Head-to-head
2023 Nissan Sentra vs 2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 88.5 to 79.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price and performance.
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2023 Nissan Sentra
The 2023 Nissan Sentra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sentra, is EPA-rated at 33 mp…
vs
C2023 Toyota Prius Prime
The 2023 Toyota Prius Prime is sold in the U.S. as a plug-in hybrid midsize sedan with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Prius Prime S…
Verdict · default weights
2023 Toyota Prius Prime
Clear winThe Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 88.5 to 79.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price and performance.
Tech & comfort 2023 Toyota Prius Prime leads by 62.1
Price 2023 Nissan Sentra leads by 39.2
Fuel & range 2023 Toyota Prius Prime leads by 36.6
| Category · weight | 2023 Toyota Prius Primeoverall 88.5 | 2023 Nissan Sentraoverall 79.3 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 60.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 63.4 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 89.4 | 88.3 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 85.1 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.9 | 99.7 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 37.9 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 88.5 | 79.3 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Prius Prime: base trim SE FWD · Nissan Sentra: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 20 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,300 against $2,050).
Where the 2023 Nissan Sentra answers
- It starts $12,925 lower ($20,050 against $32,975 base MSRP).
- It lists 23 standard driver-assist features against 18.
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 5 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
50 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $20,050 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,987 cc | 1,997 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0-Liter 4-cylinder Aluminum DOHC 16-Valve with VVT-i (Atkinson cycle) | 2.0L DOHC I4 |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 150 hp | 149 hp |
| Torque | 139 lb-ft | 146 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 53 mpg | 29 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 52 mpg | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 51 mpg | 39 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 5.25 |
| Transmission type | Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.6 in | 4.7 in |
| Overall height | 55.9 in | 56.9 in |
| Overall length | 181 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 70.2 in | 71.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 108 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 26.7 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 20.3 cu-ft | 14.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 91.2 cu-ft | 110 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38 in | 38.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | 36.4 in | 36.7 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.2 in | 44 in |
| Third-row legroom | 34.8 in | 34.7 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,461 lbs | 3,036 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,461 lbs | 3,036 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 3,957 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link with rear stabilizer bar | Multi-link independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Dual pinion electric power-assisted (vehicle-speed-sensitive) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.4 ft | 38.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | Automatic Electric Parking Brake | Foot brake |
| Rear brake diameter | 279 mm | 229 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | drum |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/60R17 | 205/60R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Toyota Connected Services | NissanConnect |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 120 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.3 in | 56.4 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 52.8 in | 54.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
90 features · differences first, then sharedSafety20 differ · 31 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning with haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking (PA w/AB) | opt | — |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats | std | — |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Rear-Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCT), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) | std | — |
| Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | std | std |
| RearView Monitor | std | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | std |
| Rear passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Traction Control System | std | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | std |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – direct sensor type | std | std |
Infotainment19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| NissanConnect® with Wi-Fi hotspot (subscription required, sold separately) | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Remote Connect - Remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app, via your smart watch, Amazon Alexa enabled devices, and Google Assistant™ enabled devices. Allowing you to Lock/Unlock doors, Start and Stop the vehicle, Remote Climate, locate your last parked location, check vehicle status, and monitor guest drivers. | std | — |
| Safety Connect® - includes Emergency Assistance Button, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification, and Stolen Vehicle Locator. | std | — |
| 1 front USB connection port (Type A) with iPod® Interface | — | std |
| 7-inch color touchscreen display | — | std |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen, six speakers, with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatible, SiriusXM® with 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription | std | — |
| AM/FM/USB with 4 speakers | — | std |
| Drive Connect - includes Cloud Navigation with Google points-of-interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey Toyota, and Destination Assist. | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed heated tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display, and Bluetooth® hands-free phone controls | std | — |
| Service Connect - Receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports. Subscription required after trial. 4G network dependent. | std | — |
| Six USB-c charge ports * — two front/ two center console/ two rear | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
Convenience1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power windows with auto up/down | std | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry system with Push Button Ignition | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter | — | std |
| Single zone climate control system with dust and pollen filter | std | — |
Seating4 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 60/40 split fold-down rear seats | std | — |
| 2-way power lumbar | — | std |
| Cloth seating | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed front seats; 6-way adjustable driver's seat; 6-way adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 6-way manual | std | std |
Interior10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch multi-information display | — | std |
| Center console with armrest and storage compartment | std | — |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob | std | — |
| Rear dome light and cargo area light | std | — |
| Top-mount Multi-Information Display (MID) with indicators and 7-in. LCD display with speedometer, drive mode indicators, instrumentation and customizable settings, odometer, tripmeters, clock, outside temperature, rear passenger seatbelt indicators, fuel economy information, trip timer, and warning messages | std | — |
| Two front cup holders; two front and two rear bottle holders | std | — |
| Illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Inside rearview mirror Manual day/night | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescoping | — | std |
| Extendable dual sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Projector LED (high/low) beam headlights | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors with folding feature | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with cover, 16 x 6.5-inch | — | std |
| 17-in. alloy wheels with wheel covers and 195/60R17 tires | std | — |
| Active grille shutter | std | — |
| Body-color power outside mirrors | — | std |
| Chrome V-motion front grille | — | std |
| Halogen headlights | — | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | std | — |
| LED taillights and stop lights | std | — |
| Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers | std | — |
| Roof-mounted shark-fin antenna | std | — |
| Temporary spare tire in trunk 17 x 4T | — | std |
Powertrain3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-engine / front-wheel drive | — | std |
| Hybrid Net System Horsepower: 220 horsepower (164 kW) | std | — |
| Xtronic CVT transmission | — | std |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | — | std |
| Intelligent Ride Control | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo area tonneau cover | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Prius Prime
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 6 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (3), Power Train (2), Exterior Lighting (1)
Top recalls
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V049000 · 141,286 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 24V274000 · 55,690 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 24V548000 · 33,848 vehicles
Nissan Sentra
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★★
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 20 · 1 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (8), Forward Collision Avoidance (5), Unspecified (5)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 24V154000 · 351 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Prius PrimeSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $32,975 (base trim) | $20,050 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $32,975 – $39,670 3 trims | $20,050 – $22,940 3 trims |
| Powertrains | PHEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Prius Prime SE | Sentra |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 52 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,300 | $2,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 3 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Sentra?
The Toyota Prius Prime wins clearly, 88.5 to 79.3, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime scores 88.5 and the 2023 Nissan Sentra 79.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Sentra?
The 2023 Nissan Sentra starts lower — $20,050 against $32,975, a gap of $12,925 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime or the 2023 Nissan Sentra?
2023 Toyota Prius Prime: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 2023 Nissan Sentra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime and the 2023 Nissan Sentra?
Where the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (6 against 20 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (29 points against 11 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and costs $750 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,300 against $2,050). Where the 2023 Nissan Sentra answers: it starts $12,925 lower ($20,050 against $32,975 base MSRP) and lists 23 standard driver-assist features against 18. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.