Compact sedans reign as the standard car of the road, no matter what brand they come in. So that meant we had to do some serious digging to find the best of the best when it comes to compact sedans. With our 2017 VW Jetta vs 2017 Nissan Sentra near Hyattsville, MD, comparison, we put each car to the test in several categories, including performance, dimensions, capacity, and technology. The 2017 Jetta came out on top with updated amenities, an immensely capable engine, and a fuel economy that cannot be bested. If you opt to test drive this compact sedan at Pohanka VW of Capitol Heights, you’ll find that the Jetta is uniquely impressive in its segment.
When you look at the base engines in the Jetta and the Sentra, they are relatively similar. Though the Jetta comes with a 1.4L 4-cylinder engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, the Sentra does have a bit of an advantage with an 1.8L 4-cylinder engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. But with the Jetta’s engine comes 150 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque, while the Sentra lingers behind with 130 horsepower and 128 lb.-ft. of torque. All that aside, however, the Jetta gains an amazing fuel economy of 28/40 MPG city/hwy1, which towers over the Sentra’s mere fuel rating of 27/35 MPG city/hwy2. The Jetta also has a 14.5-gallon fuel tank capacity, while the Sentra’s 13.2-gallon tank, combined with it’s mediocre MPG rating, will force you to stop more often than you’d like.
The dimensions of a compact sedan matter, because they are relatively small to begin with. The Jetta equips you with a massive 55.2 inches of front shoulder room compared with the Sentra’s 54.7 inches, which just isn’t enough when even the smallest variance makes a difference. When looking to accommodate your rear seat passengers on your way to the Mall at Prince Georges, in this comparison between the 2017 VW Jetta vs 2017 Nissan Sentra near Hyattsville, MD, look to the Jetta’s 37.1-inch headroom while the Sentra only provides you with 36.7 inches of space. Legroom is obviously the most important feature in this category, in which the Jetta conquers over the Sentra’s 37.4 inches of rear legroom, with 38.1 inches of rear legroom.
If hauling your belongings around without having to squeeze them into a tight space is important to you, then the Jetta will certainly beat out the Sentra in this category. With all seats in place, the Jetta boasts 15.7 cubic ft. of cargo volume3, while the Sentra falls behind with 15.1 cubic ft. of space4 in the trunk. The Jetta also proves to be the stronger of the two sedans, with a 1,091-lb. maximum payload capacity5, whereas the Sentra barely makes the cut with 933 lbs. of payload capability5.
A few technological advancements have been made in the Jetta that do not come standard in the Sentra. HD RadioTM, for instance, is available in the Jetta on higher trim levels, but the Sentra does not offer this feature at all. Similarly, a parking assistance function is optional for Jetta’s higher trim levels, while the Sentra lacks this safety feature on any trim.
The 2017 VW Jetta vs 2017 Nissan Sentra near Hyattsville, MD, comparison should really be no contest. With the 2017 Jetta as a clear winner, we at Pohanka VW of Capitol Heights know that you’ll want to get behind the wheel of this impressive compact sedan as soon as possible. Contact us at 240-788-4557, and we’ll get you scheduled for a test drive!
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