The Nissan Sentra has been a steadfast sedan offering for 43 years. In fact, Nissan has sold some 6.5 million Sentras over nine generations since 1982.

　　Fast forward to the present, and sedans of all sizes seem to be losing popularity in favor of endless hordes of crossovers. Nissan even axed its own Maxima sedan in 2023, and there’s a good chance the Altima and Versa won’t reappear for 2026.

　　But, flying in the face of this sedan slaughtering, Nissan says it expects the compact sedan market to grow through fiscal year 2030. In terms of sedan sales, Nissan will be putting all its four-door eggs in a Sentra-shaped basket.

　　In short: The latest Nissan Sentra showcases redesigned sheet metal and new interiors, yet maintains the same engine, transmission, and chassis as the outgoing model. While a longtime favorite of rental car fleets, Sentra will continue to offer buyers a lot of car for the money. In fact, all four ’26 Sentra trim levels start under $30,000 (some well under).

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) 6.8 How we rate products Specifications Engine: 2.0L 4-cyilnder Power: 149 hp, 146 lb.-ft. Transmission: CVT Drivetrain: FWD MPG: S, SV trim- 29 city/38 highway/33 combined. SR, SL trim- 28 city/36 highway/32 combined Interior Volume: 110.4 cu.-ft. total (96.1 cu.-ft. passenger, 14.3 cu.-ft. cargo) MSRP: $23,645 (S), $24,415 (SV), $26,245 (SR), $29,235 (SL) Pros Good value across the board Comfortable interior Vast trunk size Frugal real-world fuel economy Cons Buzzy engine when pushed No manual shifting capability No hybrid option Andy Lilienthal 2026 Nissan Sentra Review

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) The Sentra has been a longtime volume car for Nissan. You’ve either owned one, had a friend with one, or had one as a rental.

　　Now in its ninth generation, the new 2026 Nissan Sentra aims to continue its legacy of being a compact car at a good price, hoping to lure buyers into the compact sedan segment with its new design and revised interior. Nissan refers to the Sentra as an uncompromising, statement maker offering “loud value” as opposed to quiet luxury.

　　I was surprised to see Sentra continuing into 2026, frankly. But in 2024, Nissan sold 152,659 units, accounting for 47% of all non-truck/SUV sales. Overall, it accounted for more than 17.6% of total vehicles in the entire Nissan portfolio — Nissan wouldn’t disclose the amount of Sentra sold to fleets. If you combined 2024’s Altima and Versa sales, they would surpass Sentra sales alone, but just by a few thousand units. Sentra is a big seller.

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) What’s New for 2026 For model year 2026, everything but the chassis, engine, and transmission is new. This means a revised exterior, front and rear fascias, wheels, interior, and more are new.

　　Nissan is incorporating its signature design element into Sentra, its V-motion grille. The design follows the Japanese principle of shun: a sense of speed that’s agile and effortless. Nissan says Sentra is “bolder, not bigger.” And while it might look larger than the outgoing model, it grows by a negligible 0.4 inches in length, while the width remains the same.

　　Exterior Styling

　　2026 Sentra SR; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) Upon arrival at the Sentra launch, I was greeted by a sporty SR trim level in the fiery Energetic Ember red-orange hue and Super Black Roof. SR models showcase standard 18-inch wheels and tires, a blacked-out grille, decklid spoiler, rear diffuser, and tailpipe finisher. It looks rather racy without looking boy-racer.

　　Later, I’d drive the top SL trim, which includes all the premium features. It, however, loses the SR’s black grille, spoiler, and has smaller 17-inch wheels and tires.

　　2026 Sentra SL; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) To appreciate the Sentra’s svelte fastback shape, look at its side profile. You might even see a hint of Z car in its rear roofline. The gray taillights look sleek and stylish.

　　Up front, the V-motion grille is dynamic and looks modern, and features small LED headlights above a white LED bar. While Sentra has never been radically styled, I’d argue this is the most attractive generation yet.

　　Interior Upgrades

　　2026 Nissan Sentra SR interior; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) At the launch in Phoenix, I got to experience SR and SL trim levels. The SR comes standard with sport cloth seats and optional sport leatherette. The SL, however, gets more upscale quilted TailorFit leatherette.

　　2026 Nissan Sentra SL interior; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) All Sentra seats are “zero gravity,” and they aim to increase comfort while reducing driver fatigue. 

　　The dash on all but the S trim is comprised of dual 12.3-inch digital displays, which are large, easy-to-use, and provide gauges and infotainment. Thankfully, there’s a tactile dial/button combo for volume and power.

　　The Intelligent Around View monitor (standard on SL, optional on SR) is very good. It gives you multiple views, including the ability to see partially around corners, which can be a great safety feature. Nissan states this is a class-exclusive feature.

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) Climate control is handled by a touch panel with haptic feedback below the three prominent vents. Everything is easy to use and straightforward.

