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Photo: Tim Stevens
The Nissan Sentra competes in the Compact Car market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, owners rated their Compact Cars in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from what they like most about Compact Cars to what they like least:
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Sentra did not rank due to a low sample size.
In the following sections, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Nissan Sentra SR equipped with the following options:
The Premium Package ($2,490) adds niceties like an 8-speaker Bose sound system, a 6-way power-adjustable driver's seat, artificial leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and a power sunroof. Including the $1,095 destination charge to ship the car to your local dealer, the test car's total price was $27,825.
Photo: Tim Stevens
While nothing has changed regarding the Sentra's overall profile and presence, 2024 brings a welcome update to the front styling.
The new headlights are long and angular, maintaining the Sentra's familiar face, but they're simpler and cleaner, giving an overall more modern look.
So, too, for the grille, which does away with much of the inset chrome on last year's model in favor of a wide, black expanse highlighted here with a subtle red SR badge inset to one side. Even in the base models, this new grille gives the Sentra far more presence from the front.
Finally, the SV and SR received new alloy wheel designs this year. With SV trim, they measure 16 inches in diameter, while the SR wears two-tone 18-inch wheels with 215/45R18 Hankook Kinergy GT tires.
The Sentra's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine continues from previous generations, but it's received some additional smarts to help boost its efficiency.
While the 2023 Nissan Sentra SR delivered 28 mpg city, 37 highway, and 32 combined, the 2024 Sentra SR now delivers 30 city, 38 highway, and 33 combined. The base 2024 Sentra is likewise up a single mpg across the board, to 30 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 34 mpg combined.
How did the car gain efficiency from the same powertrain? It starts with a re-tuned CVT. Modifications help the engine stay in its most efficient operating range more of the time, delivering better fuel economy.
Another significant change is the addition of automatic start-stop functionality, enabling the engine to shut itself off at stop lights or in heavy traffic. While this feature can be annoying, it's vital to helping deliver those small, incremental gains in efficiency. For those less concerned with fuel economy, Nissan thoughtfully puts a button to turn off the feature just ahead of the shifter.
What has stayed the same, though, is the Sentra's generally mediocre performance. The engine's 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque are not a lot in a car of this size, and the Sentra is not an engaging machine to drive. That four-cylinder engine doesn't make a great noise when pressed, and when you add the lazy response offered by the CVT, you're dissatisfied when you put your foot down on the accelerator pedal.
Likewise, the Sentra's handling is on the relaxed side. Even in SR trim, with those new 18-inch wheels, the car takes its time when moving into a corner. It's a competent handler and feels more engaging than larger sedans, but its soft suspension and muted steering don't reward a driver. However, it offers excellent ride quality for this class and notable isolation from road and wind noise.
Photo: Tim Stevens
For a budget-minded sedan, the Sentra offers a well-designed, practical interior that does not disappoint. New for 2024, orange color-contrast stitching and seat inserts brighten up an otherwise dark space, helping the Sentra to punch a little higher above its weight. Likewise, the satin-effect silver trim around the shifter and elsewhere looks far better than the usual chrome.
But by and large, the interior is the same as before, and that's not a bad thing. The front seats are comfortable and easily adjusted, though only the driver's seat offers a 6-way power assist. The front passenger will have to make do moving the seat themselves. Room for water bottles in the door pockets augments a pair of cupholders between the front seats, while a generously sized storage cubby beneath the armrest offers room for big purses or small loaves of bread.
The Sentra offers seating for five, and the rear seats will comfortably hold a pair of adults or three little ones. There's not much in the way of creature comforts back there, but a fold-down armrest has a pair of cupholders, while generous door pockets have room for water bottles. A lone USB-A port is the only nod to modern technology.
The trunk offers 14.3 cubic feet of cargo volume, which is fair for this class. That's more than the Toyota Corolla's 13.1 cubic feet but down from the Kia Forte's 15.3.
The 2024 Sentra offers a comprehensive tech and safety package, including a standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 package on every trim.
That collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) includes:
Meanwhile, the SV and SR add adaptive cruise control, and Nissan's Intelligent Around View Monitor is available as part of the Premium Package, providing a 360-degree view around the car.
The only thing lacking is some form of active lane-keeping assistance, but the Sentra's lane-departure warning is quite good. When you wander from the lane, the system buzzes the steering wheel to subtly let you know to correct your path. That is a far less annoying solution than the incessant beeping used by many other lane-departure systems.
On the tech side, the NissanConnect infotainment experience is simple but comprehensive. It even includes customizable home tiles, allowing you to add shortcuts to favorite inputs, contacts, and settings. The system features access to an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot and can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates.
The base Sentra has a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SV and SR receive 8-inch touchscreens. I wouldn't call either size generous, but the 8-inch unit still looks reasonably well-proportioned, given the size of the car.
There's no integrated navigation here, and the integrated voice assistant can't do much more than place phone calls or tune the radio. However, wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay allow you to quickly access top-shelf navigation and voice assistance via Siri Eyes Free or Google Assistant.
Photo: Tim Stevens
The updates to the 2024 Nissan Sentra do nothing to change the formula, but they do improve the car and keep it competitive in the small, value-oriented sedan segment.
The SR trim, in particular, looks sharp and drives well enough, but this is certainly not a performance-minded machine. Any attempt to drive it with enthusiasm will lead to disappointment. Also, the Sentra's collection of ADAS could be on par with the best in this category if it came with an active lane-keeping assistance system.
Nevertheless, even if there's nothing much new on the 2024 Sentra, there's still a lot to like.
Tim Stevens is a veteran automotive and technology journalist with over 25 years of experience covering everything from smartphones to supercars. In addition to JDPower.com, his expert perspectives have appeared in numerous national and international outlets including print, online, and broadcast television.
