Overview & Reviews

The Nissan Sentra has been vying for the wallets of economy-car shoppers since 1982. For most of that time, the Sentra's overall appeal and image have trailed the segment leaders. There have been periods, however, when this car has been one of the best choices available.

The latest Nissan Sentra is closer to the historic norm. It offers a roomy and high-quality interior and great fuel economy. On the other hand, it lacks the visual pizzazz and driver involvement of its competitors. Overall, this Sentra is a respectable ride, though it doesn't really stand out from the crowd. Much the same can be said of previous Sentra generations, but their good fuel efficiency and low upkeep costs make them solid budget-friendly options.

Current Nissan Sentra
The current Nissan Sentra comes standard with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder rated at 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is excellent and gets a hair better with the special FE+ model. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the base model, but a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is specified on all other models.

There are four Sentra trim levels: S, SV, SR and SL. The base model S has air-conditioning, full power accessories and an auxiliary audio jack. The SV doesn't add much in the way of standard equipment, but rather increases the availability of options such as keyless ignition/entry, Bluetooth and a USB/iPod interface. The SR is essentially an SV with sporty design elements, while the SL comes standard with the SL's options, plus dual-zone automatic climate control. Other major options for the Sentra (depending on the trim level) include a sunroof, a premium audio system, a navigation system, smartphone app integration and leather upholstery.

In reviews, the Nissan Sentra has earned high marks for its interior. Nissan has taken a refined and conservative approach here, in contrast to many of its rivals with their youthful, funky vibes. Fit and finish is satisfactory thanks to decent materials and seemingly tight construction. The backseat deserves special mention for nearly matching midsize sedans in spaciousness. A comfortable ride quality is another plus. On the downside, however, the Sentra's acceleration is subpar, and in general it's not very involving to drive.

In total, the Sentra's pluses and minuses speak to the car itself. It's a more grown-up sort of small car that eschews look-at-me styling and zippy wannabe sports car dynamics for a sensible, comfortable and economical formula. It's not necessarily the stuff that dreams are made of, but we suspect it will appeal to many shoppers.

Used Nissan Sentra Models
The current, seventh-generation Nissan Sentra debuted for 2013. It's bigger, yet lighter than its predecessor, with a more refined style. The cabin boasts higher-quality materials, even more passenger space and a full roster of technology features. The engine actually has less power this time around, but it's more fuel efficient.

For the current Sentra's second year of production, Nissan implemented a handful of changes aimed at reducing noise and improving driving dynamics, while smartphone app integration was added via the NissanConnect interface. As such, shoppers considering a used 2013 Sentra would do well to sample a newer model, too, and see if the differences seem like they're worth paying for. We've noticed minor dynamic improvements in the revised version, including more athletic handling.

The previous, sixth-generation Nissan Sentra was produced from 2007-'12. It featured slightly larger dimensions than the fifth-generation model and employed Nissan's edgy design language of the time, giving it an extra serving of style. Thanks in part to its generous wheelbase, this Sentra had a roomier cabin than before, with adequate headroom and legroom for 6-foot passengers.

For much of this generation's production, there were six main trim levels: four variants based on the 2.0-liter engine (base, S, SR and SL) and two high-performance versions (SE-R and SE-R Spec V). All models but the SE-R got a 2.0-liter inline-4 that made 140 hp. The SE-R had a 2.5-liter four with 177 hp, while the SE-R Spec V had a modified version of the 2.5-liter engine that made 200 hp. A six-speed manual or CVT were the available transmission options, the latter available in all but the manual-only Spec V.

The base sixth-generation Sentra was pretty thin on features but did include power windows and locks as well as air-conditioning. Stepping up to the S added common items like power mirrors, a height-adjustable driver seat and an iPod interface (available for 2010 and later), while the SL went the extra mile with items like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless ignition/entry and Bluetooth. The SL was also available with leather seating and a navigation system (2010 and later). The SE-R and Spec V trims featured performance-tuned suspensions, performance tires, larger brakes and sporty styling cues. The 2.0 SR introduced for 2009 essentially added a body kit and wheels inspired by the SE-R.
In reviews, we found that the sixth-generation Sentra offered an improved driving experience, although as with many of its predecessors, it could be described as being "close but no cigar" when compared to the best in class. The CVT made the engine drone noisily, and it provided no way for a driver to change or hold ratios on his own (except in the SE-R with its Manual mode). Another dynamic weakness was the car's suspension, which struggled to dampen bigger bumps and road undulations. The Spec-V was the one Sentra that provided stirring dynamics; it could run to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds and offered plenty of grip during cornering. However, its tall body design introduced more body roll than expected from a compact car.

In terms of changes, sixth-generation Sentras made prior to 2010 had a different grille and headlights, and lacked standard stability control. There were also various standard and optional features added throughout its lifetime, many of which were high-tech items like Bluetooth that shoppers had come to expect. For 2009, the moniker "FE+" was affixed to all Sentras except the manual-transmission 2.0S and both SE-R trims. Ostensibly meaning "Fuel Economy Plus," the new name signified a 1 mpg increase in fuel economy for those Sentras via a tweak to the engine computer. These FE+ fuel economy improvements were standardized on all except the SE-R trims the following year.

Nissan's fifth-generation Sentra ran from 2000-'06. Available in sedan form only, it was initially available in base XE, nicely equipped GXE and top-of-the-line SE trims. All were powered by a 1.8-liter inline-4 with 126 hp, and power was sent to the front wheels via a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox. The sporty SE-R returned in '02, and there were two versions: the standard SE-R (165 hp, five-speed manual) and the hot rod SE-R Spec V (175 hp, six-speed manual, 17-inch wheels).

At the time, we praised this Sentra for its functional cabin design, nimble handling, many standard features and peppy SE-R trim level. Downsides included bland styling, an awkward driving position and a small backseat. This generation generally has a solid reputation as far as mechanical reliability, though anecdotal evidence suggests that the engine in the SE-R models was more trouble-prone.

The fourth-generation Sentra (1995-'99), with its low nose and high tail, was a styling departure from the straight-edged look of the previous car. Officially offered just as a sedan (the coupe version became the 200SX), this Sentra had more interior room than before. Trim levels consisted of a bare-bones base model, the slightly less stripped XE, the popularly equipped GXE, the luxury GLE and the sporty SE. All trims but the SE had a 115-hp engine, while the SE actually featured the same 140-hp engine as the previous SE-R.

The sporty SE-R debuted with the third-generation Nissan Sentra (1991-'94). Buyers had a choice of either a coupe or sedan, though both shared the same simple, boxy styling. With 140 hp, four-wheel disc brakes and a tuned, fully independent suspension, the Nissan Sentra SE-R coupe provided a lot of bang for the buck and was a favorite among driving enthusiasts. All other Sentras of this generation had a 110-hp engine and trims included the stripper E, base XE, sporty SE and well-equipped GXE.

Running from 1987-'90, the second-generation Sentra was available in a multitude of body styles, including a coupe, a sedan, a wagon, a hatchback and a Sport Coupe fastback. Engine output ranged from 69 to 90 hp, depending on the year.

User Reviews:

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  my 1st car ever bought, out of 4 today! - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By daddy-danny - December 7 - 7:36 pm

  Despite the fact that it was and still is a dull car, it was a ride or die! I bought this car for 1700 dollars, with 180,000 miles on it. It saved so much gas, and rode like a boss. I went to the bay area 3 times, and what not. But now that it has 230,000 miles, this car has faced a bit of problems. The catalytic converter is messed up, so it wont pass smog. But overall, this car has proved itself. I never had a tran problem, nor engine problem. It still turns on without hesitation, and still rides hard. I will always love the car for the memories I put in it, and the reliability.

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  Factory warranty wont save you leg work - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Texas Driver - December 7 - 3:20 am

  Bought brand new b/c previous vehicle was at the shop twice. Didnt realize this vehicle will have me living at the dlrshp waisting the time I dont have. Bought in April/07 and June/07 was the start of my problems. I took it to the shop for the tire pressure light, brakes were also making a funny noise. Dlr would reset the light sensor and the problem would appear weeks later The break problem was never fixed. After repeated attempts to have both problems fixed only ended up frustrated, with a feeling of hopelessness after hitting "wall, wall, wall" with their customer service department. The last time I took their shuttle back home and noticed shuttles tire pressure light was also on.

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  overpriced garbage - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By jrb1978 - December 7 - 2:00 am

  i bought my vehicle new. 18 months later, my paint has that "orange peel" look, rockford-fosgate radio doesnt work, and on one occasion the car suffered total electrical failure at 60 mph and left me stranded on the side of the road. the upholstery on driver and passenger seats have worn terribly. this car is a far cry from my 1985 300zx, quality-wise. according to nissan, nothing is wrong with my car. local dealership refuses to do any warranty work. worst car ive ever owned.

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  Nissan Customer Service Dissatisfaction - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By ShaneFitch - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I have never had such poor service from a company and have never had such a poorly manufactured car. I have had to car in the shop 5 times since I leased it in August 2003. I am very displeased with Nissans quality of manufacturing and customer service. When I needed their help they turned their backs on me. I will never purchase another Nissan as long as I live. I will recommend to everyone to steer clear of Nissan. Nissan is not the company it once was. If you need any help whatsoever with your vehicle after you signed the papers, you’re going to be in for a big surprise.

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  Great car! - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By Jearbear - December 6 - 4:10 am

  I have maintained this car through out the last 7 years, it is in good shape and runs great. I really enjoy driving it. I plan on buying my 6th sentra when I am finished with this one. There have been NO wrecks in the car and I drove it off the lot w/12 miles on it. Six of those miles, were test driven by me.

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  Fun Little SR20DE - 1999 Nissan Sentra
  By remintin - December 5 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful car, with a peppy fun little 4cyl engine. With performance modifications this car is a screamer.

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By RobbK6 - December 5 - 10:00 am

  This car has been a joy so far. I replaced an excellent condition CRX Si with this car and it delivers even better performance with a back seat! I have over 22,000 miles on my car and I havent had a problem yet. I will say the paint sucks, but that was the only thing I can say negatively. For the price there was nothing in the same class when I bought it. It has a decent aftermarket following for the engine and some suspension upgrades. But in all actuality they arent really needed. I have a 2001 SE with performance package, sunroof, and 5spd.

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  Silver streak! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Mikemc2000 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  The 6 speed is a bit clunky and torque steer an eye opener. For a compact car of this descent, a very good handling vehicle, with guts (out of the box) and a sweet used price to boot too! Tires will definitely need an upgrade for winters in Alberta Canada. After the winter tires cold winter drives will be fine with heated mirrors and the 9 spkr Rockford Fosgate. I bought this car with the intention of driving a sleeper and got oodles more in performance bonuses and every interior amenity I will ever need. A beautiful power band exists, even if the shifter feels a bit clunky.

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  Nissan Sentra - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By rleight422 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  An excellent car that drives smoothly. The exterior design could use a little work, especially in the front grill.

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  More Zoom for your Dollar........! - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By ATOMB - December 1 - 2:00 am

  This is a fun little car thats fast sporty and functional. I am a 30yr old father of 1 and I love the little yellow bundle speed I bought. The inside controls are easy to use and find. This car is solid built well and Very FUN to drive! If you are on a buget and want the thrill of a sports car this is it. It beats the Civic Si and Focus SVT hands down the best in its class!!!