　　The Bose sound system in the top-tier SL is also very good with crisp highs and deep lows. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on all but S models.

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) One other important Sentra aspect: the trunk. It has a low, wide trunk opening that’s lower than the Hyundai Elantra or Toyota Corolla. Plus, it’s pretty darn big. You can fit a 55-inch flat-screen TV box or a big cooler without issue. Add fold-down rear seats to it, and you can get a lot of junk in that trunk — as well as in the rest of the car.

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) Engine, Transmission, Chassis: A Carryover All Sentras have the same chassis, engine, and powertrain — carryovers from the previous generation.

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) That means buyers get a 2.0L four-cylinder engine making 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Power is put through a CVT to the front wheels. Nissan states the drivetrain is tuned for responsive acceleration and a smoother, quieter drive. There is no manual shifting capability. There’s also no hybrid option.

　　Nissan said it is continually turning its CVT to offer smoother acceleration, a more natural response, and a comfortable, enjoyable drive. They also lowered the noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) levels with additional structural enhancements, and reduced gaps and noise paths for a quieter ride. The Sentra’s chassis is also a carryover offering front struts and a rear multi-link suspension system with stabilizer bars fore and aft.

　　Driving Impressions

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) Around town, the Sentra drives much like the previous model. It easily keeps up with traffic and doesn’t make egregious noises.

　　The CVT provides smooth power delivery and is innocuous — a positive trait. At full giddyup, the MR20DD engine produces moderate racket and meager acceleration, though no worse than a standard Honda Civic or Kia K4. But you don’t buy a car like this for neck-snapping acceleration: Sentra is a frugal, practical, and comfortable sedan.

　　There are three driving modes for 2026: Standard, Sport, and Eco. Sport changes shift points, alters throttle response, and tightens up the electric steering. In the corners, Sport mode aided in steering feel. In fact, the car felt like a willing participant in the twisties, even bordering on actual sportiness.

　　2026 Sentra SR 18-inch wheel; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) I’m sure the SR would be even sportier on the bigger wheels versus my tester’s SL on 17-inch wheels. Sentra’s ride was compliant. The cabin was quiet and devoid of most wind and road noise.

　　Our SL included Nissan’s ProPILOT hands-on driver assist. It pairs intelligent cruise control (standard on all trims) with steering-assist tech. It’ll adjust speeds for off-ramps and can bring the car to a full stop, hold it in place, and get back up to speed as traffic begins flowing again.

　　Nissan’s estimated fuel economy numbers for S and SV Sentra are 29 mpg city, 38 highway, and 33 combined. The SR and SV get 28 mpg city, 36 highway, and 32 combined. I was getting just south of 40 mpg on my review drive. From previous Sentra rental car experiences, I was able to easily best the 40 mpg mark, likely making the ’26 model another fuel-sipper.

　　Four Trim Levels

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) The 2026 Nissan Sentra is available in S, SV, SR, and SL trim levels. The Sentra S starts at a penny-pinching $22,400.

　　SV levels up with the dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless infotainment, selectable drive modes, an intelligent key, 16-inch alloy wheels, and automatic air conditioning. It starts at $23,170.

　　2026 Nissan Sentra SR spoiler; (photo/Andy Lilienthal) The sportier SR starts at $25,000. It gets a unique front fascia and rear bumper, black side sills, and a rear spoiler. Buyers will also get 18-inch wheels and tires, sport cloth seats, 64 colors of ambient lighting, a MyQ garage door opener, and wireless mobile phone charging.

　　Opt for the SL at $27,990, and youll get a fully loaded Sentra. This includes ProPILOT Assist, the Around View camera system, Bose audio, quilted seats, and a moonroof standard — although wheels and tires go back to 17s. All prices are sans the $1,245 destination charge.

　　Add to that five available packages which can be mixed and matched depending on the trim, as well as something in the neighborhood of 20 potential color combos, and you can get a Sentra almost any way you want it — and in almost any hue.

　　2026 Nissan Sentra Review: Conclusion

　　(Photo/Andy Lilienthal) The Sentra has been a strong, yet subtle seller for years (including rental car fleets). They’ve long been good, dependable, frugal cars, but don’t stand out for any reason in particular except for price. And that may be Sentra’s appeal. A Sentra S undercuts every other compact sedan in its price, and that’ll continue for ’26.

　　The modern, comfortable, quiet interior; the frugal powertrain; and the sportier SR’s looks are all positive attributes. And, in a market where the average vehicle sticker price is over $50,000, it’s refreshing to see honest-to-goodness decent cars easily available for under $30K (even with destination charges).

　　The Nissan Sentra is a people’s car. It’s always been affordable, not too flashy, not too sporty, and not too, well, anything specific. It’s a bit of a mix. It’s good, but it’s bland. It’s better than ever, but still feels like an introvert.However, for 42 years, this formula has worked. And the Sentra’s continuation is proof positive that Nissan believes there’s still a place for the compact sedan — even if it’s not the flashiest model on the market.

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