2024 Nissan Sentra Vs. 2024 Hyundai Elantra in Hagerstown, MD

2024 Nissan Sentra Vs. 2024 Hyundai Elantra

Sedans continue to sell well despite the popularity of SUVs. This is because of their versatility, affordability, and fuel efficiency. If you want a smooth and powerful compact sedan, check out the 2024 Nissan Sentra. It is one of the best in its class, going head-to-head with another noteworthy model, the 2024 Hyundai Elantra.

In this Nissan vs. Hyundai comparison, we’ll determine which car is better by evaluating each vehicle’s interior, performance, and safety offerings.

Interior Comparison

The 2024 Nissan Sentra has one of the nicest interior designs in its class. The dashboard features three air vents above solid climate controls. Soft-touch plastics cover vital areas, while hard plastics are used elsewhere to reduce costs. Models with quilted leather upholstery dress things up, as does the sporty flat-bottom steering wheel. Up front, Nissan's Zero Gravity seats are exceptionally comfortable, offering space, softness, and support. An optional sunroof cuts into headroom a bit, but there's still plenty of space for adults both front and rear. The Sentra also provides 14 cubic feet of trunk space, fitting seven carry-on suitcases.

The Elantra's interior has a futuristic design. But it may not be everyone's cup of tea. The dashboard and center console wrap around the driver, while the passenger side takes a starkly minimalist approach. A single LED strip lines an air vent that spans from the steering column to the passenger door panel. Passenger space is good overall. However, it falls short of being among the most spacious sedans in this segment.

Performance Comparison

Every 2024 Nissan Sentra has a four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower. Though not the most powerful among its rivals, it performs reliably. This year, Nissan prioritized fuel economy by upgrading its automatic transmission rather than going for outright speed.

The Sentra also comes with several standard features that improve driving. It uses active ride control, which brakes subtly and adjusts power to iron out bumps on the road. This Nissan compact sedan also has smart trace control, which improves cornering stability. It does this by slowing the inside wheel when needed. Also, the Sentra has a more advanced rear suspension. It has a multi-link system compared to competitors’ simpler torsion beam setups.

Drums are used at the back of the base S model, while disc brakes are employed on all four corners for the SV version. The S model has wide rear pillars. They could cause visibility problems. So, it includes a standard blind-spot monitoring system.

The 2024 Hyundai Elantra's base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is underwhelming in terms of speed off the line and during passing maneuvers. At a test track, it took a sluggish 9.4 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is well behind competitors' times.

Unfortunately, the power it musters is managed by a continuously variable automatic transmission optimized for fuel economy rather than performance. This means it doesn't elicit an enthusiastic driving experience. While the CVT generally operates smoothly under normal conditions, it emits a droning noise when you step on the gas pedal or climb hills.

Regarding other aspects, the Elantra is just average. It can handle corners reasonably well for a compact sedan and keeps itself composed over bumps. Still, those who want more excitement from behind the wheel should check out other models.

Safety Features Comparison

The 2024 Sentra earns high safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This reflects Nissan's dedication to passenger protection. The car has important driver aids like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring.

For child safety seats, the Sentra offers two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. Alternatively, lower anchors for adjacent seats can be borrowed if needed. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested this LATCH system and gave it its highest rating of Good+, indicating that it's fairly easy to use overall.

Meanwhile, several advanced driver aids come standard on every Elantra. These include pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and driver-attention monitoring.

A family-friendly feature of the Elantra is its two full sets of LATCH connectors for each rear outboard seat. Additionally, a tether anchor is available for installation in the rear middle seat. However, IIHS evaluators found that the lower anchors in this car were too recessed into their respective seating positions during testing, which could complicate their proper use.

Find the 2024 Nissan Sentra in Hagerstown, MD

It's clear from the comparison above that the 2024 Nissan Sentra is better overall than the 2024 Hyundai Elantra. If you want the Sentra, visit Hamilton Nissan in Hagerstown, MD, for a test drive. Our staff can help you find the perfect Nissan Sentra model.