The Nissan Sentra compact sedan is one of those cars that simply does the job without fuss or fanfare. Pricing starts at $20,890. This might be the sort of car we’d expect to see around college towns or in the parking lots of office blocks. It’s a commuter special, performing everyday duties at a reasonable cost. This generation debuted for the 2020 model year, so a minor revamp for 2024 comes right on time. Not that Nissan has dedicated a whole lot of resources to updating its compact contender. A design tweak here, an upgraded transmission there, plus a few other bits and pieces. In other words, not quite enough to raise the Sentra up from its standing as a minor character in the incredible success stories of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating the current collection of compact cars, including the Nissan Sentra. The test model seen here is a 2024 Sentra SR with the Premium package, Electric Blue Metallic two-tone paint, and a sticker price of $27,825.
What's New for 2024
Revised styling at the front end accompanies new alloy wheel designs. The top SR trim also gains design tweaks at the rear, plus heated front seats and contrasting stitching in the cabin. The engine receives a fuel-saving stop/restart feature and connects to an upgraded automatic transmission. The optional Premium package for the SV now includes a 360-degree camera system, turn signal flashers in the side mirrors, and an 8-speaker Bose audio setup.
2024 Nissan Sentra Pricing
The 2024 Nissan Sentra has a starting sticker price of $22,030, with the range-topping Sentra SR kicking off at $25,120. But Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Pricing currently suggests paying $976 to $1,169 less than MSRP, depending on trim and equipment. These prices are updated weekly.
MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
S | $22,030 | $20,959 | ||
SV | $22,960 | $21,984 | ||
SR | $25,120 | $23,951 |
The Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra start in the same financial ballpark as the Sentra, with the Toyota Corolla not far above. The new-for-2024 Subaru Impreza (available solely as a hatchback but with all-wheel drive as standard) comes in at $23K. The Honda Civic (all-new last year) and Mazda3 begin closer to $24K — that old you-get-what-you-pay-for rule applies to the compact car class as much as anywhere else, though. Before buying a new Sentra, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Sentra’s resale values are about average for the segment.
Power, Ride and Handling
Every Sentra employs a 149-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, one of the weaker units in this compact car class. Nissan doesn’t quote any acceleration times, but we know that going from standstill to 60 mph is not exactly a sprint — more of a trot. The company has upgraded the automatic transmission this year, with a view to improving fuel efficiency as opposed to enhancing any kind of fun. There are, however, a couple of standard features that we think contribute to the Sentra’s mostly enjoyable driving experience. Active Ride Control compensates for washboard road surfaces and the up/down pitching they can create. It does this with subtle braking and power attenuation. Intelligent Trace Control helps the Sentra hold its cornering line with efficiency and stability by slowing an inside wheel if necessary. Let’s also give a special mention to the Sentra’s multi-link rear suspension, a more sophisticated setup than the cheaper torsion beam alternative found in the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. In an ideal world, even the base S version of the Sentra would have disc brakes at the rear instead of drums. This adds ammunition to our argument that the SV is a better choice, where discs are fitted at each corner. At least the S has blind-spot monitoring as standard, so those wide rear pillars become less of an issue. The new transmission and engine stop/restart feature should improve the Sentra’s fuel economy a little. As an indication, though, last year’s figures were 33 combined mpg (29 city, 39 highway) for the S and SV. The SR managed 32 combined mpg (28 city, 37 highway). That’s pretty much a mid-pack showing. The Honda Civic can run to 35 combined mpg, while the Hyundai Elantra is rated to achieve up to 37 combined mpg.Fuel Economy
Agreeable Interior
We’ve found the Sentra’s cabin agreeable and user-friendly, with decent materials and build quality. Upholstery ranges from cloth to nicer cloth to simulated leather upholstery to tan-colored/diamond-stitched real stuff — which is optional in the SV. The only interior change this year is the inclusion of reddish-orange contrasting stitching in the SR. The bottom of the steering wheel flattens out a bit, making it easier for drivers to slide their knees under. It’s leather-wrapped in the SV and SR. When it’s the one thing drivers have to hold for every mile, this is much better than the S model’s plastic one. Rear legroom measures 34.7 inches. That compares well with the Toyota Corolla, but the Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra both have more, if that matters. Trunk space is 14.3 cubic feet — perfectly adequate for this class, and the rear seats split and fold in 60/40 fashion for added versatility. We also like the trunk’s wide aperture.
Revised Exterior
This year brings some styling tweaks. The front end gains a new grille and headlights, while the air vents are pushed outward. New alloy wheel designs are also offered. The sportier (in character, though not in performance) SR gets its own treatment, including a dark chrome grille surround and revised taillights. This is also the only trim to offer 2-tone paintwork, matching a black roof with white, orange, blue, or gray body colors. Personal taste is going to swing things one way or another, naturally, but we’d argue that the Sentra has a lot going for it in the visuals department. One thing that might be an issue, though, is that the Sentra comes solely as a sedan, whereas the Corolla, Civic, and Mazda3 all offer more flexible hatchback variants. Then again, those alternatives are pricier.
Our Favorite Features and Tech
Front seats Infotainment system Advanced Drive Assist Display Adaptive cruise control Nissan Safety Shield 360 SV Premium package
Nissan calls them Zero Gravity seats. We’d call them road-trip comfortable, and among the best we’ve found in any compact sedan. Even better, they’re standard across the Sentra range. To balance things out, the rear seats are comfy as well.
Easy to use and comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. The S has a 7-inch touchscreen, the two higher trims gain an 8-inch counterpart, plus another couple of speakers (adding up to six), an extra USB-C port, and satellite radio.
This is a 7-inch information display that goes between the speedometer and rev counter. It’s standard in the SV and SR, adding a little more tech to their cabins.
Another reason to pass on the base S and check out the SV or SR, where adaptive cruise control is standard.
This standard set of driver assistance features includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and — unusual for the class — rear automatic braking.
Worth investigating, we think. This options bundle brings 17-inch alloy wheels, diamond-stitched leather seating surfaces, 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped shift knob, and a powered moonroof.
Engine & Transmission
Regardless of trim, the engine in every Sentra is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit making 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. This energy goes through an automatic transmission — upgraded for 2024 — to drive just the front wheels. The aim of the transmission upgrade is the same as the also-new engine stop/restart function — to improve efficiency. Nissan’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This is all typical among mainstream manufacturers. This generation of Sentra earned a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a strong showing in side impact protection. Ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are patchier, taking the top score of Good in most main crash-test categories, but receiving a Poor for the updated moderate front overlap impact test and an Acceptable for the updated side impact test.
3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty
Safety Ratings
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KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
