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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  Best car I ever owned - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By nogyoff - July 15 - 7:08 pm

  I finally traded this one in after 13 years, 135K, and minimal maintenance. The only non wear-and-tear type of repair I had to do was a replacement catalytic converter, which was about $500. It was a decent, ridiculously cheap, comfortable, extremely reliable car to drive and Ill miss her.

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  Good car for the money - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Syed - July 14 - 1:56 pm

  I purchased my Sentra brand new in Jan of 2004 and had it till December of 2007 when it was totalled. I put on 130,000 miles within that period and I am very satisfied with the car. I didnt spend any money on the car besides the usual oil changes and brakes. I only had one problem wiht the car during the period I owned it. When the car was started cold in the morning, it would start on the first try but if I was to start the car later on, it would take any where from 2-3 tries for it to start. This problem started within a year of owning the car and worsened as time passed. This was not a big deal because all I had to do was turn the key again and the card would start.

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  Disappointed Nissan Fan - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By TN - July 12 - 9:26 pm

  I owned 3 Sentras before this one and a 97 Maxima and Nissan truck. Loved them all. Not this one. It does get good mileage but considering how underpowered it is should do better. The tires it came with were terrible. I replaced them with Falkens on 17" rims and it sure did make the car look nice IMO. (But thats probably just me, the car never seems to turn anyone elses head.) Things I hate: -often does not start on first try -clunky shift from first to second -too underpowered to maintain 65 mph during cruise control without down shifting -drivers side door seal leaks when driving in rain -Service Engine Soon light on at 60 K -lack of safety equip -seats do not go back far enough

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  Great little car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Nissangirl - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I loved my car. It performed well and had only one problem other than basic maintenance. The one problem was the a/c died six months after I bought it. I just totaled my car and the fact that it did exactly as it was supposed to saved mine and my sons lives. The front end crumpled down to about 2 1/2 feet in length, but the inside is just as roomy as ever.

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  AWSOME - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By JONES - July 6 - 2:00 am

  GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !! !!! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! !!!!!! !!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

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  Impressed - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By ChasMan - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Keeping in mind that this is not a BMW but an economical compact car, my Sentra has been very impressive for the first year. Good build quality, performance, value, and styling are all pluses. Its head and shoulders above the Corolla in terms of what you get for your money, and the quality is very comparable. This Nissan is underrated, but if your looking for a reliable, well-built compact car, youd better look at this one.

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  98 Sentra SE - A fun little car - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By PetersNCSU - July 4 - 2:00 am

  The Nissan Sentra SE is a sporty little sedan with good power and handling. Its basicly identical to the famous 200sx SE-R of that year with the exception of the extra two doors that making the Sentra the more practical of the two. I bought it used only three months ago but so far I am very pleased with the performance and value I got for the price.

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  Lots of fun to drive w/o spending alot - 2000 Nissan Sentra
  By Killianinc - July 4 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Sentra straight off the truck at the Nissan dealership and have just fell in love with it. Its the perfect car on gas milage and really fun to drive! The only drawback was some vibrating sound in the dash at only 11k miles. Have since traded for a larger Altima. Overall, Ive owned 4 Nissans and have had nothing but great service.

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  This car is underrated! - 2012 Nissan Sentra
  By roadman03 - July 2 - 4:20 am

  Before you search all the other popular models - test drive and price the Nissan Sentra. Cant believe the amount of features for the price I paid. Also proven reliabilty vs. the Focus or Cruze. Great featurs such as I-pod connection, Alloy Wheels, Steering Wheel Radio Controls, etc. Drive mostly highway with some rush hour traffic and I am averaging almost 36 MPG. Some complain about the CVT, but it is better than the low end torque of the others. Overall great car for the price if your looking for a base commuter car with excellent reliabilty and a smooth ride.

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  Nissan Sentra - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By Macki - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Interior is very small. Back seat is basically non-existent.