2015 Nissan Sentra vs Volkswagen Jetta

Two Large Compacts Battle It Out

PreviousNext

By Mike Schlee May 08, 2015 Photos by Chris Blanchette and Adam Wood. Video by Chris Blanchette and Adam Wood.

Cars are growing at an alarming rate. Take the “compact” sedans in this comparison as an example.

They aren’t far from the total length of a Nissan Altima from the 2000 model year. Measuring over 182 inches in overall length, the 2015 Nissan Sentra is less than four inches shorter and the 2015 Volkswagen Jetta is almost the same length as a 2001 Passat.

Despite these both being large compacts, they are built along very different philosophies. The Sentra is all about value and comfort while the Jetta focuses more on an engaging driving experience and premium feel. Currently, the Sentra outsells the Jetta by a slim margin. The question is, should it?

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Boring, Bland or Conservative?

Both cars have relatively mundane exteriors. The Jetta offers a clean, mature look inside and out while the Sentra is a little too rounded on the outside for our tastes and boring on the inside. Sightlines are good in both cars, but the Sentra does hold a minor edge thanks to a low set dashboard that allows shorter drivers to see out more easily.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta Review

The basic controls are easy enough to use in both the Sentra and the Jetta, but we prefer Volkswagen’s infotainment system to Nissan’s. The materials and design inside the Jetta also have a distinctly more upscale feel to them.

Big Cars, Big Space

Rear seat and trunk space is generous in both cars. At 15.7 cubic feet, the Jetta has the largest trunk in the compact car class and one that is bigger than some midsize cars. The Sentra also breaks the 15 cubic foot mark with its own mammoth trunk.

Rear seat legroom favors the Jetta slightly, but both cars have more than enough space. But for all its legroom, it’s odd just how little headroom the Sentra offers. Taller adults won’t want to spend much time in the back of either car, but the Sentra’s no-heads-allowed roof height, hard seat cushion and unfavorable armrest position make it a bit more of an issue. The Jetta doesn’t exactly have the best rear seat design, but it’s better than the Nissan’s.

Power vs. Economy

The Jetta has enough engines to fill the starting lineup for a basketball team – five if you count the hybrid. Last year, the new volume engine became the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder as the old 2.5-liter five-cylinder has been put to pasture. Making 170 HP, the new turbo delivers oodles of torque throughout the rpm range. It’s quickly becoming one of our favourite mainstream compact car engines. Available with a six-speed manual transmission, our test car came equipped with the optional six-speed automatic transmission. Despite a minor hint of initial hesitation, the six-speed works great with the turbo engine.

The Sentra is only available with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder making 130 HP. It too can be paired to a six-speed manual transmission, but the automatic choice is a continuously variable transmission instead of a traditional automatic. Regardless of which transmission is chosen, the lighter Sentra tries hard to keep up to the Jetta, but 40 HP and nearly 50 lb-ft. of torque is just too great of a difference to overcome.

Even if the Sentra’s transmissions aren’t some of the better ones currently available in the compact segment, they are efficient. During our real-world testing, we saw an average of 34.6 MPG in the Nissan compared to the Volkswagen’s 31.8 MPG. Is 2.8 MPG worth the trade-off in power? That’s a question you will need to answer for yourself but to us, no it’s not.

Squishy vs. Engaging

But the Jetta is more than just an engine. The car feels better screwed together than a lot of other compact cars. It has a planted feel on the road that delivers a premium driving experience. It handles better, steers better and responds quicker than the Sentra does.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Nissan Sentra Review

But the Sentra does hold an edge in ride comfort. It has a soft suspension that lets it waft down the road smoothing out bumps with ease. Honestly it’s a toss-up for which of the two cars offers more comfortable seats, but the Jetta is quieter inside and fewer vibrations make their way into the cabin.

Compare Specs

		vs
Vehicle	2015 Nissan Sentra	Advantage	2015 Volkswagen Jetta
Engine (as tested)	1.8 L Four-Cylinder	-	1.8 L Turbocharged Four-Cylinder
Horsepower	130 HP	Jetta	170 HP
Torque	128 lb-ft.	Jetta	184 lb-ft.
Weight	2,855-2,923 lbs.	Sentra	2,859-3,296 lbs.
Rear Legroom	37.4-inches	Jetta	38.1-inches
Cargo Space	15.1 cubic feet	Jetta	15.7 cubic feet
Fuel Economy (US)	27 MPG city, 36 MPG highway	-	25 MPG, 37 MPG
Fuel Economy (CDN)	8.9 L/100 km city, 6.6 L/100 km highway (manual)	-	9.3 L/100 km city, 6.3 L/100 km highway (manual)
Observed Fuel Economy	34.6 MPG	Sentra	31.8 MPG
Starting Price(US)	$17,305	Sentra	$18,145
Starting Price(CDN)	$17,165	Jetta	$16,595
Top Trim Price(US)	$23,740	Sentra	$31,200
Top Trim Price(CDN)	$26,065	Sentra	$36,620

The Value Equation

The Sentra may not be as well sorted as the Jetta, but it does come at a cheaper price. Starting at $17,305 after destination charges, the Sentra is over $800 cheaper than the Jetta. Load up the Nissan and it tops out at a very reasonable $23,740.

SentraExterior8 A Jetta on the other hand can push north of $31,000. But at that point we’re talking about the GLI with a 200 HP engine as well as a ton of premium equipment and performance parts. Even a Jetta with the 1.8-liter engine can be equipped with features not found in the Sentra like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and a power seat. You read that correctly. The Sentra doesn’t offer a power adjustable seat at any price, but at least it gets real leather seat upholstery unlike the faux-leather in the Jetta.

The Verdict: 2015 Nissan Sentra vs Volkswagen Jetta

Comfortable, efficient and spacious, the Sentra is a value packed offering. The issue is, the Jetta offers more space, is still comfortable and efficient in its own right. Plus, it responds better, offers more power and a premium driving experience.

Basically, the Nissan Sentra is a decent car in a world of good cars, but the Volkswagen Jetta is a great car.