.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an 8-inch screen available on higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics could use updating, and it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which were becoming more common in non-luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Subaru WRX featured the Subaru Starlink infotainment system with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base models had dual 7-inch touchscreens, while higher trims offered an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen. The larger screen was easy to read, though physical buttons and knobs were missed. The interface was mostly intuitive, though SiriusXM satellite radio required multiple steps and took time to load. The top Sport-Tech trim included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and more. It earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the IIHS, with high ratings for crash testing and driver-assistance effectiveness.

The 2023 Subaru WRX offered Subaru's EyeSight driver assist technology with the CVT, adding adaptive cruise control, lane-centring, and more. Other available features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The WRX received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks for front-crash prevention and headlights.