The 2025 Nissan Sentra starts at $22,835 with destination fees, while the all-new ninth-generation 2026 model lands at $23,645 and still plays nicely with peers like the Corolla and Elantra. Compared with a base Honda Civic, it’s noticeably more affordable without feeling cheap.
Sentra buyers aren’t all bargain hunters. From recent grads to empty nesters ready to trade the SUV for something smaller, more fuel-efficient, and fun to drive, the car appeals to a surprisingly wide crowd.
Sedans might not be everyone’s first thought these days, but the market is quietly holding its ground. With competition fading and the new Sentra stepping up in comfort and style, it’s an option worth noticing.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Nissan and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed.
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What makes the 2026 Nissan Sentra worth a spin
Credit: Nissan
The 2026 Nissan Sentra might look bigger at first glance, but it’s actually the same size as the previous generation.
What’s different is the styling: it has a sleeker, more fastback-like shape, with sharper, pinched lights that make it feel wider.
It’s still a small sedan, but the tweaks give it a more chiseled, confident presence on the road.
The ride and handling have leveled up
Credit: Nissan
Nissan tuned the Sentra’s ride and handling to feel more composed and confident, going beyond the usual “econobox” expectations.
CVTs can feel a little… off. Without traditional gear shifts, acceleration sometimes seems sluggish, and the engine’s whining doesn’t always give the feedback drivers expect.
For the new Sentra, Nissan reworked the software, re-mapped the throttle, and adjusted the torque and horsepower curves to make the engine feel smoother and more responsive.
A new sport mode sharpens throttle response and simulates gear shifts, giving the CVT a more immediate, engaging feel.
Stephen Soley, a Nissan engineer, broke down the key updates and what they mean for everyday driving:
“The software mapping is pretty sophisticated. And we take full advantage of Sport mode, so there’s a differentiation between the baseline smoothness and the greater immediacy you get from Sport mode.”
— Stephen Soley, Nissan
Steering that’s sharper and smoother
Credit: Nissan
Soley said Nissan engineers focused on the software that shapes how the Sentra’s steering feels.
Sport mode delivers more direct feedback, giving the car a sharper, more connected feel.
“It’s not a sports car,” he noted, but Nissan knows drivers want quick response in a small car—while keeping it predictable at all times.
“To have a secure feel, your eyes have to see what your hands are saying, and your inner ear, which measures your equilibrium, also has to be consistent. Consistency is what gives you that secure feel, so that the Sentra handles consistently at speed or when you’re in a parking lot.”
— Stephen Soley, Nissan
A planted, confident ride
Credit: Nissan
Compared with rivals like the Hyundai Elantra, the Sentra’s steering gives noticeably more feedback. The Elantra is roomier, but the Sentra feels more buttoned-up on the road.
Nissan also revised the shock absorber valving, so the ride feels more solid over bumps and rough pavement.
Even in a sudden traffic scramble, the brakes hold strong, and the car responds smoothly, making quick maneuvers feel completely under control.
A surprisingly calm cabin
Credit: Nissan
Nissan worked to make the Sentra’s cabin noticeably quieter.
Paired with the smoother CVT, it now feels more refined for commuting or longer drives.
At highway speeds, around town, or on country roads, there’s less tire roar and less noise coming through the floor, making the ride calmer overall.
Premium features without the premium price
Credit: Nissan
For just $500, even base S-grade buyers can get heated front seats—a feature that usually requires stepping up a trim.
The smarter move is likely the SV grade, which adds $770 over the S. That gets you dual 12.3-inch displays, automatic climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control.
Step up another $990 to reach $25,405, and you’ll also get a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and an intelligent key that unlocks the doors when you walk up and locks them when you walk away.
Safety that comes standard
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You’ll need the top-trim SL grade for the full around-view camera, but the Sentra comes standard with plenty of safety tech.
That includes blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams.
It’s a reminder that a lot of this tech is already in the car—just a matter of whether the software enables it.
Nissan could do more to compete and stay relevant
Credit: Nissan
This might sound like faint praise, but while Nissan leans hard on value, some rivals stretch this segment further. Options like the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid, Corolla Cross, and Honda Civic Si raise the bar.
The new Sentra is definitely an improvement over its predecessor, but Nissan could afford to be more playful and iterative with the model.
Even with 2025 Sentra sales up 40 percent over 2024, new-car affordability still feels out of reach for many buyers.
Credit: Nissan
That makes a Sentra line expansion feel like a no-brainer for Nissan.
If affordability is the goal, a Sentra hatch and a Sentra hybrid seem like obvious additions.
Especially since Americans just aren’t buying sedans like they used to, expanding the lineup could help keep the model relevant.
Perfect timing for a budget-friendly ride
Credit: Nissan
Nissan is slowly crawling out of a rough patch, and leaning on their strong engineering makes a lot of sense. The new Sentra is a clear step up—comfortable to drive, smooth to ride in, and surprisingly capable even with just 149 horsepower.
Rather than pushing buyers toward used cars, the Sentra offers solid value, and financing a new model often comes with better rates and terms.
With its comfort, features, and affordability, the Sentra is well-positioned to keep sales strong—especially in a market where the average new car costs more than twice as much.
