2026 Hyundai Elantra vs 2026 Nissan Sentra
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.9 to 84.6, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on safety and price.
2026 Hyundai Elantra
The 2026 Hyundai Elantra is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Elantra Hybrid B…
2026 Nissan Sentra
The 2026 Nissan Sentra is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Sentra (2-mode), is EPA-rated…
2026 Hyundai Elantra
Clear winThe Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.9 to 84.6, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on safety and price.
| Category · weight | 2026 Hyundai Elantraoverall 93.9 | 2026 Nissan Sentraoverall 84.6 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 99 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 61 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 75.3 | 79.4 | ||||||||||||
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 | 99.7 | 97.9 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 97 | 97.3 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 77 | ||||||||||||
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 | 93.9 | 84.6 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Hyundai Elantra: base trim SE FWD · Nissan Sentra: base trim S FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 19 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,050).
- It is rated 54 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
Where the 2026 Nissan Sentra answers
- It lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 21.
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 68).
What they share
- 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
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,825 | $22,600 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | — |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 1,999 cc | 1,997 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L MPI Atkinson DOHC 16-valve Inline 4-cylinder | 2.0L DOHC I4 |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | 4 valves per cylinder, Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 147 hp | 149 hp |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft | 146 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 30 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 38 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.892 | 5.034 |
| Transmission type | Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in | 4.7 in |
| Overall height | 55.7 in | 57.1 in |
| Overall length | 185 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 71.9 in | 71.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.2 cu-ft | 14.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 114 cu-ft | 110 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.6 in | 38.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.3 in | 36.7 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 42.3 in | 44 in |
| Third-row legroom | 38 in | 34.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 2,868 lbs | 3,097 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 2,725 lbs | 3,097 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 3,858 lbs | 4,079 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Coupled Torsion Beam Axle | Multi-link independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | Dual pinion electric power-assisted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 17.7 ft | 34.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | Mechanical Cable (Hand lever) | Electric with auto-hold |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 259 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | Vented disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 15 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | 6 in | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 195/65R15 | 205/60R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.4 gal | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56.5 in | 56.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 55.6 in | 54.6 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
123 features · differences first, then sharedSafety26 differ · 38 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning with haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| Lane Keep Assist with Cyclist Detection | std | — |
| Rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance | std | — |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) & High Beam Assist (HBA) | std | — |
| Rear passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning (SEW) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Intervention | — | std |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Cruise control | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | — | std |
| Haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Cruise Control with steering wheel-mounted switches | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | std | — |
| Intelligent Trace Control | — | std |
| Lane Departure Prevention | — | std |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor | — | std |
| Safe Exit Warning & Rear Occupant Alert | std | — |
| Smart Pedal | std | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | std | — |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection & Cyclist Detection | std | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | std | 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 |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection | std | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | std |
| Brake Assist | std | std |
| High Beam 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 |
Infotainment20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-inch Display Audio system with 6 speakers, High Resolution Touchscreen with rearview camera with Dynamic Guidance, AM/FM / HD/ AM/FM/HD/ Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto | std | — |
| Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System with Voice Recognition | std | — |
| 1 rear, charge-only USB Type C port | — | std |
| 12.3-inch NissanConnect® touchscreen | — | std |
| 2 front USB Type C ports | — | std |
| 2 Rear USB-C charge | std | — |
| 4 speakers | — | std |
| 7-inch multi-information display | — | std |
| AM/FM with RDS | — | std |
