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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  Great Car for a great price!!! - 2013 Nissan Sentra
  By ptkchic - April 3 - 1:39 pm

  I bought this car about 2 months ago. I got the navigation package and the drivers package. I love the Intelligent key and the touch screen. The car handles well and it gets great gas millage. When I fill up, on the dashboard it says I get 450 miles for one tank! I get 33 in the city and 38 on the highway. I drive about 30 miles a day and I do not have to fill up for a week. I turn heads every where I go. I have had people ask me if it a Lexus or Acura. People tell me that they love the look of the car. This is my second Sentra (I had a 2011), I love this one more and it feels like a bigger car than it actually is. Great Car, I would recommend this.

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  Why dont they still make them like this? - 1998 Nissan Sentra
  By Royale W. Cheese - March 30 - 4:26 am

  This has been a fantastic vehicle since I bought it in late 04. Bought it at 90k or so, no problems at 137k. The only issues I have had from it were the ones I discovered on leaving the used car lot: an oil leak from the main seal and some electrical issues that the previous owner tried to fix himself. Those have been the only things I have had to fix or have fixed since driving the vehicle, apart from oil and brakes. It got over 40 mpg highway when "new"; now it is closer to 30 mpg, but still not bad. Plenty of power for driving in hilly areas, AC blows cold enough for this Alabamian (in Seattle), hauls LOTS of stuff. Very solid little car.

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  A value leader - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Little John - March 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a car that can run with an RSX at Civic dx prices. Build quality is very good. Styling is understated (read not all riced out) compared to its class. The power/weight ratio, suspension upgrades, and good seats make driving something to look foreward to. Steering is precise with good feedback, brakes are more fade resistant than most and easy to modulate at the limit. I appreciate the limited slip diff., especially with all that torque. From a performance standpoint it is among the better sport compacts, but it lacks the refined and intuitive driving feel of some Mazda and Honda products, but then it costs a lot less.

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  Great car - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By George J - March 28 - 1:40 pm

  Well since this is the second Nissan Sentra I have owned. I was not surprised by the car. The thing about the 2006 model is how quiet it is compared to the 1994 model. The doors and the whole car feels a lot stronger. The only thing I can see is they need to move the center console back 2" so the cup holders can hold a big cup without hitting the radio. With Edmunds I was able to get the best deal. Dealer was only going down to $15,500 but after telling them about Edmunds and the price I should be getting I got down to $14,790 with all the options. So now I have a 2006 Sentra Special Edition.

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  Old reliable - 1996 Nissan Sentra
  By Chris - March 28 - 6:23 am

  Bought this car new, and as of 2007 its still going. I got it when money was tight, and have never regretted it. Its not fast, but it can be fun to drive. At 183,000 miles, its not perfect. I replaced the ECU (computer) early on, and its needed 2 alternators for some reason. I got a clutch at 150,000. I replaced the shocks around 120,000. Other than that its just oil changes and brake pads. The seats are worn, the bodys dinged, the paints worn off the wipers and a few other spots, the rear defrost turns itself off, the headlight lenses are dim, the radio display is spotty, and the buttons are sticky from the poorly-placed cup holder, but it starts every morning and off we go!

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  More good than bad but bumpy. - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By lira10315 - March 28 - 3:16 am

  The biggest disappointment has been in the ride. Worst car of comfort ride ever. Also the visor covers half of the rear view mirror when down for sun protection. Love the features, stereo, steering column buttons and the placement of the shift selector. So far mileage is looking good, avg 29 mph. Dont know how long I will keep this because of the bumpy ride.

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  If only it were turbocharged - 2016 Nissan Sentra
  By NewSentra - March 25 - 10:05 am

  Excellent car. Very sporty with the SR trim, in red alert. It gives a very quiet, comfortable, and spacious ride. Mine has the electronics and drivers assist package. I love the navigation and the interior accent lighting. Its very roomy, especially the back seat and trunk. Almost as roomy as an Altima. More spacious than my 2000 5 series. My only complaint is that it could use more power. At least a turbocharged 4 cylinder. I love the car as it feels more premium than it costs. Check it out.

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  Noisy, greedy and lazy - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By timeau - March 22 - 10:00 am

  Something awful! 20 mpg in city/highway, metal knock in case of turning stearing wheel, in two dealerships got an answer "Your car is OK. We can not repeat your problems". Dont know what to do. Never, never, never buy Sentra!

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  NISSAN SENTRA GXE. TOTAL SATISFACTION - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By CRAIG ADAMS - March 22 - 10:00 am

  CARS TESTED: TOYOTA COROLLA, HONDA CIVIC, NISSAN SENTRA.RESULT: THE SENTRA PROVED TO BE THE BEST BUY. REASONS:BEST ENGINE PERFORMANCE,BEST FIT & FINISH, BEST SHIFTING, AND BEST CONTENT.

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  Underrated Sentra - 2017 Nissan Sentra
  By Kathy - March 22 - 1:20 am

  I was going to replace my older Altima with a new one, but ended up buying a Sentra instead. The handling is great (better than my Altima) and actually feels sporty. Vehicle is so quiet in the cabin you cant tell its running. Trunk space is good too for its class. Only thing I miss with the Altima is the large gas tank which can get about 600 miles on one tank and the wider interior. I bought a manual (I prefer to drive stick) so cant comment on the acceleration with the CVT. For a compact car, Im very happy with this purchase, and think the low ratings from car critics arent that accurate.