2022 Nissan Sentra Reviews, Pricing & Specs

As mentioned, the Sentra was redesigned for 2020, and it carries over into 2022 largely unchanged. The exterior looks like a downsized Altima, and that’s exactly the point. It’s low-slung, coupe-like, and modern. It’s also a huge improvement over the 2019-and-earlier Sentra, which felt more like a cartoonish three-box sedan. The current model is a well-honed execution of Nissan’s current design language. Though our test model came in a sedate gray paint scheme, the Sentra is offered in bold blue, burnt orange, and “Scarlet Ember” hues. Gray is also one of four colors offered with a contrasting black roof.

The interior is where the Sentra really shines. The modern-yet-simple layout is an ideal combination of form and function. The controls are easy to use and the trio of vents in the center of the dash gives the Sentra an upscale look. The front cabin design is capped off by a touchscreen that rises from the dash and is intended to be the visual centerpiece.

Trims for the Sentra are S, SV, and SR. Standard features on the base S trim include 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, active grille shutters, halogen headlights, dual power side mirrors, power windows, power locks, remote keyless entry, pushbutton start, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, cloth upholstery, 60/40 split-fold rear seats, and a 4.2-inch advanced driver’s display. This trim also comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Moving up to the Sentra SV trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, proximity keyless entry, premium cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a larger 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SV trim also has two conventional USB ports, a USB-C port, intelligent cruise control, and a three-month subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio.

The SR swaps out the 16-inch wheels for 17-inch alloy wheels. It also adds LED headlights with a unique LED design for the daytime running lights. Moving up to the SR also adds remote start, turn signals integrated into the turn signals, exterior side sills, unique front-and-rear bumper designs, a chrome exhaust tip, and black end-caps for the side mirrors. Inside, the SR trim adds dual-zone automatic climate control, sport cloth seats with orange accent stitching, and a leather-wrapped shift knob.

For 2022, Nissan is also offering a Midnight Edition package for the Sentra SR, which we drove. It featured dark accents inside and out, including black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black rear spoiler, a black rear diffuser, and a dark grille emblem. It also features unique badging and LED fog lights.

Our test model also came with optional ambient cabin lighting and external under-car lighting. This was once an obnoxious trend in the days of the first Fast and Furious movie, but the Sentra executes this in a far more tasteful manner.

Every 2022 Sentra model uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD) are standard as well. This engine isn’t anything outstanding, but the transmission manages power well. Press into the throttle, and the needle jumps as the CVT lets the revs fly.

Grasp the shifter and move your thumb to the back of the shift knob, and you’ll find a Sport button. It’s a bit hidden, but it doesn’t really matter. Pressing the Sport button does not really do much in terms of improving performance. But that’s just fine, as the base setup provides solid low-end acceleration and is also good on the highway. It’s not a standout in either setting, but it is satisfactory in both. That might seem like quite the measured complement, however, compact cars tend to perform well in one setting at the expense of the other. The Sentra’s high-and-low-speed performance isn’t stellar, but it’s consistent.

The Sentra’s steering is well-weighted and cornering is pretty sharp for a car that is not promoted for its performance pedigree. The suspension does a decent job of soaking up most bumps in the road, though it will struggle with harsher conditions or the occasional deep pothole. In all, the Sentra is great for commuting, driving around town, and the occasional road trip.

The Sentra provides 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, which is better than many other small sedans. One of the few exceptions is the Kia Forte, which offers up to 15.3 cubic feet of cargo space. In the Sentra, trunk space can be expanded thanks to a standard 60/40 split-fold rear bench. But unlike some rivals, which have flush load floors, the Sentra’s rear bench creates a ledge which might make it more difficult to slide some larger items through. Though the Sentra lacks a power-opening rear trunk, it does have the ability to remotely open via the key fob or a button on the left side of the dash. The trunk is seemingly spring-loaded, so then when you do hit the release button, it pops up as if it were a power-opening trunk.

The Sentra has two rows of spacious seating. The front seats have plenty of headroom and legroom and are quite comfortable. The rear seats also provide solid legroom and decent headroom (though not as much as the front row). The Sentra’s front row has large in-door cargo trays and in-door bottle holders. The center console also has plenty of cupholders and trays for all of your gear.

The Sentra comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims come with a larger 8-inch touchscreen, which also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

No matter which size screen you select, the menu navigation is easy to follow and you have the benefit of conventional hard buttons along the bottom of the screen, as well as volume and tuning dials.

The only knocks against this system are that the graphics could use a bit of updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are becoming more common even in non-luxury vehicles. Consider that the Honda Civic offers wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, as well as wireless device charging, albeit only on certain higher trim levels.

The Sentra comes equipped with a solid list of standard driver-assistance features. These include forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Our test model came with additional driver assistance features, such as a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The adaptive cruise control responds well to increases in the speed setting. The CVT makes for smoother acceleration than a conventional automatic transmission.

There are three distance settings for the optional adaptive cruise control and even the closest one puts a lot of distance between you and the car in front of you. More concerning, when the Sentra does reach that virtual boundary with the car in front of it, braking is so abrupt that it might have you thinking something is wrong.

The Sentra earns a best overall score of five out of five stars in testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Sentra its highest rating of "Good" across all of its crash testing. The IIHS also gave the Sentra its highest rating of "Superior" for the effectiveness of its driver-assistance features, but lower headlight ratings. Still, that was enough for a "Top Safety Pick" award.

The Sentra returns EPA-rated fuel economy of 29 mpg city, 39 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined. The Sentra SR returns 28 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 32 mpg combined. In our week of combined city and highway driving, our SR test vehicle returns an average of 33.4 mpg. Though cars like the Honda Civic return better fuel economy, the Sentra’s nearly 40 mpg highway in non-SR trims is commendable.

Base MSRP for the 2022 Nissan Sentra is $19,510. The SV trim starts at $20,570, and the range-topping SR trim starts at $22,100. Our SR test model came equipped with a number of individual options, as well as the SR Premium Package. At $2,470, this package added unique LED headlights, a power sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, a six-way power-adjustable front seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an 8-speaker Bose premium stereo, among other creature comforts. With all options and packages factored in (including the $975 destination fee), our test model clocked in at $27,270.

The Sentra is backed by a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

That pricing puts it in a more affordable position than class leaders such as the Honda Civic and Mazda3, and more closely follows the Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra. But the Kia and Hyundai are better vehicles than the Sentra. The current Sentra is a quantum leap over the vehicle it replaced, but it almost feels like too little too late. This is a car that should have arrived in the marketplace several years ago.

Is the Sentra a competent, attractive, and comfortable compact car? Yes, it certainly is. It just happens to exist in a segment with many excellent rivals. The Sentra finally gives Nissan an entry-level sedan that it can be proud of, though. If you are interested in a Nissan and are on a budget, the Sentra's technology, safety features, and ride comfort make it a solid choice.