Compare the2026 Nissan Sentra VS 2026 Acura Integra

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Nissan Sentra achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Acura Integra has not been tested.

The Sentra (except S/SV) offers an optional HD Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Integra only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Sentra and Integra have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sentra SL has Rear Automatic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Integra’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Sentra is safer than the Integra:

	Sentra	Integra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

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 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Nissan Sentra is safer than the Integra:

	Sentra	Integra
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	135	160
Neck Compression	134 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.14 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.26 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	959 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	258
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.79 in	1.02 in
Torso Max Deflection	.91 in	1.46 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	14 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	602 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Nissan Sentra has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Integra is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are almost 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sentra’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 15th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 34 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Acura.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 1 place higher in reliability than Acura.

On the EPA test cycle the Sentra gets better mileage than the Integra:

			MPG
Sentra
	Auto	S/SV 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
Integra
	Manual	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/36 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	Auto	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/37 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Sentra uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Integra requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Sentra higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura Integra (5 to 6). This means the Sentra produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Integra every 15,000 miles.

The Sentra stops shorter than the Integra:

	Sentra	Integra
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

For better maneuverability, the Sentra’s turning circle is 4.9 feet tighter than the Integra Type S’ (34.8 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Sentra SL is quieter than the Integra Type S:

	Sentra	Integra
At idle	42 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	75 dB	89 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	73 dB

The Sentra has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and 4.1 inches more rear hip room than the Integra.

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 Sentra’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Integra’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

On extremely cold winter days, the Sentra’s optional (except S) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Integra doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Compared to the Acura Integra, the Nissan Sentra eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Nissan Sentra retains 59.34% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 53.28% resale value of the 2026 Acura Integra after five years, which can save the Nissan’s owner up to $6639 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Sentra and the Acura Integra, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sentra second among compact cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Integra isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Nissan Sentra outsold the Acura Integra by almost 8 to one during 2025.