Head-to-head
2026 Lexus ES vs 2026 Nissan Sentra
The Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 73, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, performance. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price.
A
2026 Lexus ES
The 2026 Lexus ES is sold in the U.S. as an electric and hybrid midsize sedan with 6 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the ES 350e (19 inch W…
vs
A2026 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…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Lexus ES
Clear winThe Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 73, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, performance. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price.
Fuel & range 2026 Lexus ES leads by 71.8
Price 2026 Nissan Sentra leads by 53.7
Tech & comfort 2026 Lexus ES leads by 41.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Lexus ESoverall 83.5 | 2026 Nissan Sentraoverall 73 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 46.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 28.2 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 81.4 | 76.3 | ||||||||||||
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 | 96.5 | 96.4 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 99.9 | 77.1 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 58.8 | ||||||||||||
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 | 83.5 | 73 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Lexus ES: base trim ES 350e Premium 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 2026 Lexus ES wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 19 filed with NHTSA).
- It is rated 127 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $2,050).
Where the 2026 Nissan Sentra answers
- It lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 2.
- It starts $26,195 lower ($22,600 against $48,795 base MSRP).
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
48 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $48,795 | $22,600 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 1,997 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (Front) | 2.0L DOHC I4 |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | 4 valves per cylinder, Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 221 hp | 149 hp |
| Torque | 198 lb-ft | 146 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 30 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 33 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 38 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 5.034 |
| Transmission type | — | cvt |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 4.7 in |
| Overall height | 61.4 in | 57.1 in |
| Overall length | 202 in | 183 in |
| Overall width | 75.6 in | 71.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 107 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 13.3 cu-ft | 14.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 110 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.3 in | 38.9 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 36.7 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.9 in | 44 in |
| Third-row legroom | 40.7 in | 34.8 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,652 lbs | 3,097 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,608 lbs | 3,097 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,810 lbs | 4,079 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut-type | Independent strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | Multilink | Multi-link independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | EPS | Dual pinion electric power-assisted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 34.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | 279 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Parking brake type | — | Electric with auto-hold |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | 259 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | Vented disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 16 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | steel |
| Wheel width | — | 6.5 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 205/60R16 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 12.4 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Lexus Interface | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 36 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 60 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 57.5 in | 56.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 53.9 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
141 features · differences first, then sharedSafety36 differ · 37 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection & Cyclist Detection | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Panoramic View Monitor | opt | — |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Blind Spot Warning | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | — | std |
| Driver Monitor | opt | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | — | std |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | — | std |
| Front Cross Traffic Assist | opt | — |
| Haptic steering wheel | — | std |
| High Beam Assist | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intelligent Cruise Control with steering wheel-mounted switches | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | — | std |
| Intelligent Trace Control | — | std |
| Intuitive Parking Assist with Auto Braking and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert | opt | — |
| Lane Change Assist | opt | — |
| Lane Departure Prevention | — | std |
| Lexus Safety System+ 4.0 | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | — | std |
| Rear Pedestrian Detection | opt | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor | — | std |
| Traction Control System | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist | opt | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | — | std |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – direct sensor type | — | std |
| Blind Spot Intervention | std | std |
Infotainment31 differ · 31 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| NissanConnect® Services including Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| 1 rear, charge-only USB Type C port | — | std |
| 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display | std | — |
| 12.3-inch NissanConnect® touchscreen | — | std |
| 2 front 60W USB-C ports | std | — |
| 2 front USB Type C ports | — | std |
| 2 rear 15W USB-C ports in armrest | opt | — |
| 2 rear 60W USB-C ports | std | — |
| 4 speakers | — | std |
| 7-inch multi-information display | — | std |
| AM/FM with RDS | — | 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 w/ minimum 3-year-trial* | std | — |
| Google Assistant™ voice recognition | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | — | std |
| Head-Up Display | opt | — |
| Integrated Streaming w/ Spotify® | std | — |
| Lexus app | std | — |
| Lexus Interface w/ 14.0-inch touchscreen display | std | — |
