Compare the2025 Subaru ImprezaVS 2025 Nissan Sentra

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The Impreza has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sentra doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its standard EyeSight, the Subaru Impreza is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Nissan Sentra, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Impreza	Sentra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-8 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-1 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.7 sec	1.9 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-6 MPH	-4 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.6 sec	.6 sec

The Impreza has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Sentra doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Impreza and the Sentra have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Nissan Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	222	271
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	29.9%
Neck Stress	267 lbs.	356 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	265/291 lbs.	313/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	170	569
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.8%	31.5%
Neck Compression	51 lbs.	83 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	291/273 lbs.	408/384 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Nissan Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	144 lbs.	196 lbs.
Hip Force	6 lbs.	422 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	423 lbs.	444 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Impreza is safer than the Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	387
Head Peak Forces	no contact	84 G’s
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.61 in	1.65 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	178 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	112 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Impreza’s reliability 26 points higher than the Sentra.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Nissan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 12th.

Engine

The Impreza’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (152 vs. 149) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Impreza RS’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (182 vs. 149) and 32 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 146) than the Sentra’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Impreza RS 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Nissan Sentra:

	Impreza	Sentra
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	9.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	20.8 sec	26.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.6 sec	9.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	83 MPH
Top Speed	125 MPH	120 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Impreza lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Sentra doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Impreza has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sentra (16.6 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Impreza’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sentra:

	Impreza	Impreza Sport/RS	Sentra
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	12.4 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.2 inches	9” drums
Opt Rear Rotors			10.2 inches

The Impreza’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Sentra SV/SR are solid, not vented.

The Subaru Impreza has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Sentra. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Impreza Sport/RS’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sentra (225/40R18 vs. 215/45R18).

The Impreza’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sentra S/SV’s standard 60 series tires. The Impreza Sport/RS’ tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Sentra SR’s 45 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Impreza’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Sentra’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

Chassis

The Impreza is 6.7 inches shorter than the Sentra, making the Impreza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Impreza a Large car, while the Sentra is rated a Mid-size.

The Impreza has 4.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sentra (100.5 vs. 96.1).

The Impreza has .9 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sentra.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Impreza is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Sentra. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 10th.

Ergonomics

The Impreza’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch. The Sentra

The Impreza’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sentra’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Impreza has a standard rear wiper. The Sentra doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Impreza’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Sentra’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Impreza’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Sentra’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Impreza has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sentra doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Impreza’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Sentra offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Impreza has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Sentra and isn’t available on the Sentra S.

The Impreza’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Sentra S doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru Impreza’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Sentra SV/SR.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Impreza offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Sentra doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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