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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  nice car - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By josy g - May 7 - 12:33 am

  only a few more payments and shes mine. nice car to drive. always enjoyed nissan cars, four wheel discs, 16 inch tires spoiler and more. looks fine.

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  Great price, great car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By djmjr - April 22 - 10:00 am

  We were looking at the Sentra, Corolla, Civic, and Elantra. We decided on the Sentra for its great price, tasteful styling, and solid build. Its been a great car, handles well, and has adequate acceleration.

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  YeeeeeeHaw - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Spec Velicious - April 22 - 10:00 am

  After test driving this vehicle I had a big S___eating grin on my face. What a blast to drive. I am 37 and the father of 2 kids, so i wanted something sporty, economical, and practical(4 doors). I did alot of research into all the other makes and models and test drove almost all of them(no american manufacturers). In my opinion the sentre se-r gave me all of what i was lookin for at the best price (17,200).Yes there are minor things that are not great about the car but, when you compare it to the competition they become irrelevant. Do yourself a favor and test drive one.

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  Much better than expected - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By Ron S - April 21 - 9:40 am

  Nice ride, good fuel economy, interior very comfortable, lots of trunk space and love the hidden trunk space. Blue Tooth is worth the extra cost and stereo system is very nice.

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  First and last Nissan - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Racheal - April 19 - 10:00 am

  My sentra was my first car and I was at first excited because I had limited means and the Sentra is an affordable car. I have had the car for nearly two cars and have had to replace the transmission take it for at least two recalls. They replaced the transmission because it had a piece of metal in it and yet I still hear grinding noises when I accelerate. BEWARE

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  Very Good little car - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By hptorres - April 19 - 10:00 am

  Overall the Sentra is a very good car. Its not far behind the Civic or Corolla in terms of reliability and quality; not as refined but not far behind. Perhaps the best value amongst the three. I purchased with the $2500 rebate so it was defenitely a great buy for around $12K dlls for the 1.8S w/ carpets, microfilter & splash guards and Auto tranny. About $3500 less than the Civic and Corolla.

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  M.P.G. of an S.U.V - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By M.P.G. of a S.U.V - April 17 - 11:26 am

  Last year I decided to go back to school so I traded in my GTO because it only got 21 mpg on highway. I have an 07 maxima and I average about 26 mpg and I can get 30-32 on the highway driving 5 over the speed limit. My school is 126 miles round trip and I wanted something good on gas so I went with the sentra (which is my 8th nissan). On the highway the best Ive gotten yet was 25 mpg and in town I get 19 to 20. And its not the way I drive, with the price of gas I drive like a grandma. Its a nice little car beside that but the only reason we buy cars like this is for mpg. So even if you dont like the civic as much, its worth it because of the gas mileage

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  My Mean Green - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Vonnieg - April 17 - 10:00 am

  THis is my first car that was my own. THere are times where i complain but when I think about it I"ve only had to spend $20 on a new AC system,I got brand new brakes (rotors and everything for $200) and a new alternator for $50. I bought my car used and it didnt have a warranty. THe gas milelage is Great, I can go close to 300 miles on one tank of gas. and it only takes $10-15 to fill up. Someone hit me in the rear and my bumper didnt have a dent at all. This car is a very good deal for the year it is. Very easy car to handle, compact parking you name it...

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  its the bomb - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By teamgundam86 - April 13 - 10:00 am

  the car is pretty fast. You need to make the car a little faster. the car has slow accleration.

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  Nissan proven quality and reliability! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Dunlop - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car new in the beginning of November 2002. I test drove the Protege, Civic, Spectra and Impreza. I must say that the Sentra fit like a glove. It is solidly built and very practical. I also own a 95 200sx SE-R which I bought new and have never had a problem with it. My philosophy is if something works for you stick with it. Nissans are great cars and I encourage anyone in the market for a new car to check them out.