Nissan Sentra

Overview: Is the Nissan Sentra a Good Compact Sedan?

The affordable Nissan Sentra compact sedan focuses on efficiency, safety, and available tech rather than power or panache. Offered as a sensible four-door, the Sentra employs fuel-sipping four-cylinder engines routed through an efficient CVT, paired solely to the front wheels. Value reigns supreme across trim lines, even in base models, cementing its appeal as economical transportation that favors function over form.

Nissan transformed the bland Sentra into more of a looker with the 2020 launch of the eighth generation. The automaker also expanded the standard equipment list by adding numerous advanced driver aids across all trims. Although the Sentra has been around for over 40 years, this overview looks at examples from the sixth (2007-2012), seventh (2013-2019) and eighth (2020-current) generations. The Nissan Sentra competes with the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Hyundai Elantra.

Note: Equipment, features, and trims can vary by model year. Always confirm these details when looking for used Nissan Sentra cars for sale.

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Related: How Long Do Nissan Sentras Last? The Scoop on Vehicle Lifespan

Key Features

The Nissan Sentra offers:

• Four-door compact body style
• Four-cylinder power
• Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) or six-speed manual transmission (varying by year)
• Front-wheel drive

Trims

Older Sentras were available in numerous trims, including a base edition, the S, SL, SE-R, and the SE-R Spec V. The automaker later introduced sporty variants, like the Nissan Sentra SR, Nissan Sentra NISMO, and SR Turbo. There’s also a more premium trim, the SL. Nissan streamlined the trim range for the most recent model year to the S, SV, and SR.

Comfort, Technology & Cargo

Like most compact cars, the sixth- and seventh-generation Sentra offers more comfortable surroundings in the front row, not the back seat. This story changes with the eighth generation. Its almost 35 inches of rear legroom and a tall cabin make for a reasonable ride in the second row. The tech is limited in older Sentras, but the latest generation has an infotainment touchscreen, advanced driver-assist features, and available adaptive cruise control. Cargo capacity isn’t overwhelming, but the Sentra holds its own against competition in this area.

How It Drives

Performance is modest unless you’re driving a Nissan Sentra NISMO or SR Turbo. The typical Sentra’s four-cylinder engine and CVT are tuned for modest horsepower efficiency over engaging driving characteristics—this is an economy car, after all.

Safety

The testing of the Nissan Sentra by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been inconsistent. Overall safety scores have ranged from four to five stars (out of five) among the evaluated years. The results from specific evaluations (for front and side impacts) vary from mostly four to five stars, with a few tests getting a three-star score.

Reviews

Owner reviews for the Sentra vary by generation, with consumers reporting to Kelley Blue Book that the sixth generation is worthy of a 4.3 out of 5-star rating. Scores plummeted to 3.6 for the seventh generation as owners were concerned about performance, value, and reliability. The eighth generation bounces back to a 4.0 rating, with quality, comfort, and styling being notable points.

Learn More: Here Are The Nissan Sentra Years To Avoid and Are Nissan Sentras Good Cars?

FAQs

How much does Sentra cost?

A new Sentra S starts at around $21,000, while a fully loaded Sentra SR comes in at under $28,000. A review of CoPilot’s national listings shows used Nissan Sentra prices range from $2,500 to $27,000, depending on age, condition, mileage, and equipment.

Is Sentra Japanese?

Sort of. Nissan is a Japanese brand, but the Sentra models sold in the U.S. are typically manufactured in America or Mexico.

Why is Sentra popular?

Combining essential transportation features, affordable pricing, and excellent fuel economy (up to 35 mpg) makes the Sentra popular as a new or used car. However, the Nissan Rogue is the company’s best-seller.

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