2024 Nissan Sentra

Overview

The Nissan Sentra stirs the mind instead of the body. It's one of the cheapest new cars sold today, and its suite of driver-assistance tech includes automated emergency braking and rear-cross-traffic alert. If not for its buzzing powertrain, its lack of driving performance is dull enough to rock you asleep. Every Sentra is front-wheel drive and comes with a 149-hp four-cylinder engine bolted to a continuously variable automatic transmission. In this segment, the only compact cars with available all-wheel drive are the Mazda 3 and Toyota Prius. Still, the Sentra is a handsome little devil and has comfortable front seats, usable trunk space, and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 39 mpg highway. The Sentra isn't as fun to drive as the Honda Civic, but it's certainly easier on the wallet.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Honda Civic

STARTING AT: $24,545

2

Mazda Mazda 3

STARTING AT: $23,615

3

Toyota Prius

STARTING AT: $28,545

4

Volkswagen Jetta

STARTING AT: $21,750

5

Hyundai Elantra

STARTING AT: $22,065

6

Nissan Sentra

STARTING AT: $22,000

What's New for 2024?

Nissan refreshes the Sentra with a new look inside and out. Its exterior gets new headlights and taillights with a more stately bumper design, while the interior gains a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. The entire center console has been updated to look more like that of the Nissan Rogue's, with a new gear selector and more USB-C ports.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Sentra S comes with plenty of standard features, but moving up to the mid-level SV trim doesn't change the price much and is worth the additional tech, which includes adaptive cruise control and dual-zone automatic climate control. We'd also upgrade it further with the SV Premium package that adds heated front seats, quilted leather upholstery, a leather shift knob, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and a sunroof.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Every Sentra is powered by a 149-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While the gearless automatic simulates traditional gear changes, it doesn't alter the fact that the Sentra we tested was noisy and slow, especially when trying to pass at highway speeds. There's not a lot of entertainment behind the wheel, either. Steering effort is weighty and predictable, but it's nowhere near as communicative as in rivals such as the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. The Nissan features an independent rear suspension and wheel sizes that range from 16 to 18 inches. The version we drove rolled on the largest set, which contributed to a firm ride quality and excessive road noise. Still, the Sentra is comfortable and compliant for daily commutes and weekend trips. We were especially impressed with its braking system. It delivered reassuring pedal feel and solid stopping power from 70 mph, coming to a halt in a class-competitive 170 feet.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The Nissan Sentra is estimated to earn up to 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. Those figures drop to 28 mpg city and 37 highway on the sporty SR trim. Still, the Nissan is just as efficient as some competitors that also are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and CVT, but the Toyota Corolla tops the list with 31 mpg city and 40 highway. The Sentra SR that we ran on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route—part of our extensive testing regimen—matched its government highway rating at 37 mpg. However, the Corolla XSE sedan we tested returned an even more frugal 41 mpg. For more information about the Sentra's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the Sentra has one of the prettier designs in this segment. The center of the dashboard hosts a trio of circular air vents above sturdy climate controls. The interior materials are a mix of soft and hard plastics, but the former cover the surfaces that count and help mask the rest. Models appointed with the quilted leather upholstery look especially upscale, even though they're at odds with the sporty-car, flat-bottom steering wheel. Nissan also coddles passengers in the front with its extra-comfy Zero Gravity seats, which are spacious, pliant, and supportive. Opting for the available sunroof cuts into the cabin's headroom but otherwise, adults have ample space in the front and back. We also managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in the Sentra's 14-cubic-foot trunk; that's one more than the Corolla sedan held.

Infotainment and Connectivity

A touchscreen sprouts from the middle of every Sentra's dashboard, and it's supplemented by physical volume and tuning knobs. While the base model features a smaller display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there's also an available 12.3-inch screen on the SR trim, as well as USB access in the front and back seats. The larger display is also compatible with better options including SiriusXM satellite radio, an eight-speaker Bose stereo, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Nissan packs its compact sedan with a load of standard driver-assistance technology. Shoppers can also get adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system on all but the base model. For more information about the Sentra's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
• Standard rear automated emergency braking

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Nissan offers a competitive, albeit unremarkable, limited and powertrain warranty. However, compact rivals from Kia and Hyundai have much better coverage. Likewise, both Toyota and Volkswagen come with complimentary maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs