2023 Nissan Sentra is a tantalizing choice among small and affordable sedans. Like many cars in this class, the Sentra provides a lot of features for the money and is loaded with the latest safety technologies. Unfortunately, it’s held back by a rather weak engine, an outdated infotainment system, and a longer-than-average braking distance.
We’d like to say these issues will be addressed in the 2023 model year, but it’s likely that the Sentra will return largely unchanged. As a result, we believe you’ll be better served by a Honda Civic, Kia Forte, or Hyundai Elantra all rated higher than the Sentra.
- Comfortable ride
- Material and cabin design improvements
- Many standard safety features and advanced technology
- No significant changes are expected for 2023
- Part of the eighth generation of Sentra introduced for 2020
How does the Center work? Acceleration isn’t bad, but the Sentra loses steam when you pick up speed. We clocked a 0-60 mph time of 8.8 seconds. That’s slightly below average for the small sedan class but similar to other sluggish cars like the Kia Forte and Toyota Corolla. In routine driving, the Sentra continuously variable automatic transmission is smooth and unobtrusive. But it doesn’t provide much of an engine braking effect when you let off the gas, so you may need to use the brakes a lot more than you expect when decelerating.
The brake pedal is smooth and easy to control in daily use. However, the emergency braking performance was subpar. Our test center required 131 feet to come to a stop from 60 mph. For context, the average segment is about 123 feet. Steering and handling are mediocre but should be sufficient for the average owner for daily use.
2023 Nissan Sentra Review
The 2023 Sentra remains a competent and comfortable 5-seater compact sedan, is budget-friendly, and has a good fuel pump. The 2023 Sentra should only see minor cosmetic tweaks or adjustments to the available options, as the current model only dates back to the 2020 model year.
Since the introduction of this generation of Nissan compact sedans, more safety features and technology have been fitted as standard across every trim level.
The infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hot spots are optional, and each Sentra is equipped with a forward collision warning system that has automatic emergency braking. The 2023 Nissan Sentra also has blind spot monitoring, rear automatic emergency braking, and standard automatic spotlights.
It’s worth noting many of these safety items – notably the reverse automatic braking and blind-spot monitors – are more expensive for a car that costs thousands more than the Sentra. So in terms of safety and value, the Nissan Sentra scores highly.
The advantage of this Nissan small sedan lies in how it drives compared to its competitors. While the Sentra’s 149-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) deliver strong fuel economy, the powertrain is far from the most powerful or most fuel-efficient on the compact sedan market. The Honda Civic and Mazda3 are more fun to drive, for example, while the Toyota Corolla offers excellent gas mileage (especially in the hybrid trim).
If there’s a flaw in the 2023 Nissan Sentra, it’s this: There’s no particularly sporty model (like the SE-R) or hybrid variant that can squeeze 53 miles out of a single gallon of petrol (like the Corolla Hybrid can).
At least the cabin has a classy look and feels, considering the Sentra’s attractive price tag. And the trunk, at 14.3 cubic feet, holds plenty of gear.
2023 Nissan Sentra Interior
How’s the interior? The controls are easily accessible for both driver and passenger and easy to understand whether tuning the radio or adjusting climate control. The 8-inch touchscreen is also easy to read and use.
There is plenty of interior space for the front occupants. The rear legroom is among the most extensive in its segment. Most drivers will find it easy to adjust to a comfortable driving position thanks to a decent range of adjustments that come from the seat and steering wheel. Visibility to the front and sides was good, but the thick rear roof pillars and sloping rear window hindered visibility to the rear and rear.
How convenient is Sentra? Convenience is one of Sentra’s stronger attributes. The ride is very quiet and effortlessly smooths out road imperfections. This softness, however, can make the Sentra feel floating at higher speeds. Road noise is ever-present but never intrusive, and stereos can’t easily cover it up.
The front seats have decent cushioning and support. The best seat in the house is surprisingly found in the back. They are luxurious, comfortable, and accommodating for two average-sized adults. The climate control system is not very powerful, but the airflow coverage from the vents is good. Our test car lacked rear air vents, but that’s typical for this class.
