2023 Nissan Sentra Review: Chairman Of The Bored
A review of the Nissan Sentra might not make for exciting reading, but this type of high-value sedan serves as many a first car and does not aim to provide an exhilarating drive, but focuses on dependability and excellent fuel consumption instead. And so it proves with the 2023 model, which is barely a blip on the radar, offering family-friendly transport and a surprising number of standard safety and driver-assistance features considering its low price. It's an ideal A-to-B car, but you'd better have no inclination toward impatience in traffic because, with only 149 horsepower from its 2.0-liter engine, it won't get to point B in a hurry. Rivals such as the Honda Civic and Mazda 3 are much faster and better to drive, but the Nissan counters by undercutting them on price, and the 2023 model is hardly any more expensive than last year's. Is the price advantage big enough to recommend the Sentra over rivals?
What's the Price of the 2023 Nissan Sentra?
The price of the new Nissan Sentra sedan starts at $20,050. This is for the base S trim, which is barely any more than the outgoing model and a welcome surprise in an era of steep price increases. The SV will cost you $21,270. The SR goes for $22,940, and the SR Midnight Edition for $23,635. These are the Nissan Sentra's MSRPs and exclude extras and the $1,095 destination fee.
2023 Sentra Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 182.7 in | 106.8 in | 56.9 in | 71.5 in | 62.6 in | 62.8 in | 3,036.0 lbs |
2023 Sentra Performance
2023 Nissan Sentra Handling and Driving Impressions
The city is the happy hunting ground of the Sentra and at low speeds, it is quiet, comfortable, and nippy enough to make short work of traffic. Even on the larger wheels, the ride is firm but controlled and always absorbent enough to smooth out rough surfaces, so it fulfills its brief as a good city car. The cracks start to show when you press on and demand some performance to get up a hill, merge, or pass on the highway. The instruction from your right foot takes a while to reach the engine, and all it does is rev noisily as the CVT tries to simulate gear changes and mask the lack of power. At these speeds, there is also noticeable road noise, especially on the larger wheels. It's not much fun either, although the steering is precise and it goes where you point it, there's little feel to the tiller, and the car can feel floaty on its soft suspension.
2023 Sentra Interior
2023 Sentra Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Rollover Rating |
|---|
| 5/5 |
Verdict: Is The 2023 Nissan Sentra A Good car?
If you need economical, peace-of-mind motoring, you can do far worse than the Nissan Sentra. It's lighter on fuel than the Mazda 3 2.5, cheaper and, although it loses out on a few convenience features, it beats the Mazda on standard-fit driver assists, so it's the ideal car for an inexperienced driver. However both the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter Mazda and the turbocharged 1.5-liter Civic are a lot more powerful, and they're far nicer to drive as well, with properly engaging handling. We'd rather spend more on one of these more accomplished rivals, but if you're mostly going to use it in town, if no-cost driver assists are important to you, and the budget stretches no further, there is little to touch the Sentra in this class - and at this price.
What 2023 Nissan Sentra Model Should I Buy?
With the entry-level Mazda 3 sedan with a 2.5-liter engine starting at only $22,550, there's no point going higher than the mid-range Sentra SV at $21,270. For the $1,220 premium over the S, you get adaptive cruise control, better brakes, alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a larger eight-inch touchscreen, and an upgraded audio system, making it the best value in the lineup. It's still difficult to recommend when a base Mazda 3 sedan that is better to drive costs a little over $1k more, offering far better performance with its 191-hp engine and comes with rain-sensing wipers, a larger touchscreen, and a better audio system, but the Sentra's standard driver assists may just win the day.