Lexus ES vs Nissan Sentra
2 head-to-heads across the 2025 and 2026 model years, side by side. At default weights the record is level, 1–1. Each verdict below is the one its own page prints — price, fuel, safety, space, performance, tech and warranty from EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer data — and the weights are yours to change on any of them.
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Year by year
2 head-to-heads · verdicts at default weightsClear win 6+ points · Edge 2–6 · Toss-up under 2
Across the years, category by category
2 scored head-to-headsThe ES leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2, performance in 2 of 2; the Sentra on price in 2 of 2. Category scores are 0–100 from the data on each pair page; a lead here means that model year scored higher in the category, whatever the weights.
| Category | ES leads | Sentra leads | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel & range | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Safety | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Space & cargo | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Performance | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tech & comfort | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Common questions about the ES vs Sentra
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the Lexus ES or the Nissan Sentra?
In the newest scored pairing, the 2026 ES against the 2026 Sentra: The Lexus ES wins clearly, 83.5 to 73, on fuel & range, tech & comfort, performance. The Nissan Sentra is ahead on price. Across the 2 head-to-heads scored, the record is level, 1–1. Open the 2026 pair to change the weights.
Does the answer change from one model year to the next?
Yes. At default weights the verdict went 2026 ES vs 2026 Sentra: ES; 2025 ES vs 2025 Sentra: Sentra. The weights on each pair page say what tips it.
Where is the biggest difference between the Lexus ES and the Nissan Sentra?
The ES leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2, performance in 2 of 2; the Sentra on price in 2 of 2. Every count comes from the category scores on the pair pages linked above, which use EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press-kit data.
How does WhichTrim decide which vehicle wins?
Each of seven categories — price, fuel and range, safety, space and cargo, performance, tech and comfort, warranty — is scored 0–100 from the data on the page. Relative measures give 100 to the better vehicle and a proportional share to the other; NHTSA stars and the Safety Signal use their own scales. The overall score is the weighted mean at the default weights (price 4, safety 4, fuel 3, tech 3, space 2, performance 2, warranty 2). A margin of 6 points or more is a clear win, 2 to 6 an edge, under 2 a toss-up. Every pair page has sliders to change the weights.