Complete configuration comparison
TrueCar's market data shows buyers currently pay $58,622 on average for the BMW 5 Series against $23,591 for the Nissan Sentra, a $37,785 real-world gap, and TrueCar users rate the 5 Series slightly higher, 4.14 out of 5 against 4.0 for the Sentra. CarGurus calls the 2026 Sentra a stylish and safe compact sedan that delivers impressive technology at an attractive, affordable price, while calling the 2026 540i xDrive a sensational automobile offering the right blend of luxury, technology and performance, and naming the BMW 5 Series one of three cars that prove Germany builds the best luxury sedans on the planet. Choose the Sentra for the price and its own strong CarGurus verdict; choose the 5 Series for the luxury and performance CarGurus praises if the budget allows it.
TrueCar's market data shows buyers currently pay $58,622 on average for the BMW 5 Series against $23,591 for the Nissan Sentra, a $37,785 real-world gap, and TrueCar users rate the 5 Series slightly higher, 4.14 out of 5 against 4.0 for the Sentra. CarGurus calls the 2026 Sentra a stylish and safe compact sedan that delivers impressive technology at an attractive, affordable price, while calling the 2026 540i xDrive a sensational automobile offering the right blend of luxury, technology and performance, and naming the BMW 5 Series one of three cars that prove Germany builds the best luxury sedans on the planet. Choose the Sentra for the price and its own strong CarGurus verdict; choose the 5 Series for the luxury and performance CarGurus praises if the budget allows it.
TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says its market data shows buyers currently pay $58,622 on average for the BMW 5 Series and $23,591 for the Nissan Sentra, narrowing the real-world gap to $37,785, and that TrueCar users rate the BMW 5 Series 4.14 out of 5 against 4.0 for the Nissan Sentra.
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Nissan Sentra is a stylish and safe compact sedan that delivers impressive technology at an attractive, affordable price, noting Nissan focused on tech and features rather than what's under the hood. It calls the BMW 5 Series one of three cars that prove the country known for Autobahns, the Nürburgring and Oktoberfest builds the best luxury sedans on the planet, and says the 2026 540i xDrive is a sensational automobile offering the right blend of luxury, technology and performance.
CarGurus (opens in a new tab) calls it a stylish and safe compact sedan that delivers impressive technology at an attractive, affordable price.
TrueCar (opens in a new tab) says buyers pay $23,591 on average for the Sentra against $58,622 for the 5 Series, a $37,785 gap.
Side-by-side matrix
| Decision field | BMW 5 Series | Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| Exact EPA records | 4 | 3 |
| Model / option labels | 4 | 3 |
| Drive layouts | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Engines / propulsion | 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, 3L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, 3L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV | 2L 4-cyl SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
| Fuel types | Premium, Premium and Electricity | Regular |
| EPA classes | Midsize Cars | Midsize Cars |
| Combined efficiency | 25–31 MPG/MPGe | 32–33 MPG/MPGe |
| Electric range | 34 miles | Not listed |
| Annual fuel / energy estimate | $2550–3200 per year | $1950–2050 per year |
Head to head
| Measure | BMW 5 Series | Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 255-375 hp | 149 hp |
| Torque | 295-398 lb-ft | 146 lb-ft |
| 0 to 60 mph | 4.1-5.9 sec | n/a |
| Curb weight | 4,041-4,894 lb | 3,097-3,177 lb |
| Length | 199.2 in | 183.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 117.9 in | 106.5 in |
| Cargo volume | 18.4 cu ft | 14.3 cu ft |
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Basic warranty | 4 years | 3 years |
Figures are ranges across each model’s trims from Kelley Blue Book records (2027 and 2026 model years); prices are KBB base prices.
Background on each vehicle
The BMW 5 Series is an executive car manufactured and marketed by BMW since 1972. It is the successor to the BMW New Class sedans and is currently in its eighth generation. The car is sold as either a sedan or, since 1991, a station wagon (marketed as "Touring").
Source: BMW 5 Series (Wikipedia)
The Nissan Sentra is a series of automobiles manufactured by the Japanese automaker Nissan since 1982. Since 1999, the Sentra has been categorized as a compact car, while previously it occupied the subcompact class. Until 2006, Sentra was a rebadged version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny for markets outside of Japan, but since the 2013 model year, Sentra is a rebadged version of the Sylphy for markets outside of Japan.
Source: Nissan Sentra (Wikipedia)
Safety. The Tsuru/Sentra in its most basic configuration with no airbags for Latin America received 0 stars for adult occupants and 0 stars for infants from Latin NCAP 1.0 in 2013.
Powertrain. The ninth generation Sentra is based on the same platform as the previous generation and carries over the same 2.0-liter MR20DD naturally aspirated inline-four engine producing 149 hp (111 kW) and 146 lb⋅ft of torque. The CVT is also carried over and is retuned for more linear power delivery.
NHTSA rated the 2025 Nissan Sentra overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 5 of 5 stars.
Owners filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Nissan Sentra, most often about unknown or other (6), power train (4), electrical system (4).
Open both dossiers
Comparison answer desk
The 2027 Nissan Sentra lists the higher combined-efficiency midpoint in this snapshot (32.5 vs. the 2027 BMW 5 Series's 28 MPG/MPGe).
4.5 combined MPG/MPGe separates the 2027 BMW 5 Series from the 2027 Nissan Sentra at the midpoint, a relative difference of 16.1%.
No. The 2027 BMW 5 Series lists All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive while the 2027 Nissan Sentra lists Front-Wheel Drive: no drive designation appears on both current lineups.
No. Their current engine or propulsion descriptions do not overlap. The 2027 BMW 5 Series lists 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, 3L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, 3L 6-cyl SIDI & PFI; PHEV. The 2027 Nissan Sentra lists 2L 4-cyl SIDI.
No shared transmission description between the 2027 BMW 5 Series and the 2027 Nissan Sentra in this snapshot. 2027 BMW 5 Series: Automatic (S8). 2027 Nissan Sentra: Automatic (variable gear ratios).
No. The 2027 BMW 5 Series runs on Premium, Premium and Electricity; the 2027 Nissan Sentra runs on Regular.
Not by this snapshot's categorization: the 2027 BMW 5 Series is Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, the 2027 Nissan Sentra is Conventional.
The 2027 Nissan Sentra lists the lower annual-cost estimate midpoint than the 2027 BMW 5 Series ($2,000 vs. $2,875).
$875 per year separates the 2027 BMW 5 Series from the 2027 Nissan Sentra at the midpoint under EPA's standardized assumptions.
The 2027 BMW 5 Series spans a wider combined-MPG range across its own current configurations than the 2027 Nissan Sentra does (6 points vs. 1).
Yes: both the 2027 BMW 5 Series and the 2027 Nissan Sentra are certified only as Midsize Cars, so their efficiency figures are compared inside the same class boundary EPA uses.
The 2027 BMW 5 Series, with 4 certification records against the 2027 Nissan Sentra's 3.
Only the 2027 BMW 5 Series lists an EPA electric range in this snapshot (34 miles). The 2027 Nissan Sentra carries no electric-range field, so there is no charge-range figure to rank it against.
Neither: the 2027 BMW 5 Series and the 2027 Nissan Sentra both list a 14 cubic-foot midpoint in EPA's cargo field.
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