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:

• 

  go get one! - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By kyler - October 18 - 2:00 am

  ive had this car over a year now. it is one great small car. the interior design , the best ive seen in any compact car. one reliable car!

• 

  Best Bang for the Buck - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Rory Bellows - October 18 - 2:00 am

  The Spec-V sets the standard that Honda Civic Si hasnt followed. Design - sleeker; performance - more HP; handling - tighter; price - cheaper. Why would anybody even buy a Honda Civic. And the only minor issue was torque steer which I understand has been rectified on the 2003 model. I wouldnt trade my Spec for 10 Civic Sis.

• 

  Buyng & Driving the car was easy, dealing with WC - 2015 Nissan Sentra
  By Debra - October 17 - 3:13 am

  I would recommend this car. I feel that it is a good car for the price. However, I would not recommend buying it from Wesley Chapel Nissan. Everyone there was very pleasant and all were accommodating while I was there. Since leaving the dealership, which was about one month ago, I have not been able to get anyone to return my calls or emails.

• 

  The best car Ive ever had - 2006 Nissan Sentra
  By xxxamorexxx - October 14 - 11:26 pm

  The 1.8S is by far the best car I have ever had. My car has not broken down once so far, and it now has 104,000 miles on it. The CAM sensor went bad at about 85,000, but my car still never broke down in the process. The gas mileage I get is approx 34 on the HWY, and about 27 in town. My car is BRIGHT yellow, so with the spoiler, and black bra I put on the front, very sporty. The bucket seats could have a bit more padding. If you treat this car well, it will treat you well. I have taken many road trips in this car, NEVER worried about if my car will break down or not. The heat blasts me out of the car!!!!

• 

  Worst Decision Ever - 2014 Nissan Sentra
  By never_again10 - October 12 - 5:39 am

  I purchased this 2014 Sentra SR a few months back and within minutes of leaving the dealership I noticed the Shutter/Shudder/Jutter whatever you want to call it. 3 Nissan Dealerships and 200+ technician driven miles later and they still cant come up with a fix. I contacted Nissan North America about a month ago and have been going back and forth with the rudest, most incompetent customer service agents ever. Not only are they impolite and discourteous, but they actually have the nerve to talk down to you like youre some kind of idiot. Anyways, Ill keep everyone here in the loop as this process plays out. In the meantime, AVOID NISSAN LIKE THE PLAGUE!

• 

  SpecV The car I wanted - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By Daytona - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Got it 2 wks ago. Good car. Probably paid to much though. Fun to drive. Watch out shifting from 4 to 5. Gas milage seems okay. Very noisy on concrete roads. Not many on the road, this is good.

• 

  Nissan Sentra 2003 GXE - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By epjohnso - October 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive put 9000 miles so far in the first 3 months(expected). I have one problem where the engine idled rough, and was hard to start, and the "Service Engine Soon" light came on. I scheduled an appoint to take to dealer, but the light went off by the time I did, and service dept. didnt find a problem - been fine since then. I bought this car for the fuel economy. The sticker had 29Cty and 35Hiwy, but only 31.5 to 32 MPG. However, it has increased steadily from 28 to now at 32.+. Maybe by 6 months I might hit the 34-35 mpg range? Overall, it appears to be a solid, well built little car.

• 

  Great car - 2002 Nissan Sentra
  By rdeneen - October 6 - 5:40 pm

  Ive put 18000 miles per year on my 2002 and have had NO problems. Replaced the breaks and put new tires on it...thats it besides oil changes. Great, reliable vehicle with plenty of zip.

• 

  AWESOME!!! - 2003 Nissan Sentra
  By pacer - October 2 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR ROCKS!!! ILOVE IT FAST AND FUN

• 

  All I need in a car - 2008 Nissan Sentra
  By KW - October 2 - 3:46 am

  After owning only American cars I love my Nissan Sentra, my wife owns an 06 Altima. We have 5 kids, 3 at home, and this car is quick (CVT), great gas mileage, 29 city and 34 Hwy. I am 6’2 and find it very comfortable with space left in the back for an adult with extra head room. I think it is very quiet and runs on the highway very smoothly for a small car. Now is it like my pervious Lincoln Towncar, no way. But is far better than any other “midsize” car I have owned. The only complaint is winter time in Iowa, being small it can be a challenge to drive in very heavy snow. I love this car and it is all I need.