Winner
Nissan Sentra
About 20% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Hyundai Elantra, and fewer in 18 of 23 model years both were sold.
Head to head
Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
100 = average, lower is better
74
59
Years with fewer complaints
2002–2025
2002–2025
5 of 23
18 of 23
Recalls
2002–2025
2002–2025
82
94
MPG
latest year
latest year
23–54
33–34
Crash test
best, latest year
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.
Year by year
Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.
Every Hyundai Elantra year · Every Nissan Sentra year · How the index works

