2025 Lexus ES vs 2025 Nissan Sentra
The Nissan Sentra wins clearly, 86.4 to 78.3, on price, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and fuel & range. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips.
2025 Lexus ES
The 2025 Lexus ES is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the ES 300h, is EPA-rated a…
2025 Nissan Sentra
The 2025 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 34 mp…
2025 Nissan Sentra
Clear winThe Nissan Sentra wins clearly, 86.4 to 78.3, on price, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and fuel & range. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2025 Lexus ESoverall 78.3 | 2025 Nissan Sentraoverall 86.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 50 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 77 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 86.2 | 80.5 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 98.1 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 51.1 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 56.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 78.3 | 86.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Lexus ES: base trim Standard FWD · Nissan Sentra: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Nissan Sentra wins
- It lists 27 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It starts $21,625 lower ($21,590 against $43,215 base MSRP).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (35.5 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2025 Lexus ES answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 32 filed with NHTSA).
- It makes 302 hp against 149.
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.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $43,215 | $21,590 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 3,456 cc | 1,997 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 6-cylinders, V type | 2.0L DOHC I4 |
| Fuel injection system | EFI, D-4S | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | 4 valves per cylinder, Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 302 hp | 149 hp |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft | 146 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 22 mpg | 30 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 25 mpg | 34 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 32 mpg | 40 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 2.561 | 5.034C |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 4.7 in |
| Overall height | 56.9 in | 56.9 in |
| Overall length | 196 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 73.4 in | 71.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 113 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 13.9 cu-ft | 14.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 99.9 cu-ft | 110 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 37.5 in | 38.9 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 36.7 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.4 in | 43.8 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 34.9 in |
| Third-row legroom | 39.2 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 3,036 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 3,036 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,740 lbs | 3,957 lbs |
| Payload capacity | — | 921 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut-type | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Trailing wishbone independent | Multi-link independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | EPS | Dual pinion electric power-assisted (vehicle-speed-sensitive) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 19.1 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 305 mm | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Foot brake |
| Rear brake diameter | 282 mm | 229 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | drum |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 17 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 205/60R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 15.9 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Lexus | NissanConnect |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 120 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 55.9 in | 56.4 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 54.5 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 54.3 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
114 features · differences first, then sharedSafety29 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning with haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor | — | std |
| RearView Monitor | — | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | — | std |
| Rear passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child safety rear door locks | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | — | std |
| Emergency inside trunk release | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 | std | — |
| Parking brake – Foot brake | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Traction Control System | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | — | std |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – direct sensor type | — | std |
Infotainment27 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect® with Wi-Fi hotspot (subscription required, sold separately) | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone switches | — | std |
| 1 front USB connection port (Type A) with iPod® Interface | — | std |
| 4.2-inch multi-information display | — | std |
| 7-inch color touchscreen display | — | std |
| AM/FM/USB with 4 speakers | — | std |
| Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | — | std |
| Audio switches | — | std |
| Auxiliary input jack | — | std |
| Bluetooth and USB smartphone connectivity | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® | — | std |
| Drive Connect with Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant and Destination Assist available by subscription | std | — |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | — | std |
| Lexus 10-speaker Premium Sound System | std | — |
| Lexus app | std | — |
| Lexus Interface with 8-inch touchscreen display | std | — |
| NissanConnect® Services (NissanConnect® Services, MyNISSAN app control) | — | opt |
| Paddle shifters | std | — |
| Radio Data System | — | std |
| Remote Connect 3-year trial | std | — |
