The 2026 Nissan Sentra is a very well-executed sedan that managed to get a new generation in a world where sedans continue to become more and more rare, and that alone is worthy of applause. We recently attended a first drive of the new Sentra, and that article goes over everything you need to know about the car. But for those that just want a brief rundown of the biggest changes, continue reading.
Before we begin, though, there are two major things that haven’t changed: the size and the powertrain. Nissan was happy with both, and apparently customers were as well, since Nissan decided to keep costs down in these areas by not changing them, and retain a lower price point as a result. Sizing is perfectly fine for the segment, but the powertrain may be a bit lacking for some since its 149 hp figure is one of the lowest among its competitors. And although a CVT transmission is found in most mainstream compact sedans due to their superior efficiency, there are still some that complain about this choice.
There’s certainly more than ten differences between the old and new Sentra, but the ones listed were deemed the more noteworthy due to their significance in helping the 2026 Sentra to feel different than the old car and help it to stand out among its competition better.
Despite retaining the same dimensions as the last generation, the 2026 Sentra certainly looks longer and wider, and this is entirely thanks to the new bodywork with its visual tricks. By making the grille wider and pulling the headlights out to the very last millimeter of the corners, they maximized the car’s width visually, and the LED daytime running lights accentuate that. The new LED headlights also do over 70% greater light dispersion than before. The front bumper curving outward towards the bottom further adds visual length.
Out back, it’s the same technique, with LED strips that emphasize the width, a lower rear valance that protrudes out (especially on the sportier SR with its unique bumpers) and a trunk lid that rises up higher at its edge.
Nissan has revived the SL trim for 2026 after not including it in the last generation of the Sentra. It elevates the already-plush Sentra interior to an even higher level that honestly embarrasses some of the luxury brands’ entry-level products. You get quilted and soft leatherette seats with Nissan’s patented Zero Gravity design for fantastic all-day comfort, the nicely contrasting blue dashboard and upper door panels, and nice features like a heated steering wheel, Bose stereo and the “Intelligent AroundView Monitor” for a 360-degree view; things many competitors don’t even offer.
Nissan has brought its A-game to the next generation Sentra – but there’s more to it than just an incredible price.
The Sentra got a big screen upgrade for 2026 that lifts it to the top of its class, with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen on all models replacing the old 8-inch unit. Only the Kia K4 can match that screen size currently in this segment. The gauges are housed in another 12.3-inch screen for all but the lowest S trim, where you get a 7-inch display instead. This, again, is a big upgrade (if you like screens) over the old analog cluster with its smaller center screen. That also puts it ahead of all the competitors in this area as well, other than that K4 again, which also matches this screen size, but only on its mid-grade EX and higher trims.
One “futuristic” change for 2026 is that the physical HVAC knobs and buttons were thrown out in favor of a capacitive touch panel, which Nissan proudly points out is the first in the segment to have this. For many buyers, this may not be an improvement though, with the new panel requiring you to look down at it to ensure you’re touching the right spot to do what you want. This alone may drive some people to look at getting the previous generation instead or go for one of those competitors.
This new compact sedan offers features, affordability, and fuel efficiency that make it a winner.
The last bit of tech the 2026 Sentra improves over the old one is the driver-assistance tech. Nissan’s hands-on ProPilot Assist system is available for the first time on Sentra, combining the standard adaptive cruise control system with lane keep assist to lend a helping hand on the highway. Also available for the first time is that “Intelligent AroundView Monitor” mentioned earlier for a 360-degree view, and most of the other competitors don’t offer it either.
In an attempt to make the Sentra’s sedan shape as practical as possible, Nissan made the trunk opening wider by 55mm and lower so it can swallow larger items and more cargo easier than before. Things like a large Yeti cooler now fit, and even 55-inch TVs can be transported with the seats folded down. The rear seat pass-through has also been enlarged for better practicality.
When Nissan needs it most, the all-new Kicks delivers.
Nissan made improvements to the chassis for 2026 that resulted in a 6% increase in rigidity. While this is admittedly a small number, it nevertheless helps with handling, ride quality and safety. The more rigid a chassis is, the more a company is able to soften up the suspension. And from behind the wheel, the ride does feel smoother and less busy than before.
To go along with the smoother ride, extra features and higher-quality materials, those chassis improvements also reduced gaps and “noise paths” according to Nissan, which means that the interior will be slightly quieter than before, further adding to the more luxurious feel of the 2026 model.
The Sentra is one of the cheapest new cars on the market, but what if you want more power or luxury? These V6 sedans from years past are worth a look.
The 2026 Sentra gets a redesigned eight-speaker Bose stereo on the upper trims. Previously, there were two separate speakers in the rear shelf. Those have now been consolidated into one 10-inch subwoofer back there, and a new speaker was added to the center of the dashboard up front, which provides a better sound stage and listening experience than the last generation.
The 2026 Sentra does start $810 more expensive than the 2025s at $23,645, but the good news is that they kept a lid on the price, with even fully-loaded models still staying under the $30,000 mark. And as a result, the Sentra ends up coming in as one of the lowest-priced options if you want a top trim.
Even on the low end, that base price is only undercut by the Kia K4 by a few hundred dollars, with all the other compact sedan competitors being hundreds or thousands of dollars more. And that K4 price is for a 2025 model year. Once 2026 pricing debuts for that one, it may end up being more expensive than the Sentra as well. No matter how you look at it, the 2026 Sentra is still fantastic value.
Nissan’s newest model is cheaper than all of its 2026 competitors so far.
Sources: Nissan, Kia.
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Your comment has not been saved
This thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
