A Nissan enthusiast and dealership salesman has turned a bold idea into a real, showroom-ready car, creating what might be the most aggressive-looking Sentra ever offered, at least unofficially.
Dubbed the Sentra SE RS, this Nismo-inspired compact sedan looks every bit like it wants to take on cars such as the Honda Civic Si. Unfortunately, once you look past the styling and actually consider how it drives, the illusion starts to fade.
The project comes from Nick Raymond Scherr, better known online as “Nismo Nick,” who shared his vision for a sportier Sentra last month.
That vision has now been fully realized, and the finished car is currently for sale at Pinnacle Nissan in Scottsdale, Arizona. On the surface, it’s hard not to be impressed. The standard 2026 Sentra already has sharp looks, but the SE RS treatment turns the visual drama up several notches.
The list of upgrades is extensive and heavily influenced by Nissan’s Nismo catalog. The car rides on Nismo LM-RS6 18×8.5-inch wheels, a design that echoes those found on the original Nissan 350Z. There’s also a Nismo cat-back exhaust, Nismo-style exterior graphics, a unique grille design, and an adjustable coilover suspension setup.
Inside, the cabin gets Katzkin black-and-red leather upholstery with custom SE RS branding stitched into the headrests. A black rear spoiler, along with a black roof and mirror caps, completes the transformation, giving the Sentra a far more aggressive stance than a stock Civic Si or Volkswagen Jetta GLI.
Scherr says the goal was to inject excitement into Nissan’s compact sedan lineup while offering customers a turnkey package they could buy directly from the dealership, without needing to source parts or manage aftermarket installations themselves. In that respect, the SE RS succeeds. It looks the part and clearly stands out from any standard Sentra you’ll see on the road.
However, the performance story doesn’t match the visuals, at least not yet. Despite the sporty appearance and suspension tweaks, the SE RS remains mechanically identical to any other 2026 Sentra under the hood.
Power comes from the same naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower, paired exclusively with a continuously variable transmission. Scherr has openly discussed plans for a future turbocharged Sentra with a six-speed manual gearbox, but that version is still down the road. For now, the SE RS is very much a case of style leading substance.
Pricing further complicates the value proposition. The SE RS conversion adds $6,995 to the cost of the car. Since it’s based on the Sentra SR, which starts at around $25,000, the total price comes to $31,995. That places it slightly above the Honda Civic Si, which starts at $31,495, and below the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, priced at about $34,200.
For die-hard Nissan fans who want a sporty-looking sedan without the hassle of modifying one themselves, the Sentra SE RS fills a niche that didn’t previously exist. It’s visually striking, distinctive, and undeniably cool to look at.
But when compared directly to rivals like the Civic Si or Jetta GLI, the lack of meaningful performance upgrades becomes impossible to ignore. Both competitors offer significantly more power, 200 horsepower in the Honda and 228 in the VW, along with engaging manual transmissions that make them far more rewarding to drive.
Limited availability also hurts the SE RS’s broader appeal, as it’s only being sold through a single dealership in Arizona. Still, credit is due to Scherr and Pinnacle Nissan for proving there’s enthusiasm and creativity left in the compact sedan space.
The SE RS is a reminder of how exciting small, affordable, performance-inspired Nissans can be, even if this particular version is more about looks than speed. The real test will come if and when that promised turbocharged, manual-equipped Sentra finally arrives to back up the attitude with genuine performance.
Also Read: 14 Sports Cars Still Offering a Manual Transmission in 2026