| Safety Connect with up to 10-year trial | std | — |
| Service Connect with up to 10-year trial | std | — |
| SiriusXM 3-month Platinum Plan trial subscription | std | — |
| Six USB ports | std | — |
| Speed-sensitive volume control | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® integration | std | — |
Convenience10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Keyless Entry system with Push Button Ignition | — | std |
| 12-volt DC power outlet | — | std |
| Battery saver | — | std |
| Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted switches | — | std |
| Power door locks with auto-locking feature | — | std |
| Power windows – Driver-side one-touch auto up/down with auto reverse | — | std |
| Premium Package: Wood trim, Lexus Memory System for driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel, Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column, Heated and ventilated front seats, Wireless phone charger, Heated leather steering wheel, Power-folding-outside mirrors with auto title-down in reverse, Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Rain-sensing windshield wipers, Windshield wiper de-icer | opt | — |
| Remote releases – trunk and fuel filler door | — | std |
| SmartAccess card key | opt | — |
| Technology Package: Lexus Interface w/ 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Drive Connect w/ Cloud Navigation, Intelligent Assistant and Destination Assist 3-year trial, Head-Up Display and SmartAccess card key | opt | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter | — | std |
| Dual-zone climate control with interior air filters, smog sensor and automatic recirculation mode | std | — |
| Front window defroster | — | std |
Seating7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's seat 6-way manual | — | std |
| 10-way power-adjustable front seats | std | — |
| Cloth | — | std |
| Front passenger's seat 4-way manual | — | std |
| Perforated NuLuxe® interior trim | std | — |
| Rear seats 60/40-split fold-down | — | std |
| Seating for five | std | — |
Interior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-spoke urethane steering wheel | — | std |
| Assist grips (4) | — | std |
| Cargo area lamp | — | std |
| D-shaped steering wheel | — | std |
| Dual LED overhead front map lights | — | std |
| Front door pockets | — | std |
| Sliding center armrest | — | std |
| Sun visors with extensions and vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Wood trim with ambient lighting | opt | — |
| Inside rearview mirror Manual day/night | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescoping | — | std |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power sliding glass moonroof with tilt feature | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with cover, 16 x 6.5-inch wheels | — | std |
| 17-inch twin-V-spoke alloy wheels with Dark Metallic and machined finish | std | — |
| 18-inch split-10-spoke alloy wheels with two-tone Black and machined finish | opt | — |
| 205/60R16 all-season tires | — | std |
| Bi-LED headlamps | std | — |
| Body-color door handles | — | std |
| Body-color power outside mirrors | — | std |
| Center High-Mount Stop Light | — | std |
| Chrome V-motion front grille | — | std |
| Halogen headlights | — | std |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights | — | std |
| LED taillamps and daytime running lights | std | — |
| Variable intermittent front wipers | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with indicator light and timer | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire in trunk 17 x 4T | — | std |
Powertrain5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Front-engine / front-wheel drive | — | std |
| Drive Mode Select | std | — |
| Idle Stop/Start | — | std |
| MR20DD engine (DOHC, I4, 2.0L/1997cc, 149hp @ 6,000 RPM, 146 lb-ft @ 4,000 RPM, direct injection) | — | std |
| Xtronic CVT transmission | — | std |
Chassis6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | — | std |
| Front brakes – Vented disc, 11.0 inch diameter x 0.9 inch thickness | — | std |
| Intelligent Ride Control | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | — | std |
| Rear brakes – Drum, 9.0 inch diameter (S); Vented disc, 10.2 inch diameter x 0.31 inch thickness (SV, SR) | — | std |
| Twin tube shock absorbers | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPLexus ES
Top recalls
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
Nissan Sentra
Top recalls
- high Power Train 26V410000 · 946 vehicles
- high Latches/Locks/Linkages 26V023000 · 26,432 vehicles
- high Seats 25V153000 · 199 vehicles
- moderate Visibility 25V807000 · 41,797 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Lexus ESStandard FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $43,215 (base trim) | $21,590 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $43,215 – $52,105 8 trims | $21,590 – $24,590 3 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | ES 300h | Sentra |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 44 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,500 | $1,950 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Nissan Sentra?
The Nissan Sentra wins clearly, 86.4 to 78.3, on price, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Lexus ES is ahead on performance and fuel & range. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 5 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Nissan Sentra scores 86.4 and the 2025 Lexus ES 78.3. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Nissan Sentra?
The 2025 Nissan Sentra starts lower — $21,590 against $43,215, a gap of $21,625 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Lexus ES or the 2025 Nissan Sentra?
2025 Lexus ES: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2025 Nissan Sentra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 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 2025 Lexus ES and the 2025 Nissan Sentra?
Where the 2025 Nissan Sentra wins: it lists 27 standard driver-assist features against 2, starts $21,625 lower ($21,590 against $43,215 base MSRP), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (35.5 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2025 Lexus ES answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (5 against 32 filed with NHTSA) and makes 302 hp against 149. What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 5 seats.