2023 Nissan Sentra

　　

2023 Nissan Sentra Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiAssociate Manager, Vehicle Testing and Operations

　　Rex Tokeshi-Torres has worked in the automotive industry for over 17 years. Rex is a vehicle testing technician and photographer at zzdcar and is responsible for coordinating vehicle testing and logistics, organizing data, and capturing photos for the site and social media. He has written over 100 vehicle-related articles and has rated, tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. He has also contributed content to Autobytel, Autotrader, Automobile, the Associated Press and DSport along with various motorsport teams. His affinity with cars started because of Hot Wheels and his love of modifying cars. He occasionally drives Subarus.

　　The 2023 Nissan Sentra is a tempting option among small and affordable sedans. As is the case with many cars in this class, the Sentra delivers a lot of features for the money and is loaded with up-to-date safety tech. Unfortunately, it's held back by a rather weak engine, an outdated infotainment system and longer-than-average braking distances.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Nissan Sentra S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$114/mo  for Sentra S

　　Sentra S

　　S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $20,200 MSRPSV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $21,420 MSRPSR 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $23,090 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　We would love to say these issues will be addressed in the 2023 model year, but the Sentra returns unchanged for 2023. As a result, we're confident you'd be better served by the Honda Civic, Kia Forte or Hyundai Elantra that are all ranked higher than the Sentra. These alternatives have their own faults, but they're much more forgivable, as noted in our Expert Rating of the Sentra below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Sentra drive? Acceleration is not bad off the line, but the Sentra loses vigor as you gain speed. We measured a 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds. That's a little below average for the small sedan class but similar to other slowish cars such as the Kia Forte and Toyota Corolla. In routine driving, the Sentra's continuously variable automatic transmission is smooth and unobtrusive. But it doesn't provide much engine braking effect when you lift off the gas, so you might find yourself needing to use a little more of the brakes than you might expect when slowing down.

　　The brake pedal is smooth and easy to control in casual use. Emergency braking performance, however, is subpar. Our test Sentra needed 131 feet to stop from 60 mph. For context, the segment average is about 123 feet. Steering and handling are unremarkable but should suffice for the average owner for everyday use.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sentra? Comfort is one of the Sentra's stronger attributes. The ride is very composed and easily smooths out road imperfections. This softness, though, can make the Sentra feel floaty at higher speeds. Road noise is ever present but never intrusive, and it's nothing the stereo can't easily cover.

　　The front seats have decent cushioning and support. The best seats in the house are shockingly found in the rear. They're plush, comfortable and accommodating for two average-size adults. The climate control system is not particularly powerful, but air flow coverage from the vents is good. Our test car did not have rear air vents, but that's typical for this class.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below