| Mark Levinson® 17-speaker, 1,800-watt PurePlay Surround Sound Audio System | std | — |
| NissanConnect® Services including Wi-Fi Hotspot (factory option) | — | std |
| Remote Connect* (minimum 3-year trial included) | std | — |
| Safety Connect* (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| Service Connect* (5-year trial included) | std | — |
| Siri® Eyes Free | — | std |
| SiriusXM® with 360L (3-month trial included) | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless charger | std | — |
Convenience7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt DC power outlet | — | std |
| HomeLink® garage door opener | std | — |
| Power door locks with auto-locking feature | — | std |
| Power trunk w/ kick sensor | std | — |
| Power windows with driver-side one-touch auto up/down and auto reverse | — | std |
| Remote Keyless Entry system with Push Button Ignition | — | std |
| SmartAccess | std | — |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Dual-zone climate control with interior air filters, smog sensor and automatic recirculation mode | std | — |
| Manual air conditioning | — | std |
| Multi-zone climate control w/ rear-seat controller | opt | — |
Seating16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 10-way power-adjustable driver seat w/ memory and 4-way lumbar adjustment | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable driver seat w/ memory and 2-way lumbar adjustment | std | — |
| Heated and ventilated front seats | std | — |
| Heated front seats | std | opt |
| Heated and ventilated rear seats | opt | — |
| Lexus Memory System for driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel | std | — |
| 4-way power lumbar | std | — |
| 6-way manual adjustable | — | std |
| 2-way power-adjustable driver's side rear passenger seat and 4-way power-adjustable rear passenger seat w/ ottoman and massage function | opt | — |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | — | std |
| 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat | std | — |
| 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat w/ memory | std | — |
| Cloth front seats | — | std |
| Driver's seat power cushion extender | opt | — |
| Front seat radiant knee heater | std | — |
| Rear seats 60/40-split fold-down | — | std |
Interior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | std | — |
| Power tilt-and-telescopic steering column | std | — |
| Active noise control | std | — |
| Perforated NuLuxe® interior trim | std | — |
| Perforated semi-aniline leather interior trim | std | — |
| Sun visors with vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Thematic ambient lighting | std | — |
| Thematic ambient lighting w/ bamboo layering trim | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel | — | std |
Exterior26 differ · 28 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/sliding glass moonroof with manual sunshade | std | — |
| LED headlights (high/low beam) | — | std |
| Heated power-folding outside mirrors with auto tilt-down in reverse | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with cover, 16 x 6.5-inch wheels | — | std |
| 19-inch alloy wheels | std | — |
| 205/60R16 all-season tires | — | std |
| 21-inch alloy wheels | opt | — |
| Acoustic front and side window glass | std | — |
| Auto Easy Door Closer (soft close) | std | — |
| Body-color door handles | — | std |
| Cornering lamps | std | — |
| Digital latch electronic door handles | std | — |
| Gloss black power outside mirrors | — | std |
| Headlamp washer | opt | — |
| Heated outside mirrors with turn signal indicators | std | — |
| Heated power-folding outside mirrors with auto tilt-down in reverse | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights | — | std |
| LED headlamps w/ auto leveling and daytime running lights | std | — |
| Rain-sensing windshield wipers | std | — |
| Rear camera washer | std | — |
| Temporary spare: Tire repair kit | — | std |
| V-motion front grille, gloss black with chrome finisher | — | std |
| Variable intermittent front wipers | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | opt | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | — | std |
| Center High-Mount Stop Light | — | std |
| Daytime Running Lights | std | std |
| LED tail lights | std | std |
Powertrain7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive configuration: Front-engine / front-wheel drive | — | std |
| AC dual-voltage charging cable supporting Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) input | std | — |
| Braking regen paddle shifters | std | — |
| CCS to NACS (J1772 to J3400) AC plug adapter | std | — |
| CCS1 to NACS (J1772 combo to J3400) DC plug adapter | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (ECO, Normal, Sport, Custom) | std | — |
| Idle Stop/Start | — | std |
Chassis3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | — | std |
| Electric parking brake with auto-hold | — | std |
| Intelligent Ride Control | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPLexus ES
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 1 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Nissan Sentra
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 19 · 1 crashes · 1 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (8), Back Over Prevention (4), Wheels (3)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V145000 · 15 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Lexus ESES 350e Premium FWD | Nissan SentraS FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $48,795 (base trim) | $22,600 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $48,795 – $60,195 8 trims | $22,600 – $27,990 4 trims |
| Powertrains | BEV, HEV | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | ES 350e (19 inch Wheels) | Sentra (2-mode) |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 127 | 33 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $600 | $2,050 |
| EV range | 307 mi | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
The Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 73, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, performance. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Lexus ES scores 83.5 and the 2026 Nissan Sentra 73. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
The 2026 Nissan Sentra starts lower — $22,600 against $48,795, a gap of $26,195 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Lexus ES or the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
2026 Lexus ES: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 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 Lexus ES and the 2026 Nissan Sentra?
Where the 2026 Lexus ES wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (1 against 19 filed with NHTSA), is rated 127 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe), and costs $1,450 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($600 against $2,050). Where the 2026 Nissan Sentra answers: it lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 2 and starts $26,195 lower ($22,600 against $48,795 base MSRP). What they share: 5 seats.