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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  an ecomonic sports car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By BRUCE - January 29 - 2:00 am

  front bucket seats are really comfortable. lots of pep in the se-r even with the automatic transmission. the 9 speaker rockford fosgate audio pkg is a real bargain and sounds terrific.

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  Best bang for your buck - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By abba - January 28 - 3:36 am

  80K nearly trouble free miles so far. Yes the brakes need to be turned often, but its no biggy. The motor is the best blend of torque, HP, gas mileage and reliability that Nissan has made. This car speaks to you at the limit of driving. Thus making it fun and safe. Its also loaded with features, responds well to mods, has room for 4, and gets 32 MPG.

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  best bang for the buck - 2004 Nissan Sentra
  By arash - January 25 - 2:00 am

  this kicks butt. compared with its similarly priced corrola, civic, matrix and mazda 3 rivals, this car has a ton of extra stuff

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  Sentra - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By lmdlm12 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Great car. 116mph. 40 mpg on highway. What more can u want?

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  Mr. Bugs - 2007 Nissan Sentra
  By cygnus - January 21 - 10:56 pm

  I purchased my SE-R 7 weeks ago and it has been in the shop 4 times, it makes a strange sound similar to hissing or a shaking a filament in a light bulb when the car travels over any street that is not newly paved. At this time the dealership as not been able to pinpoint the problem. They have replaced struts and strut mounts so far. My driver side door froze and would not open. The car is due back in the shop to replace a broken positive battery terminal connector that is on order. I love the engine power and styling but my car seems to have a lot of bugs and problems to be only a year old.

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  Not what I had in mind - 2001 Nissan Sentra
  By TNLady - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I leased this vehicle and had it during my last two years of college. The not so good: It stalled in the middle of an intersection while running after I owned it for 2 or 3 months (that was fun), the side mirror fell off (not under warranty), driver and passenger window motors went out,and I bought 4 new tires bc the original were rather crappy. The interior is also very cheaply made and the engine makes it hard to keep up in traffic sometimes. Keep in mind this is a "compact" car and Nissan takes that literally with very little leg room to go around.

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  I love my Sentra! - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By jessbugg - January 20 - 7:26 pm

  I bought my Sentra used from a dealership in early 2010, it was originally a rental car so had a few extra miles on it. I have put over 40,000 miles on it mainly driving back and forth from TN to FL for school and I have never had any problems. Its a great car, gets good gas mileage on the highway and I have not had problems with an "uncomfortable ride" I only recently replaced my tires & brake pads but the car has 70,000+ miles on it now. Ive had no issues with the engine or anything under the hood, but I do get regular oil changes and maintenance checks since I do so much highway driving. Everyone always thinks my car is newer than an 08, I love it!

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  Good car so far knock on wood - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By mommastash - January 16 - 1:13 pm

  Car had an o ring leak at one month of age. At 6 months of age head gasket went leaked anti freeze on belt, Dealership replace head gasket but refuse to replace belt that still from this day squeals cause of glazing. Paint is chipped on bottom of doors due to stones and road salt. Car interior seats stain badly. Car flooded in cold weather just from moving car off driveway onto side of road. Handles great on turns and awesome braking. Great on gas. Small interior for leg room not meant for a family car. handles okay on icy roads.

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  Could have been better... - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Chad - January 16 - 10:13 am

  Bought the car new and had lots of problems within the first three years of ownership. The SE-R has a lot of issues that were never properly recalled such as a faulty pre-cat, poor MAF sensor, wheel hop, exterior paint, and a few other things. Had my engine replaced under warranty at 30,000 miles due to screws breaking off my intake runners and blowing up my engine. A simple locktighting of the screws would fix that issue. Aftermarket modification like motor mount inserts and header will get rid of some of the mechanical problems. Also, the plastic undercarriage pieces will gradually fall out. After dealing with those issues the car has gone strong the past 3 years

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  A good thing gone wrong. - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By random - January 15 - 10:00 am

  The Nissan Sentra Spec V looks great on paper, and it does drive very well at first. After about a month after buying the car, the transmission became clunky and it even grinds gears during shifts when it is cold out. The car can take up to 15 minuets for the transmissioin to loosen up. Multiple dealers have told as that this is normal operation, but the operation changed after I got it. There were some cosmetic problems with the paint, body molding, and trunk and engine lid that was all fixed under warranty. Mold in the AC system was fixed on the 3rd try. I would not recomend this car to anyone. Build quality is very poor.