2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2021 Altima near Woodbridge, VA
Pictured above is the 2021 Nissan Sentra (left) and the 2021 Nissan Altima (right), both with optional features.
Are you shopping for a Nissan sedan but aren’t sure whether to go with the 2021 Sentra or 2021 Altima? If this is the case, Pohanka Nissan of Fredericksburg is here to help! In this model overview, we’ll take a look at what these two vehicles bring to the table with respect to performance, comfort, and safety, so you know what’s at stake. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us for assistance.
Safety
Let’s ease into this review by examining the various safety features you’ll have at your disposal in the Sentra and Altima. Although both models include advancements like standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection1 to come to your aid when hazards are present, the Sentra also has Blind Spot Warning2 as a standard amenity, whereas the Altima requires you to upgrade. On the other hand, you’ll miss out on several innovations if you choose the 2021 Sentra over the Altima, such as Traffic Sign Recognition3 and ProPILOT Assist4. While the former looks for important signage to keep you informed, the latter employs the use of mapping technology to lend a hand with highway travel. Clearly, both sedans put a premium on your well-being!
Comfort
Whether you end up with the compact 2021 Nissan Sentra or midsize 2021 Nissan Altima, you’ll remain cozy and relaxed during your various journeys. For instance, dual-zone automatic climate control is offered as an option in both, which means you and your copilot will be able to adjust the temperature in your halves of the cabin. Furthermore, both let you spring for available heated front seats and a heated steering wheel to help you conquer winter drives with ease. However, though 6-way manual driver’s seats can be found in either Nissan, the Altima has an optional 8-way power upgrade in comparison to the 6-way power chair offered in select trims of the Sentra. On the other hand, only the compact model is available with Prima-Tex™ seats with contrast orange stitching.
Performance
Finally, it’s time to test the limits of these two vehicles. With the Nissan Sentra, you’ll have authority over a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine across the board, which is capable of cranking out 149-hp and 146 lb.-ft. of torque at a fuel economy rating of 29/39 MPG city/hwy5. Meanwhile, the Nissan Altima and its standard 2.5L 4-cylinder powertrain arm you with 188-hp and 180 lb.-ft. of torque while maintaining a comparable 28/39 MPG city/hwy6. That being said, this set of wheels also lets you spring for optional Intelligent AWD7, which you can’t access with the Sentra. Moreover, the Altima is also available with the 2.0L VC-Turbo™ engine that unleashes a sensational 248-hp8 and 273 lb.-ft. of torque8.
Do you still have questions about the 2021 Nissan Sentra vs 2021 Altima near Woodbridge, VA? If this is the case, Pohanka Nissan of Fredericksburg is ready to lend a hand! The best way to choose the sedan that’s right for you is to test drive them both during our business hours.
2021 Nissan Sentra
2021 Nissan Altima
- Standard Blind Spot Warning
- Standard Automatic Emergency Braking
- Available 6-way power driver's seat
- Standard 149 horsepower
- 29/39 MPG city/hwy
- Available Blind Spot Warning
- Standard Automatic Emergency Braking
- Available 8-way power driver's seat
- Standard 188 horsepower
- 28/39 MPG city/hwy
Sales Hours
540-684-6276
| Monday | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Thursday | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 9:00 am - 8:00 pm |
| Saturday | 9:00 am - 7:00 pm |
| Sunday | 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Dealership Information
Testimonials
“ I was very please with customer service and labor work done on my Rogue. ”
“ Great experience with Mrs. Darlene. Would definitely buy from here again. ”
“ Pohanka Nissan service was outstanding. They fixed my Frontier in the middle of a snow storm. Mike kept me informed every step of the way and the technician’s attention to detail and thorough work was appreciated. ”
“ Nissan offers excellent service. Miguel was particularly helpful, maintaining good communication whenever issues arise and providing detailed explanations for any questions. They also send videos showing the work being performed on your vehicle. I would recommend their service to others. ”
“ Awesome ”
“ ***This review is for Avery M. ONLY**** If you are looking to purchase a car from this dealership ONLY deal with Avery M. He is amazingly professional, knowledgeable and patient. Trust me of you want a salesperson that isn't going to work your nerves see Avery. He is the best!!! ”
