BMW 3 Series vs. Nissan Sentra
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the BMW 3 Series and Nissan Sentra contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the BMW 3 Series and the Nissan Sentra.
When comparing the BMW 3 Series's and the Nissan Sentra's specifications and ratings, the BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of reliability, overall quality score and base engine power. The Nissan Sentra has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing, typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars, and fuel efficiency, resale value and interior volume. Based on this comparison of the BMW 3 Series's and the Nissan Sentra's specifications and ratings, the Nissan Sentra is a better car than the BMW 3 Series.
Pricing: A used 2024 BMW 3 Series ranges from $42,839 to $64,993 while a used 2024 Nissan Sentra is priced between $20,727 to $26,719. For a new model, the BMW 3 Series's price is between $47,938 and $68,399, with the Nissan Sentra priced between $21,446 and $28,343.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the BMW 3 Series loses 50.1 percent of its value and the Nissan Sentra loses 38.2 percent of its value. This means the Nissan Sentra retains 11.9 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the BMW 3 Series.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the BMW 3 Series is 8.6 out of 10 while the Nissan Sentra's quality rating is 8.4 out of 10. This results in the BMW 3 Series being ranked 15 out of 36 Best Luxury Small Cars and the Nissan Sentra being ranked 20 out of 37 Best Small Cars.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the BMW 3 Series is 8.4 out of 10. For the Nissan Sentra the reliability rating is 7.9 out of 10. This gives the BMW 3 Series a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Nissan Sentra.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the BMW 3 Series’s base engine makes 255 horsepower, and the Nissan Sentra base engine makes 149 horsepower. The 3 Series is rated to deliver an average of 29 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 530 miles. The Sentra is rated to deliver an average of 34 miles per gallon, with a highway range of 496 miles.This gives the Nissan Sentra the advantage in fuel efficiency and the BMW 3 Series the advantage in maximum range. The 3 Series uses premium unleaded, and the Sentra uses regular unleaded.
Passenger Space Comparison: While both models are compact cars, the Nissan Sentra has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, front leg room, and cargo space. The BMW 3 Series has the advantage in the areas of rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, the BMW 3 Series has higher safety ratings than the Nissan Sentra, with an average rating of 5 out of 5 Stars compared to 4.55 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
47938 - 68399
Starting MSRP:
44500
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
48375
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
31800 - 79900
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
21446 - 28343
Starting MSRP:
21180
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact Cars)
26555
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact Cars)
17795 - 45665
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
50648
Price Range:
42839 - 64993
Category Avg Price:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
52490
Category Avg Price Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
35163 - 100522
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
594
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
20760
# Good or Great Deals:
244
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
23259
Price Range:
20727 - 26719
Category Avg Price:
(Compact Cars)
28855
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact Cars)
19171 - 47673
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
1518
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
20696
# Good or Great Deals:
275
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
22483
Depreciation %:
0.50523662
Resale Value $:
22017
Residual Value %:
0.49476338
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.48947277
Category Depreciation Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
0.33466199 - 0.53474953
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
8190
Depreciation %:
0.38669057
Resale Value $:
12990
Residual Value %:
0.6133094299999999
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact Cars)
0.3164027
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact Cars)
0.24379468 - 0.4011125
BMW 3 Series Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.603399 / 10
Reliability:
8.432786 / 10
Retained Value:
7.377413 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Nissan Sentra Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.371785 / 10
Reliability:
7.889801 / 10
Retained Value:
8.125554 / 10
Safety:
9.1 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for BMW 3 Series
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.4
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
10.6
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
8.1 - 14.3
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.125
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Nissan Sentra
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.1
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact Cars)
11.2
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact Cars)
10.1 - 13.6
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
0.037
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
10.275138042698826
Typical Category Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
2.2
Category Range for Recalls:
(Luxury Compact Cars)
1.2 - 14.6
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
4.966911515959178
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.9
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact Cars)
2.0 - 18.8
BMW 3 Series Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 36Ranking
10 out of / 36Ranking
11 out of / 36Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
12 out of / 36Ranking
15 out of / 36Ranking
16 out of / 32Ranking
19 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 36Ranking
20 out of / 36Nissan Sentra Rankings
Ranking
5 out of / 22Ranking
6 out of / 37Ranking
8 out of / 37Ranking
8 out of / 13Ranking
9 out of / 37Ranking
10 out of / 22Ranking
11 out of / 13Ranking
16 out of / 37Ranking
17 out of / 37Ranking
17 out of / 37Ranking
20 out of / 37Ranking
24 out of / 37Ranking
24 out of / 37Ranking
27 out of / 37Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Body Styles
Sedan
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline, Plug-In Hybrid
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
BMW 3 Series Trim Levels
330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive
Nissan Sentra Trim Levels
S, SR, SV
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
4 years / 50000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
4 years
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
4.55 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
Not yet available
2025 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2025 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
255 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque:
295 foot-lbs @ 1550 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.072 hp per pound
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
149 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
146 foot-lbs @ 4000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.049 hp per pound
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
RWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
25 / 34 / 29
Range (city/hwy):
390 / 530 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Premium Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
2 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
4
Transmission:
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT Automatic)
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
30 / 40 / 34
Range (city/hwy):
372 / 496 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Standard
Navigation System:
Standard
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Satellite radio:
Standard
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Alloy wheels:
Available
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
N/A
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Power outlet:
Standard
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Standard
Power Lift Gate:
N/A
Wifi:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
N/A
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roof Rack:
N/A
Trailer Hitch:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
N/A
Lane Departure Warning:
N/A
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
N/A
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.7 inches
Front Leg Room:
42 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Rear Head Room:
37.6 inches
Rear Leg Room:
35.2 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.6 inches
Cargo Space:
13 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
94.0 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
38.9 inches
Front Leg Room:
44 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
56.4 inches
Rear Head Room:
36.7 inches
Rear Leg Room:
34.9 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
54.5 inches
Cargo Space:
14.3 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
110.4 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3536 lbs
Width:
81.4 inches
Height:
56.8 inches
Length:
185.9 inches
Wheelbase:
112.2 inches
Ground Clearance:
5.6 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3036 lbs
Width:
71.5 inches
Height:
56.9 inches
Length:
182.9 inches
Wheelbase:
106.6 inches
Ground Clearance:
4.7 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
18.0 x 7.5 inches
Wheel Type:
aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
225/45R18
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
16.0 x 6.5 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
P205/60R16
Exterior Colors
Black
Black Sapphire Metallic / Jet Black
Blue
Phytonic Blue Metallic / Portimao Blue Metallic / Tanzanite Blue II Metallic
Gray
Brooklyn Grey Metallic / Dravit Grey Metallic / Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Red
Melbourne Red Metallic
White
Alpine White / Mineral White Metallic
Exterior Colors
Black
Super Black
Blue
Not available
Gray
Gun Metallic
Red
Not available
White
Fresh Powder
Interior Colors
Beige
Canberra Beige
Black
Black / Black w/ Blue Contrast Stitching
Brown
Cognac / Mocha
Gray
Oyster
Red
Tacora Red
Interior Colors
Beige
Not available
Black
Charcoal
Brown
Not available
Gray
Not available
Red
Not available
