The Toyota Corolla and the Nissan Sentra are strong holdouts in the compact car segment, as automotive shoppers increasingly buy crossovers and SUVs. Both cars have multiple strengths, but the 2023 Toyota Corolla is better than the 2023 Nissan Sentra in one huge way: It’s more reliable.

2023 Toyota Corolla is more reliable than the 2023 Nissan Sentra

When choosing which car to get, reliability is a crucial factor to consider. A reliable vehicle results in fewer mechanical issues, which in turn means less money spent on costly repairs. Reliability also translates to better safety, performance, and longevity. It’s also good to have the peace of mind that you’re driving a vehicle you can count on — to get you to your destination without ever breaking down.

And for reliability, the 2023 Toyota Corolla is a top choice. It’s much more reliable than the 2023 Nissan Sentra. Consumer Reports named the Corolla one of the most reliable cars, with the hybrid version taking the top spot and the fully gas-powered model placing seventh. 

Conversely, the Sentra earned a dubious spot on CR’s most reliable unreliable vehicle list. While the Corolla has minimal issues, the Sentra has been plagued by problems, resulting in a low reliability rating. Furthermore, overall, Toyota is a more reliable car brand. Consumer Reports named it the best for car brand reliability. 

Unlike the 2023 Sentra, the 2023 Corolla offers a free maintenance plan

One of the factors in ensuring that a vehicle is reliable is to keep it well-maintained. Toyota recognizes this, so it provides a free maintenance plan for new 2023 Toyota Corolla models. It’s called ToyotaCare. Good for two years or 25,000 miles, ToyotaCare for the Corolla covers factory-scheduled maintenance. This includes multi-point inspections, oil changes, tire rotations, and topping off the fluids.

However, the 2023 Nissan Sentra doesn’t offer a complimentary maintenance plan. So, Sentra owners have to pay for all of these services that are covered by the Corolla. Keeping a vehicle well-maintained and reliable is a more affordable endeavor for the Corolla. Plus, there are many more Toyota dealerships than Nissan dealerships, so servicing the Corolla is more convenient for most owners. 

Other advantages of the Toyota Corolla over the Nissan Sentra

The 2023 Corolla compact car has some other advantages over the 2023 Sentra. This includes higher gas mileage, especially for the hybrid model. It gets an estimated fuel economy of up to 53 city/46 highway mpg for the hybrid and 31 city/40 highway mpg for the gas-powered version. In comparison, the Sentra, which doesn’t offer a hybrid, has an estimated gas mileage of up to 29 city/39 highway mpg.

Also, while the Corolla has both sedan and hatchback models, the Sentra only offers a sedan. Plus, unlike the Sentra, the Corolla offers a traction-enhancing all-wheel drive system. This makes it more suitable for driving in the winter on snowy and icy roads.

Furthermore, the Corolla offers more powerful engine options — ranging from the 169-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder to the 300-horsepower turbo 1.6-liter 3-cylinder in the all-new GR Corolla “hot hatch.” In comparison, all Sentra models have a 149-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The 2023 Toyota Corolla is better than the 2023 Nissan Sentra in a huge way with its higher reliability. When deciding which compact car to get, the reliability is an important factor to keep in mind.