Nissan Sentra vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2024 Nissan Sentra underwent a notable design refresh, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The updated styling featured a wider grille that seamlessly blended with the headlights, which now included black interior bezel elements. Chrome trim adorned the edges, and vertical elements resembling air vents were positioned at the front fascia's edges, creating a broader appearance. The Sentra's design philosophy embraced the "longer, lower, wider" automotive styling maxim, resulting in a small sedan that balanced flair and sophistication. The Sentra's existing features, such as the available black roof and pronounced rear-quarter panel shoulders, harmonized with the new elements, offering a distinctive yet tasteful look compared to competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla.

Inside, the Sentra's interior design drew inspiration from the Z sports car, featuring large round air vents and a plunging dashboard shape that framed the central touchscreen. The SR models boasted red-orange accent stitching on standard cloth seats, with leatherette upholstery available on SR Premium models. A flat-bottom steering wheel added a sporty touch, while material quality remained consistent with entry-level expectations. The Sentra's interior design elements contributed to a unique and appealing cabin environment.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid received significant styling updates, particularly in the front fascia. A single slim lightbar, known as the "seamless horizon lamp," crowned the streamlined front, imparting a modern flair. The badge was repositioned above the grille, while the headlights were placed independently below it. The Sonata's rear end featured a lightbar forming a wide "H" shape with the taillights, reminiscent of the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. The side profile remained largely unchanged from the 2023 model, maintaining a familiar silhouette. In Canada, the Preferred-Trend trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the N Line trim sported 19-inchers.

Inside, the Sonata's dash underwent changes, with vents flowing across the dashboard and a redesigned steering wheel featuring a T-shape and a slender rim. The gear shifter was relocated to the steering column, enhancing the interior's modernity. The Preferred-Trend trim offered a basic black interior with leather upholstery, while the N Line trim featured a light grey option with Nappa leather, suede inserts, and red accents. The Sonata's interior design emphasized comfort and functionality, with thoughtful details like the trunk close button adding convenience.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra, a model with a rich history dating back to 1982, focused on efficiency rather than performance. It featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with front-wheel drive (FWD). In Canada, a six-speed manual transmission was available on the S and SR grades, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was standard in the U.S. The CVT was reengineered for improved fuel efficiency and smoother operation, complemented by an engine start-stop system for enhanced efficiency. Despite its efficiency focus, the Sentra offered a pleasant driving experience with responsive steering and a balanced suspension setup.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid introduced an all-wheel drive (AWD) system for the first time, available on the Preferred-Trend trim for an additional $2,000. The Preferred-Trend trim featured a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The N Line trim offered a turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 290 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, with power transferred via an 8-speed wet-clutch dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The Sonata's steering feel and handling were well-received, providing a balanced driving experience.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra offered a decent amount of interior space, particularly in the front row. First-row headroom was comparable to rivals like the Kia Forte and Mazda 3, while front-seat legroom surpassed competitors such as the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra. However, the Sentra lagged behind in second-row legroom compared to its rivals. The driver and front passenger benefited from Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, providing exceptional comfort. The Sentra's interior design featured low window sills and a slim dashboard, offering excellent forward visibility. The trunk provided 404 litres of space, with a 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat for added versatility.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with 975 millimetres of front-seat headroom, slightly above the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Rear-seat headroom measured 950 millimetres, while front-row legroom was prioritized at 1,170 millimetres. The Sonata's interior featured heated and ventilated front seats in the Preferred-Trend trim, with a slimmer steering wheel rim for added comfort. The trunk close button added a touch of convenience, enhancing the Sonata's practicality.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra offered functional technology but felt slightly behind some competitors. The base Sentra S model featured a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument cluster display with analog gauges. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but wireless versions were not available. The Sentra SV and SR models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, along with a six-speaker audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. The SR Premium offered an eight-speaker Bose audio system. While the Sentra's screens were well-integrated, the graphics appeared dated compared to rivals.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid impressed with its technology features. A standout feature was the selectable functionality of the driver's side front USB-C port, allowing users to switch between data-transmitting and charging-only modes. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all trims. The Sonata featured a curved display combining the infotainment touchscreen and driver-information display into a single panel. The N Line trim boasted a pair of 12.3-inch screens, while the Preferred-Trend trim had a smaller digital instrument cluster. The N Line also included navigation and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The 2024 Nissan Sentra's safety ratings were incomplete at the time of publication. It received a "Good" rating in the IIHS's original side-impact crash test but only an "Acceptable" rating in the updated version. The Sentra scored "Advanced" for front crash prevention in vehicle-to-pedestrian daytime testing but "Basic" in the nighttime scenario. It received a "Poor" headlight rating. The NHTSA provided five stars in rollover and side crash tests, but frontal crash-test and overall safety scores were unavailable. The Sentra offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning.

The 2024 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features. Blind-spot collision warning with rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist was standard. All trims included forward collision-avoidance assist with junction turning detection, safe exit warning and assist, lane-following and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, automatic emergency braking, and rear occupant alert. Hyundai's infotainment system made it easy to access and manage safety features, enhancing user convenience.