2026 Nissan Sentra vs 2026 Tesla Model 3
The Nissan Sentra edges it, 81.5 to 78.4, on price, safety, tech & comfort. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.7 and it flips.
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 Tesla Model 3
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 is sold in the U.S. as an electric midsize sedan with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Model 3 Premium RWD, is …
2026 Nissan Sentra
Slight edgeThe Nissan Sentra edges it, 81.5 to 78.4, on price, safety, tech & comfort. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.7 and it flips.
| Category · weight | 2026 Nissan Sentraoverall 81.5 | 2026 Tesla Model 3overall 78.4 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 61.1 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 25.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 95.2 | 69.9 | ||||||||||||
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 | 73.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 76.6 | ||||||||||||
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 | 81.5 | 78.4 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 5 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Sentra: base trim S FWD · Tesla Model 3: base trim Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.7 and the answer flips.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Nissan Sentra wins
- It lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 3.
- It starts $14,390 lower ($22,600 against $36,990 base MSRP).
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (19 against 30 filed with NHTSA).
Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers
- It is rated 139 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $1,500 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,050).
What they share
- A Safety Signal of 92.
- 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
45 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $22,600 | $36,990 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Cylinder count | 4 | — |
| Engine displacement | 1,997 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L DOHC I4 | Electric Motor |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | 4 valves per cylinder, Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 149 hp | — |
| Torque | 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 | Single-Speed |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 4.7 in | 5.4 in |
| Overall height | 57.1 in | 56.7 in |
| Overall length | 183 in | 186 in |
| Overall width | 71.5 in | 76.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 107 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 14.3 cu-ft | 24 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 110 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 38.9 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 36.7 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 34.8 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 3,097 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 3,097 lbs | 3,759 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,079 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut with coil springs | — |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual pinion electric power-assisted | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 34.8 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 279 mm | — |
| Front brake type | Vented disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electric with auto-hold | — |
| Rear brake diameter | 259 mm | — |
| Rear brake type | Vented disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 16 in | — |
| Wheel material | steel | — |
| Wheel width | 6.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 205/60R16 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 12.4 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 56.2 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 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
98 features · differences first, then sharedSafety32 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection & Cyclist Detection | std | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| 8 exterior cameras | — | std |
| Anti-lock Braking System | std | — |
| Blind Spot Intervention | std | — |
| Blind Spot Warning | std | — |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger knee supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Easy-Fill Tire Alert | std | — |
| Electronic Brake force Distribution | std | — |
| Full Self-Driving (Supervised) capable | — | std |
| 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 | — |
| Lane Departure Prevention | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor | std | — |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Traffic-aware cruise control | — | std |
| Vehicle Dynamic Control | std | — |
| Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System | std | — |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System – direct sensor type | std | — |
Infotainment20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wireless phone chargers | — | std |
| Cellular data, Wi-Fi, ultra-wide band and Bluetooth connectivity | — | std |
| 1 rear, charge-only USB Type C port | std | — |
| 12.3-inch NissanConnect® touchscreen | std | — |
| 15.4" First-row touchscreen | — | std |
| 2 front USB Type C ports | std | — |
| 3 USB-C ports | — | std |
| 4 speakers | std | — |
| 7 Speaker audio system | — | std |
| 7-inch multi-information display | std | — |
| AM/FM with RDS | std | — |
| Basic Vehicle Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free phone system with Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® | std | — |
| Google Assistant™ voice recognition | std | — |
| Grok voice assistant | — | std |
| Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant | std | — |
| NissanConnect® Services including Wi-Fi Hotspot (factory option) | std | — |
| Over-the-air software updates | — | std |
| Siri® Eyes Free | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® and wireless Android Auto™ | std | — |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12-volt DC power outlet | std | — |
| Hands-free power open on approach | — | std |
| Power door locks with auto-locking feature | std | — |
| Power windows with driver-side one-touch auto up/down and auto reverse | std | — |
| Remote Keyless Entry system with Push Button Ignition | std | — |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Manual air conditioning | std | — |
| Particulate and odor filter; First-row touchscreen adjust air vents | — | std |
Seating9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| First-row heated seats | opt | std |
| 6-way manual adjustable | std | — |
| 4-way manual front passenger seat | std | — |
| Cloth front seats | std | — |
| First-row power recline | — | std |
| Five-seat interior | — | std |
| Rear seats 60/40-split fold-down | std | — |
| Second-row manual-folding seats | — | std |
| Vegan leather with textile inserts | — | std |
Interior5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Center console with extended storage | — | std |
| Manual-adjust heated steering wheel | — | std |
| Sun visors with vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Manual tilt and telescoping steering wheel | std | — |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights (high/low beam) | std | — |
| 16-inch steel with cover, 16 x 6.5-inch wheels | std | — |
| 205/60R16 all-season tires | std | — |
| Body-color door handles | std | — |
| Daytime Running Lights | std | — |
| Gloss black power outside mirrors | std | — |
| Intelligent Auto Headlights | std | — |
| LED headlights; Auto and adaptive high beams | — | std |
| LED tail lights | std | — |
| Manual-folding side-view mirrors | — | std |
| Panoramic glass roof | — | std |
| Temporary spare: Tire repair kit | std | — |
| V-motion front grille, gloss black with chrome finisher | std | — |
| Variable intermittent front wipers | std | — |
| Rear window defroster with timer | std | — |
| Center High-Mount Stop Light | std | — |
Powertrain5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive configuration: Front-engine / front-wheel drive | std | — |
| Battery & Drive Unit Warranty: 8 years or 100,000 mi, whichever comes first | — | std |
| Drive Modes: Chill, Standard | — | std |
| Idle Stop/Start | std | — |
| Supercharging Max 225 kW; Pay Per Use | — | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Active Ride Control | std | — |
| Electric parking brake with auto-hold | std | — |
| Intelligent Ride Control | std | — |
| Passive shock absorbers | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Sentra
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V145000 · 15 vehicles
Tesla Model 3
Top recalls
- high Seats 25V410000 · 48 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan SentraS FWD | Tesla Model 3Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $22,600 (base trim) | $36,990 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $22,600 – $27,990 4 trims | $36,990 – $54,990 4 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | BEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Sentra (2-mode) | Model 3 Standard RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 33 | 139 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,050 | $550 |
| EV range | — | 321 mi |
| Basic warranty | — | 4 yr / 50,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Nissan Sentra or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
The Nissan Sentra edges it, 81.5 to 78.4, on price, safety, tech & comfort. The Tesla Model 3 is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.7 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Nissan Sentra scores 81.5 and the 2026 Tesla Model 3 78.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Nissan Sentra or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
The 2026 Nissan Sentra starts lower — $22,600 against $36,990, a gap of $14,390 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Nissan Sentra or the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
2026 Nissan Sentra: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Tesla Model 3: 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 Nissan Sentra and the 2026 Tesla Model 3?
Where the 2026 Nissan Sentra wins: it lists 29 standard driver-assist features against 3, starts $14,390 lower ($22,600 against $36,990 base MSRP), and has drawn fewer owner complaints (19 against 30 filed with NHTSA). Where the 2026 Tesla Model 3 answers: it is rated 139 combined against 33 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $1,500 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($550 against $2,050). What they share: a Safety Signal of 92 and 5 seats.