| Audio Controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | std | — |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Voice Recognition | std | — |
| Dual USB ports (1 USB charge + data, 1 USB-C charge) | std | — |
| Google Assistant™ voice recognition | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | — | std |
| In-glass AM/FM antenna | std | — |
| NissanConnect® Services including Wi-Fi Hotspot (factory option) | — | std |
| Siri® Eyes Free | — | std |
| Speed-sensitive automatic volume control | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | — | std |
Convenience7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt DC power outlet | — | std |
| 12-volt Outlet below HVAC controls | std | — |
| Power Door Locks (ignition key reminder, 2-turn unlocking, inside handle override) | std | — |
| Power door locks with auto-locking feature | — | std |
| Power windows with driver-side one-touch auto up/down and auto reverse | — | std |
| Power Windows with Driver's auto-down, illuminated power window switches | std | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry system with Push Button Ignition | — | std |
Climate0 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual air conditioning | std | std |
Seating7 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | opt |
| 1-piece bench folding rear seatback with fixed center headrest and outer headrests | std | — |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | — | std |
| 4-way Passenger's adjustable Bucket | std | — |
| Front Passenger slide/recline | std | — |
| Rear seats 60/40-split fold-down | — | std |
| Seat folding release in trunk | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable | std | std |
| Cloth front seats | std | std |
Interior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color (TFT-LCD) | std | — |
| Auto Dimming Mirror with Homelink | opt | — |
| Cargo Area Light | std | — |
| Central Dome Light (with Delay) | std | — |
| Door scuff - Step Plate (plastic) | std | — |
| Front Map Lights | std | — |
| Shift Knob - Urethane | std | — |
| Sun visors with vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic steering wheel | std | — |
| Urethane steering wheel | std | — |
| Inside Rearview Mirror - Manual Day/Night | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel | — | std |
| Carpeted Floor Mats | std | — |
| Sunvisors w/ illumination & extension | std | — |
| Trip Computer (Distance to Empty, Average Fuel Consumption, Average Vehicle Speed, Elapsed time) | std | — |
Exterior18 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 16-inch steel with cover, 16 x 6.5-inch wheels | — | std |
| 205/60R16 all-season tires | — | std |
| Body-color door handles | — | std |
| Bulb Rear Taillights | std | — |
| Dual Power, Two-Tone outside mirrors (Body color top + Black bottom) | std | — |
| Front Windshield 2-speed intermittent, mist function wipers | std | — |
| Gloss black power outside mirrors | — | std |
| Grille - Black | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights | — | std |
| LED tail lights | — | std |
| Temporary spare: Tire repair kit | — | std |
| V-motion front grille, gloss black with chrome finisher | — | std |
| Variable intermittent front wipers | — | std |
| Window Belt Moldings - Black | std | — |
| Automatic Headlamp Control | std | — |
| Solar Glass | std | — |
| Center High-Mount Stop Light | — | std |
| Compact Spar Tire T125/80D15×4T | std | — |
| LED headlights (high/low beam) | std | std |
| Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Mode Select: Normal / Sport / Smart | std | — |
| Smartstream Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) | std | — |
| Drive configuration: Front-engine / front-wheel drive | std | std |
| Idle Stop/Start | std | std |
Chassis8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | — | std |
| Column-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (C-MDPS) | std | — |
| Coupled Torsion Beam Axle rear suspension | std | — |
| Electric parking brake with auto-hold | — | std |
| Intelligent Ride Control | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut front suspension | std | — |
| Mechanical Cable Parking Brake | std | — |
| Unibody construction with High Tensile Steel | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPHyundai Elantra
Top recalls
- critical Electrical System 26V308000 · 54,337 vehicles
- high Suspension 26V692000 · 24 vehicles
- high Wheels 26V693000 · 17 vehicles
- high Air Bags 26V254000 · 2,931 vehicles
Nissan Sentra
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V145000 · 15 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Hyundai ElantraSE FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,825 (base trim) | $22,600 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $22,825 – $40,950 14 trims | $22,600 – $27,990 4 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Elantra Hybrid Blue | Sentra (2-mode) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 54 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,250 | $2,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
The Hyundai Elantra wins clearly, 93.9 to 84.6, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, space & cargo. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on safety and price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Elantra scores 93.9 and the 2026 Nissan Sentra 84.6. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
The 2026 Nissan Sentra starts lower — $22,600 against $22,825, a gap of $225 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Hyundai Elantra or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
2026 Hyundai Elantra: 5 NHTSA stars, grade D, 4 recalls. 2026 Nissan Sentra: no NHTSA rating yet, 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 2026 Hyundai Elantra and the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Elantra wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 19 filed with NHTSA), costs $800 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,250 against $2,050), and is rated 54 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe). Where the 2026 Nissan Sentra answers: it lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 21 and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 68). What they share: 5 seats.