--- title: "2026 Nissan Sentra Puts a Weird Face on a Familiar Small Sedan" description: "The thing about the current [Nissan]() Sentra is that while it was never very lively to drive, or beautiful, or especially unique, it was a decent deal for an affordable sedan with modern tech and a respectable interior. The new…" date: "2025-09-23" modified: "2025-09-23" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-nissan-sentra-puts-a-weird-face-on-a-familiar-small-sedan" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Nissan News" tags: - "compact" - "Nissan" - "sedan" - "Sentra" --- # 2026 Nissan Sentra Puts a Weird Face on a Familiar Small Sedan ![2026 Nissan Sentra]() *\Nissan\* The thing about the current [Nissan]() Sentra is that while it was never very lively to drive, or beautiful, or especially unique, it was a decent deal for an affordable sedan with modern tech and a respectable interior. The new ninth-gen Sentra doubles down on that proposition. Oh, sure—there's still an SR trim, but don't let that fool you. The Sentra remains a choice for those who want a *nice* cheap new car, not by any means a fast one. It starts with the new Sentra's exterior, which looks like a comprehensive rearranging of elements on the existing compact's silhouette. The fascia is now more in line with those of Nissan's current offerings, like the [Murano]() and Ariya (actually, [forget the Ariya]()), with its blacked-out faux grille and sharp jawline. The vertical black slashes that descend from the LED shelf that the projectors sit on are a bit much, but what modern car isn't? ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Really, the changes that matter are on the inside, where the Sentra's cabin again looks honestly not bad. The SL trim above is available with a blue faux-leather dash with blue elements on the seats and other areas of the interior, and it's the colorway I'd have. On the flip side, the loss of hard, physical buttons for HVAC settings is bound to be frustrating; instead, drivers will now have to hunt and peck around a glossy panel. The 12.3-inch touchscreen will be standard across all trims, though the instrument cluster will vary. On the base S grade, it's a 7-inch panel, and on all others, it's 12.3 inches wide to match the center display. Nissan appears to be especially proud of the Sentra's cargo situation, saying it has "one of the lowest trunk liftover heights in its class," and that the aperture for the tailgate has been optimized for ease of access. Additionally, all trims come with intelligent cruise control standard, which is nice to have. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() So far we haven't been talking about the Sentra's performance because it hasn't really changed. There is still a single powertrain, carried over from the last-gen sedan: a naturally aspirated, two-liter four-cylinder good for 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque, connected to a CVT that's been "retuned" for smoother acceleration, per Nissan. All trims get independent strut front suspension with multi-link rear. That's better than the [Kicks](), which uses a torsion-beam rear axle on some models. The SR grade seen below aims to be perceived as sporty, with its all-black fascia treatment, but it's important to note that aside from the cosmetic differences, it's the same car as the others. We asked Takahiro Aiba, Nismo's Chief Product Specialist, if there was any chance the Nismo version could return (there hasn't been a Sentra Nismo since 2019), and all he could tell us was that the division cannot discuss future product plans. We get it—the guy's got to [concentrate on a new GT-R](). ![]() ![]() ![]() Nissan isn't yet talking about pricing for the new Sentra, and that will naturally determine if it's a smart buy. For 2025, the sedan started at $22,835 delivered. Consider the rising cost of everything, plus the tariff situation (Nissan has discussed moving Sentra production to the U.S. but hasn't confirmed it yet), and it's almost assured that the sum will increase. The question, as ever, is by how much. *Got a tip? Drop us a line at tips@thedrive.com*[]()[]() ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()