Nissan’s 2024 Sentra FWD compact sedan is an iconic nameplate that comes with a host of styling and safety upgrades that are offered at a reasonable price – which is rare for today’s sedans.
Sentra is offered in S, SV and SR trim levels. We were privileged to test the SR that has garnered a top safety rating along with miserly fuel economy.
In this day of crossovers and SUVs, a compact sedan also makes sense as an economical commuter car, second car or a primary car for seniors or college students. And Sentra delivers in all those capacities.
Sentra’s exterior has a slippery, slick look and the SR comes with LED headlights, a black-out grille and air vents on the lower front fenders, all for a sporty look. The back end follows through with a trunk lip spoiler.
The interior is upscale with quality leatherette seats that adorned with orange stitching. The fronts are amply cushioned, heated and nicely supportive that Nissan refers to as Zero Gravity seats. A heated steering wheel is also included. The back seats are equally as comfy for two adults. Even the cup holders are neat in that they’re trimmed with faux carbon fiber.
Upon slipping into the cockpit the first thing you’ll notice is the SRs flat-bottomed steering wheel for a racy look that also allows easier ingress/egress. And the steering wheel has adaptive cruise control switches.
Also on the SR model, a vivid 8-inch infotainment display serves the satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Wi-Fi Hotspot connectivity, rearview and frontal cameras with overhead views, HVAC selections and functions.
A phone charger resides at the base of the vertical stack with receptacles for wired charging. It shares the space with a gear selector for the new Xtronic CVT automatic trans.
Sentra’s trunk is fairly spacious and rated at 14.3 cubic feet with 41 inches of cargo loading depth. Flip the rear seatbacks and loading depth expands to an impressive 72 inches (6 feet). Beneath the trunk floor is a space saver tire around which some small items can be stowed.
As a compact sedan, Sentra parks easily and offers a pleasant ride on Hankook 18-inch tires (that offers Easy-Fill Tire Alert system) and Nissan’s Active Ride Control that smooths rough roadways by applying simultaneous braking and power application – and it does so without notice.
Handling wise, Nissan’s Trace Control keeps Sentra planted and stable in sharp turns and switchbacks all of which make Sentra a pleasure to drive and ride in.
Power wise, Sentra gets it grunt from a 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder that generates 149-hp and 146 lb/ft of torque for EPA mileage estimates of 28 city, 37-highway mpg with auto engine start/stop technology. There’s also an Eco drive mode switch that provides the best economy and efficiently when driving conservatively. The little four produces a linear application of power when flooring the accelerator. The engine is a bit noisy under power but dissipates under cruise.
With a base price of $23,720, the standard and options list is lengthy. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking w/pedestrian detection, intelligent forward collision warning, rear automatic braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning w/Haptic steering wheel (it vibrates) and automatic high beam assist. Some of these are extra cost on certain pricier sedans.
To the base price was added the Premium Package ($2,490) that included sunroof, leatherette seats, 8-speaker Bose audio, intelligent around-view monitor and more. Other options of Two-tone paint added $250, floor mats $270 and delivery $1,095 took the bottom line to $27,825. Still a reasonable price for a fine, nicely optioned and comfy sedan.
To its credit, Sentra received a top 5-star government overall score and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a top Good score.
In addition, Sentra comes with a 3 year/36K miles new vehicle warranty while the powertrain is covered for 5/60K miles.
Overall, Sentra is a good buy for car buyers looking for a handsome, safety oriented, economical and especially affordable FWD sedan. Lease prices are likely just as affordable if not attractive.