2024 Nissan Sentra: Same Old, Same New
Competes with: Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, Volkswagen Jetta, a sense of purpose and meaning
Looks like: A compact sedan styled by Michael Bay
Powertrain: 149-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine; continuously variable automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Late summer
After its eighth generation debuted for 2020, the Nissan Sentra enters the 2024 model year with a subtle refresh. The most meaningful updates are a new continuously variable automatic transmission and stop-start functionality, which Nissan claims drive an increase in fuel efficiency, but the EPA has yet to release official fuel economy figures. A tweaked grille design streamlines front-end styling.
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Bombast on the Outside
The aggressively styled Sentra remains one of the most expressive shapes in its class with pronounced hood ribs, flowing body-side creases and swept-back roofline. Its new front design does away with the large chrome beak in the middle of the grille for a cleaner hexagonal look (more than a little similar to the nose of the rival Hyundai Elantra). The 2024 model also gets the lower air vents moved outward, as well as redesigned headlights with black interior bezel accents.
The Sentra’s aggro look is only enhanced by the SR trim’s available two-tone paint, which pairs a black roof with a white, dark-gray, blue or orange body. Whether or not buyers opt for that look, all SRs get dark chrome exterior trim and racy red “SR” badging.
Restraint on the Inside
Inside that angry exterior, you’ll find simple, functional styling that manages to be clean without looking cheap or boring. A trio of circular air vents sit in the middle of the dash, with a pair of big chrome knobs beneath them for the climate controls. The S trim has a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a 4.2-inch screen tucked between an analog tachometer and speedometer; SV and SR variants get an 8-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch screen in the instrument cluster. The SR also boasts heated front seats and red-orange contrast stitching on the seats and dash.
Ennui Under the Hood
Nissan says the Sentra’s CVT has been redesigned for 2024 for decreased fuel consumption while providing a “smoother shift pattern” (CVTs don’t shift gears once in motion, only mimicking the feel thereof). Idle stop-start is now standard for 2024, which will likely increase real-world fuel consumption more than it helps the EPA numbers (fuel economy numbers are yet to be released). As before, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 149 hp and 146 pounds-feet of torque spins the CVT, preserving the Sentra’s place as one of the least hurried cars in its class.
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Safety Standard
Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite is standard and bundles automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, lane departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights. Adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system are available.
Pricing and Availability
The 2024 Nissan Sentra will go on sale late in the summer, and pricing will be announced closer to the release date. We don’t expect it to change much from the current numbers; the 2023 model starts at $21,145 (all prices include destination charge).
The refreshed Sentra should also remain competitive against its rivals; the 2023 Honda Civic has a starting price of $24,845, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra starts at $22,065, the 2023 Mazda3 at $23,715 and the 2023 Volkswagen Jetta at $21,760.
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