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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  Starter Issues - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By MTS - June 23 - 7:36 am

  I hate this car. I have had starter problems with it from the start. Nissan says they dont see a problem. I go to start it this morning, and it didnt start. The car is really tight. I got this before I had a baby, and now his car seat barely fits in the back. The passenger has to sit in the dashboard (which is very dangerous). I dont find this car safe at all. Plus, it barely holds the stoller in the trunk. I have no room for groceries. And my gears seem to stick when I take it from Park to Drive. This car is nothing but a problem. Seems too cheap.

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  Sentra SR Spec V - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By da3vid - June 22 - 8:00 pm

  Very quiet interior, makes the Fosgate stereo sound terrific. Puts my VW Jetta interior and "advanced" sound system to shame. Sport suspension is nice and tight. You feel the big bumps but don"t bounce on the small and medium. No leaning in cornering, which you can do very fast due to the road hugging ability. At 400 miles, MPG is combined 28.5 with about 80% being highway. Mileage on highway was about 31.8 when I reset the computer. No initial defects found, very happy with the 6 speed manual transmission. The 200 HP let you use 2, 4 and 6th gears for normal driving. 1 & 2 get you into or across traffic fast, and 3 & 4 can make you feel like you are on a good roller coaster if you want.

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  Best Front Drive Perf. Car For The Money - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By B. Ryde - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This car will absolutely smoke cars so many cars that are so much more money. Im sure all driving enthusiasts will get a kick out of the "Helical" limited slip front. I dont think another front driver(stock)can hook up its tires any better. Its really quick off the line. While the other guys engine is reving up youre blowin by. Front end also works better than any other Ive driven in the corners so its fun on the back roads too. So many kids (and Bemers) will want to race you in this car! -Its a lot of fun to own.

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  Surprised by a lot of negative reviews.. - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By Raindawgs4ever - June 13 - 7:53 pm

  I have had my 2007 Sentra S for almost two years now. I am kind of surprised by some of the negative reviews Ive read here since this car has been a peach for me. I agree with the dings on the plastic interior, non- collapsing rear view mirrors and blind spots, but Ive adapted and overcome these shortcomings. Im not understanding the mileage knocks as I get out what I put in with this car. If I am driving like a madman in the city I can get like 19 mpg. If I mellow out a bit it will go up to about 27. The worst I have ever done in freeway driving is 28. Driving conscientiously I get 34. My overall averages, mostly freeway with 15% city driving is 31-32 mpg. I am happy with that.

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  Not informative - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By Me 2 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  2.5 L engine!... NO BOSE! Its a fun little car. Not the greatest of build quality, but I havent had any problems yet. The interior has some cheap plastics, and rattles a little bit (noticed a lot more in cold climate). Gas mileage isnt bad for a 2.5 L engine with a good amount of torque. I average more than 28mpg on every tank. The 5-spd manual is really rare. Ive seen only 1 other automatic, while the rest are all spec-vs.

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  Dont buy this car! - 2012 Nissan Sentra
  By G. Loya - June 8 - 3:18 pm

  I bought my car 1 year ago with 60k miles. I was expecting to have this car without problems for a while. After six months the car went into safe fail mode not wanting to accelerate at all. I took it to the dealer and they told me it needed a new transmission plus a transmission cooler. The transmission over heating causes it to damage the transmission. The car goes in safe mode when the transmission gets over heated making it very dangerous if you are driving in the freeway and suddenly you loose all power. The dealer said the warranty expires at 60k miles. Nissan knows of this defect. 2013 and up comes with a transmission warranty extension of 120k. It also extended the warranty for 2010 models. 2011 and 2012 warranty were not extended! Never buying a Nissan again!

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  Best value car! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By hanhan - June 7 - 10:00 am

  My sentra has about 24000 miles on it since last June. It is really fun to drive. I like the interior of Sentra better than any other compact cars. No problem at all so far and I just feel it could run forever trouble-free! I commute about 110 mile a day now and very comfortable with this car. Gas mileage is about 33 to 34 on highway with auto. This car really has the best overall value than any other comparable cars and its TCO (Total Cost to Own) is alos the lowest 5 years from now. If I had one more chance to choose, I would still pick Sental. 100% recommend!!!

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  This CAR ROCKS - 2010 Nissan Sentra
  By Tim - June 5 - 2:53 pm

  I had an 2007 Sentra SL and upgraded to the 2010 Sentra SER The steering is so much better, seats really hug you and getting 33mph on highway, not bad for this trim

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  Poor manufacturing - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By SpaceCoastFL - June 2 - 7:53 am

  This vehicle overall is reliable, but there are some major issues that have convinced me to never purchase a Nissan again. 1. Computer failure at under 1000 miles 2. Wheel bearing failure of both rear wheel bearings at under 30000 miles (Dealership tried to get out of warranty repair until I showed them that the wheel bearings were specifically covered under drivetrain warranty) 3. Technical bulletin on the fuel pump that causes a hard start. This fuel pump problem of course failed just past the warranty limitation and costs dearly to replace. I recommend replacing this yourself as I fear Nissan may just replace the fuel pump assembly with another OEM "broken" assembly

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  Better than average but not great - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By Motorguy - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I used to drive a more powerful midsize Honda Accord sedan, so comparing that with the Nissan Sentra 1.8s may be "comparing apples to oranges." But I like the Sentras classy exterior design and comfy seats. And the interior storage spaces like the roof-mounted sunglasses holder and built-in dashboard storage are great touches. Its a good value for the money...but if you can afford a better trim, something larger, or a car with more "oomph" underneath the hood, you maybe should look elsewhere....