“ Mr Cruz help me out, my transmission went and he got me a rental at fair price. They worked with me and the outcome was very satisfying. My vehicle is back working greater than before, so thanks to the team work 🙌 and recommend your dealership. ”
“ From my buying experience in July 2025 to my first service trip. Pohanka Hyundai and Nissan have been great. Making an appointment was easy Bobby gave me his honest opinion regarding my questions regarding service appropriate for my SUV. Jonathan stayed late to start my repairs and everything was finished at the promised time. Definitely would recommend & I’ll be back. ”
“ Adam is outstanding!!! ”
“ Friendly customer service Work with me until l am satisfied with my payment Offer additional benefits ”
“ I have had nothing but positive and professional interactions with Everyone I've dealt with at Pohanka of Fredericksburg. The service department is Top Notch!! All around Great Experiences from the purchase of my Nissan Frontier to quality service from the Service Department. ”
“ My wife and i were very impressed with the streamlined approach offered to us by the dealership when we brought our vehicle in for service. Adam is absolutely the best and knows exactly what is needed and does not over promise. He is prompt with communications and follows up when necessary. Nissan service always does what is performed and they never fail. ”
“ Great service ”
“ Darlene at the fredericksburg location is the person you need to request. She does her best to find your desired vehicle. Helpful in understanding the features of your choice. Follows through details when you make your choice. She was the reason we made the choice of the location. Thank you Darlene.... ”
“ The experience was a lot more well enhanced then we expected. Normally you would get followed around and bothered. But your sales rep was very well mannered and his knowledge of the vehicles was good. When we were ready to talk more about them he handled him self very well. Asked all the questions and gave all good answers. My wife and I initially was only going out looking but the overall dealership made our experience change our mind and we feel in love with the car. Thank you. ”
“ Great service- Sergio does fantastic work! I bring all of my cars here for service ”
“ I met Delante when I walked into Pohanka Nissan and it was my lucky day. I was looking for a used car because I thought that was all that I could afford. Delante never pushed me. He showed me everything I had asked for. I told him the new cars look so much better. He just said let’s give it a try. There is no way I should have walked out of there with a new car at the price they gave me. Aside from that, Delante was so much fun to work with. So positive and a great sense of humor. If you’re looking for a car, go to Pohanka but don’t forget to ask for Delante. We all admit that buying a car is like pulling teeth. Thank you Delante for making it fun. ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) I appreciate how they filmed their check on my vehicle and provided a detailed breakdown of the issues. The customer service was excellent. ”
“ (Translated by Google) undefined (Original) Very helpful staff. ”
“ The customer service is awesome , and amazing thing is customer get the registration, number plate there instead of going to DMV . Wow ”
“ Bobby and Brad were super helpful in getting my infinity checked out for the state inspection and ordered a new set of ties as well. ”
“ Excellent service from Mr. Bobby! My car that I purchased from enterprise was in need of replacement parts. He provided excellent feedback and took care of the problem I reported. Great customer support!! ”
“ Went to the service dept just to schedule an appointment for a recall on my vehicle on a Saturday afternoon, was surprised when the service advisor asked for the keys to the vehicle, he informed me that they can do it now if I had time, ummmmm sure... very professional unexpected moment Adam Z you rock.... ”
“ I recently moved to Fredericksburg. Pohanka took care of my car while I waited in less time than I was told. They took care of my regular maintenance and let me know I needed new brake pads. Brakes were replaced and they were able to turn my back up camera guides back on which hasn't worked since August. ”
“ Thank you Adam, Bobby, & Cassie for your amazing customer service, from beginning to end. I feel very comfortable coming to THIS specific location moving forward when it comes to my Nissan vehicle & already have told close friends & family who also have Nissans as well. ”
“ Excellent service by service technician named Bobby and mechanic christopher I believe. ”
“ Over All service was Great ! The staff at Pohanka was friendly ”
“ Always nice to come to the Pohanka Nissan dealer for service. Did a trade in here and they’ve taken care of me well! ”
