Instead of stirring the spirit, the Nissan Sentra stirs the mind. One of the most affordable new vehicles available today, it is equipped with a variety of driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking and rear cross-traffic warning.
Even without its buzzing drivetrain, the car’s poor handling would be enough to put you to sleep.
Each Sentra has a four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower that is front-wheel drive and is connected to a continuously variable automatic gearbox.
The Mazda 3, Toyota Prius, and other tiny cars in this group are the only ones that provide all-wheel drive.
Nevertheless, the Sentra is a charming little devil with supportive front seats, a reasonable trunk, and excellent highway fuel efficiency. Although it’s not as enjoyable to drive as the Honda Civic, the Sentra is unquestionably less expensive.
Nissan gives the Sentra a new appearance to update it. Its appearance has new 16- and 18-inch wheel designs, as well as revised headlights and taillights with a more opulent bumper design.
Nissan promises that the addition of an Xtronic CVT will increase the Sentra’s fuel efficiency and smooth out the driving experience.
Additionally, new for the Sentra in 2024 is engine start-stop. Although the 2024 Sentra has Nissan’s new insignia on its steering wheel, the inside is substantially the same.
The Sentra S has a ton of standard equipment, but upgrading to the mid-level SV model, which adds adaptive cruise control and dual-zone automatic temperature control, doesn’t much raise the price.
We’d also add the SV Premium option, which includes a sunroof, heated front seats, quilted leather upholstery, a leather shift knob, and a motorized driver’s seat.
2024 Nissan Sentra Interior
The Sentra boasts one of this market’s most attractive interiors. Three round air vents are located in the center of the dashboard, over strong temperature controls. Soft and hard plastics are mixed in the interior materials, but the former covers the important surfaces and conceal the others.
Even though the quilted leather interior contrasts with the athletic car’s flat-bottom steering wheel, these models seem particularly premium.
Nissan also pampers front-seat occupants with its luxurious Zero Gravity seats, which are roomy, supple, and supportive. Adults have plenty of room in the front and rear. However, the headroom in the interior is reduced if the optional sunroof is chosen.
The Sentra’s 14-cubic-foot trunk also housed seven carry-on bags, which is one more than the Corolla sedan could handle.
Every Sentra’s dashboard features a touchscreen that is surrounded by real volume and tuning dials. While the base model only has a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the SV and SR trims also come with an optional 8.0-inch screen and USB ports in the front and rear seats.
Better alternatives like a Wi-Fi hotspot, an eight-speaker Bose audio, and SiriusXM satellite radio are also compatible with the bigger display.
2024 Nissan Sentra Exterior
The selected trim level determines the amount of alterations for the Sentra. All models receive new headlights, a redesigned front fascia, and 16- and 18-inch wheels.
The top model SR also features a new color for the contrasting interior accent stitching, as well as a redesigned rear bumper.
2024 Nissan Sentra Performance
A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower is standard on every Sentra, and it is mated to a CVT and front-wheel drive.
The Sentra we tried was loud and sluggish, especially when attempting to overtake at highway speeds, despite the gearless automatic simulating conventional gear changes.
Behind the wheel, there isn’t much enjoyment either. Although the steering effort is substantial and predictable, it is not quite as expressive as that of competitors like the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic.
The Nissan has an independent rear suspension and 16 to 18-inch wheels as standard equipment.
The version we drove had the biggest set of wheels, which made for a rough ride and a lot of road noise. Even so, the Sentra is suitable for weekend excursions as well as daily commuting.
Our astonishment at its braking mechanism was particular. From 70 mph, it had a comforting pedal feel and strong stopping power, coming to a stop in a class-competitive 170 feet.
The fuel economy of the 2024 Sentra has not yet been calculated by the EPA, although it is expected to be higher thanks to its modest powertrain changes. Up to 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway were achieved by the 2023 Sentra.
On the sportier SR version, those numbers decreased to 28 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. The Toyota Corolla tops the list with 31 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, but the Nissan is still just as efficient as several rivals who are also powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and CVT.
In line with its official highway rating of 37 mpg, the Sentra SR that we tested on our 75 mph highway fuel economy route did so.