Compare the2026 Nissan Sentra VS 2026 Subaru Impreza

The Nissan Sentra has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

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 Subaru Impreza has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sentra SL has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Impreza doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Impreza only offers a rear monitor.

The Sentra has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Impreza’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sentra has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Automatic Braking on the SL automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Impreza and the Impreza’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Sentra and the Impreza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 much safer than the Impreza:

	Sentra	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
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 Impreza:

	Sentra	Impreza
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	135	154
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.1 in	1.57 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	580 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.14 in	1.61 in
Torso Deflection Rate	8 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	154	194
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.79 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.91 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	558 lbs.	736 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 Impreza is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are over 64 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Subaru dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Sentra’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sentra has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Impreza’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sentra first among compact cars in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Impreza isn’t in the top three.

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 Subaru vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Subaru is ranked 11th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Nissan Sentra is faster than the Subaru Impreza 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Sentra	Impreza
Zero to 30 MPH	3.6 sec	3.8 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9.2 sec	9.4 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.3 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	17.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	84 MPH

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

			MPG
Sentra
	FWD	S/SV 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/38 hwy
		SR/SL 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/36 hwy
Impreza
	AWD	2.0 DOHC flat-4	27 city/33 hwy
		2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy

The Sentra has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Impreza doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Nissan Sentra higher (7 out of 10) than the Subaru Impreza (6). This means the Sentra produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Impreza every 15,000 miles.

The Sentra stops shorter than the Impreza:

	Sentra	Impreza
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

The Sentra has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Impreza doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sentra’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Impreza (106.5 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sentra is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Impreza.

The Sentra SR handles at .86 G’s, while the Impreza RS pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sentra’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Impreza’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Impreza doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Nissan Sentra and the Subaru Impreza, 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 Impreza isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Sentra outsold the Subaru Impreza by over five to one during 2025.