“ Had to go to dealership to apply for Gap insurance refund had just paid off my car. The last time I was there to purchase car back in 2021 was treated horrible , never took my car to be serviced there, I am a senior citizen I was treated awful like I did not understand a thing. Yesterday was total different experience finance manager was polite came out introduced himself I explained what I needed, he explained the process . I was done in maybe 20 minutes . I'm glad they have a people person that has respect for everyone. ”
“ Adam is phenomenal! Explained everything and didn’t push to get stuff done. Gave me his recommendations on what he thinks is best and when to do it! ”
“ If you are looking to buy a vehicle , Please go to Pohanka, Tim Pohanka and his entire staff are incredible!!! A special shout out to Pam and Darlene for treating me like family. I was able to take home a gorg new nissan sentra !!! A smooth process ,from start to finish , they run it all like a well oiled machine. You guys made my xmas unforgettable. ”
“ Bradley was awesome got an alignment, windshield wipers and an inspection. i was in and out within an hour ”
“ This is my second vehicle from them. 2 different sales man but still happy. Went to a different dealer and as u see I came back. Very happy with them. And would recommend to everyone. ”
“ I appreciate both Darlene and her boss Net for their patience and understanding and persistent dedication to Pohanka Nissan and I believe they are all friendly and knowledgeable including the finance and all team are very helpful 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 ”
“ Bobby and Pohanka Nissan always take amazing care of my Nissan Rogue, Highly recommend going here for all your Maintenance needs, or anything else. ”
“ I’ve been using the service department at Pohanka for a little bit under 40 years now since buying my Nissan from them every time that I’ve come in Adam has helped me and he has been always so kind and so transparent. Explains everything so well! I couldn’t say enough good things ! ”
“ I wish I could rate this place a 1/2 star. It was the worse experience I encountered which was disappointing because our interactions prior to arriving made me feel confidence I chose the right place. The test drive went well but when it was time to talk about my trade, I was extremely low balled ($1500), due to a total loss being on my carfax report which I wasn't aware of, despite my car being in good condition no mechanical issues etc. I was told, they would not be able to sell my car and if they had pulled my carfax before it would have saved me from driving an 1hr and 20 mins to the dealership. When I expressed what what type of car note I was looking for, I was told flat out "sorry we cannot help you." I didn't argued or tried to get them to work with me as it seemed they already made their minds up. I told them I would seek a second opinion from caxmax and was basically told, don't waste your time, they will probably quote you the same. The sale rep even suggested that I go to the carmax about 7 mins away from the dealership, which I did. My appraisal for carmax came back at $4000 which was what I was expecting it to be. The carmax rep even complimented on how well my car has been maintained despite the carfax history. When I shared the information with the sales rep at the Pohanka Nissan, he quickly congratulated me and wanted to honor the $4000 carmax appraisal after only wanting to offer $1500. But I get it, its the culture of being a car sales man, but good customer service goes along way. I declined the offer for them to honor the carmax appraisal and decided to make make my purchase through carmax. With the carmax offer and my downpayment, It allowed me to be more flexible with my budget and I was able and upgrade to a more expensive model and purchased the SUV same day. Thanks for recommending the appraisal at carmax, it gave me a happy ending. ”
I bought a truck from them that was fraudulently
“ I bought a truck from them that was fraudulently presented and sold as Nissan CPO including a CPO-Wrap warranty. Shortly after delivery, many issues were found outside Nissan's standards. I discovered it wasn't certified legitimately, no inspection and reconditioning as required by Nissan. Initially they insisted I made a mistake, that the truck was sold as dealer certified, not Nissan Certified. If I had not purchased the CPO-Wrap contract (only applicable on CPO vehicles) I would have been stuck with a truck that wasn't as presented and worthless warranty - a victim of their deception. They implied they could certify post-sale but they were going to certify without the reconditioning needed to address some issues found, then have me try to get repairs made under warranty so Nissan would be paying for repairs the dealer should have. I learned that Nissan could deny warranty claims and invalidate the CPO-Wrap warranty. I sent a demand letter for return of the truck and refund of what I paid. They said they would buy the truck back but I would be out over $1400 in taxes and fees even though in cases of fraud, a dealer must make the customer whole. The reason given for not refunding taxes was that it has already been paid on my behalf. In this scenario, there's no financial impact to the dealer if they refund taxes, they just file an amended return or take a credit on the next return. Between taxes, fuel wasted and accessories purchased for a truck I no longer have, I'm out over $3,000. ”
