2021 Nissan Sentra vs. Mazda3: a spectacular comeback

A few years ago, it would have been perilous to compare the Nissan Sentra to the Mazda3. The former had a tougher time of it at the same time the latter was having its best years.

However, since the redesign of the Sentra for 2020, Nissan's sedan no longer has to be ashamed of the competition, because the work done has been colossal. So much so that when you compare many aspects of the two vehicles, you have to give Nissan the edge. Here are a few examples.

Fuel consumption

When Mazda introduced its SkyActiv technology, it promised miracles in terms of fuel economy. The miracle didn't happen, but the company has established itself as a reference in this area. Still, when you look at the fuel economy ratings of the two vehicles, the Sentra is the better performer.

Specifically, we're talking about 8.4 and 6.6 liters (city-highway) per 100 kilometers for the Mazda3 equipped with an automatic transmission. With the Sentra, which has a CVT, the respective figures are 8 and 6 liters. The difference is huge, especially on the highway.

Comfort

In the past, people sacrificed a little comfort when they opted for a compact sedan. Those days are gone. Cars have grown in size and are offered as small luxury products. If the environment is inviting in the Mazda3 and the comfort level is decent, it's simply extraordinary in the Sentra.

This is due to the cabin's soundproofing, for starters, but especially to the "zero gravity" seats that equip it. The latter, quite simply, are the most comfortable in the industry.

The trunk

When we compare the trunk space of each car, we discover that the Sentra's is more spacious, with a volume of 405 liters compared to the Mazda3's 371.

The multimedia system

Mazda has completely redesigned its multimedia system with the new generation of its 3, introduced for 2018. Admittedly, the new layout is much more interesting than the old one. However, navigating through the menus is still complex and sometimes it takes several steps to get to perform a simple function.

We don't have this problem at Nissan. The company's multimedia system is one of the easiest to use in the industry, so much so that after a few moments of acclimatization, you can master its secrets.

We could go on with other examples, notably the solidity of the driving experience, where Nissan is no longer behind Mazda. In short, the Nissan Sentra has been transformed and we invite you to come and discover how interesting the change is.