How is it stored? The Sentra’s 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space is better than the average small sedan. The 60/40 split rear seats can be folded to help accommodate longer cargo items. But the only escape is from the back seat; no release in the trunk. Also, the seats don’t fold flat all the way, which can make loading longer objects, such as flat-screen TVs, more of a pain.
There’s ample interior storage for small items, cups, and bottles, though others including the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta do better. There’s also good child seat space, but you may find the cushions make access a bit cramped to the car seat anchors.
2023 Nissan Sentra Tech
How’s the technology? Sentra comes with many standard safety features and driver aids. Adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree parking camera system are still options, but Nissan’s standard safety suite is pretty generous overall. However, we experienced some glitches with the backup camera and one false alarm with the forward collision warning system in our test car.
The infotainment system is a little slow to respond and the graphics look dated, but you get Apple CarPlay and smartphone Android Auto integration as standard. Nissan does not offer an onboard navigation system.
2023 Nissan Sentra MPG
How is fuel saving? The Sentra achieves a combined EPA-estimated 33 mpg (29 city/39 highway), which is the average for a base-engine vehicle in this class. We observed 28.7 mpg over three tank fills in our test vehicle, with the best fill of 32 mpg. That’s a little below what we’d expect given the EPA numbers.
2023 Nissan Sentra Model
We hope the 2023 Nissan models will have a similar lineup and we will update this section once we have full information.] The Sentra is a small sedan available in three trims: S, SV, and SR. All versions are powered by a 149-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Sentra is front-wheel drive only. Feature highlights include:
S
The base model starts the Sentra line with:
- 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers
- Start push button
- Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel
- Height-adjustable driver’s seat
- 7-inch touch screen
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility
- Four-speaker audio system
Standard security features include:
- Blind spot monitor (warns you if a vehicle in the next lane is in your blind spot)
- Lane departure warning (warns you if a vehicle starts to stray from its lane)
- Mitigation of front and rear collisions with pedestrian detection (warns you of impending collisions and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
SV
The mid-level SV trim features an assortment of enhanced features:
- 16-inch rims
- Rear disc brake (for better braking performance)
- Heated side mirrors
- Keyless entry
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Improved driver information display
- 8-inch touch screen
- Additional USB ports
- Six-speaker audio system
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains the driver-set distance between Sentra and the car in front)
The All-Weather plan adds these features:
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Start the remote machine
- Heated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
You can also choose to add an SV Premium plan:
- 17-inch wheels
- Sunroofs
- Leather upholstered seats
- Power adjustable driver’s seat
SR
The top model in the line upgrades the Sentra with:
- Dual-zone climate control
- LED headlights and fog lights
- Sportier exterior trim, including rear spoiler
- Dark chrome grille
- 18-inch wheels
- Sport fabric seat trim with contrasting orange stitching
Exclusive Midnight Edition package for SR trim. It includes:
- Black 18-inch alloy wheels
- Black exterior trim and badging
SR also has an SR Premium package available. It includes:
- Surround-view parking camera system (gives you a top-down view of Sentra and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
- Improved LED headlights
- Sunroofs
- Power adjustable driver’s seat
- Simulated leather upholstery with orange stitching
- Heated front seats and steering wheel
- Eight-speaker Bose audio system
- NissanConnect connectivity service with onboard Wi-Fi hotspot
2023 Nissan Sentra Price
We expect the 2023 Nissan Sentra in standard trim to have a starting price of around $20,000, plus destination fees.
It’s slightly cheaper than its main rivals, such as the Honda Civic and Mazda3, so keep an eye out for budget-conscious sedan buyers. On the other hand, the Subaru Impreza is slightly cheaper than the Sentra and comes with the added benefit of standard all-wheel drive (AWD).
Since there’s only one powertrain option and no high-performance halo models (like the Honda Civic Type R or the Hyundai Elantra N), the price difference from the base Sentra to the top-range trim isn’t that great.
In SR trim and loaded with every available perk, the 2023 Sentra rings in at around $26,000. This includes cosmetic trimmings such as larger alloy wheels and 2-tone exterior paint.