“ I love the vehicle and glad I bought it. Yiana was great. It’s the process and paperwork that bothered me. 1- I agreed on the price of the car at $25,991 plus all taxes and fees. The original total came to $29,485.70 and I countered with an even $29,000 which was agreed upon. When we got to the dealership and after taking it for a test drive Yiana showed the breakdown price that showed the $25,991 price we agreed upon but above it showed a price of around $23,000 PLUS 2 ADD ONS that I didn’t want or ask for that for us to the $25,991.. Basically these 2 ADD ONS were hidden in the SELL price because if they had been broke out and listed like I asked for originally I would have NEVER have paid them. 2 - the Life time warranty was really what sold me on this vehicle. Every paper we were shown that mentioned the “ Lifetime Warranty “ said LESS a $200 deductable. Even had LESS a $200 deductable high lighted in yellow on one of the pieces of papers But when it can time to sign the paper work the deductable changed to $500. We were told it was a misprint or something to that effect. After driving 2 hours and being at the dealership a few hours I decided not to push the issue a signed off on it anyways. Looking back I really should have gotten up and walked out. And to add insult to injury Only NOW having a chance to look over the paperwork closer I see that “ LIFETIME WARRANTY “ doesn’t mean LIFETIME. It really means 150,000 miles. That was NEVER mentioned or conveyed in anyway shape or form.. yes I did sign off on everything but felt some of this was pretty shady. I will chalk it up to lesson learned. ”
1. Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection cannot prevent all collisions and may not provide warning or braking in all conditions. Driver should monitor traffic conditions and brake as needed to prevent collisions. See Owner’s Manual for safety information.
2. Blind Spot Warning and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention cannot prevent all collisions and may not detect every object or warn in all situations. Driver should always turn and look before changing lanes. See Owner’s Manual for safety information.
3. Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR) may not detect and read all traffic signs in all conditions. Driver should monitor all traffic signs and obey all traffic laws.
4. ProPILOT Assist and ProPILOT Assist with Navi-link cannot prevent collisions. It is the driver’s responsibility to be in control of the vehicle at all times. Always monitor traffic conditions and keep both hands on the steering wheel. System operates only when lane markings are detected. Does not function in all weather, traffic and road conditions. System has limited control capability and the driver may need to steer, brake or accelerate at any time to maintain safety. See Owner’s Manual for safety information.
5. 2021 EPA Fuel Economy Estimates. 29 City MPG / 39 Highway MPG / 33 Combined MPG for Sentra® S, SV; 28 City MPG / 37 Highway MPG / 32 Combined MPG for Sentra SR. Actual mileage may vary with driving conditions. Use for comparison only.
6. 2021 EPA Fuel Economy Estimates. 28 City MPG / 39 Highway MPG / 32 Combined MPG for Altima® S FWD. 27 City MPG / 37 Highway MPG / 31 Combined MPG for Altima® SV, SR, SL FWD. 26 City MPG / 36 Highway MPG / 30 Combined MPG for Altima® SV, SL AWD. 25 City MPG / 35 Highway MPG / 29 Combined MPG for Altima® SR, Platinum AWD. 25 City MPG / 34 Highway MPG / 29 Combined MPG for Altima® SR FWD VC-Turbo. Fuel economy estimates based on 87-octane fuel. Actual mileage may vary with driving conditions. Use for comparison only.
7. Intelligent All-Wheel Drive cannot prevent collisions or provide enhanced traction in all conditions. Always monitor traffic and weather conditions.
8. VC-Turbo™ engine horsepower and torque ratings: 248 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque ratings when using 93-octane fuel; 236 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque ratings when using 87-octane octane fuel.
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“ Always prompt exceptional service. Kept me informed throughout the service as well as fully explained service issues needing addressed. ”