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Nissan Sentra

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$11,499
Starting price
Shop the 1997 Nissan Sentra
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr Sdn Manual
    Starts at
    $11,499
    MPG
    29 City / 39 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn XE Manual
    Starts at
    $13,649
    MPG
    29 City / 39 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn XE Auto
    Starts at
    $14,449
    MPG
    27 City / 36 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GXE Manual
    Starts at
    $14,799
    MPG
    29 City / 39 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GXE Auto
    Starts at
    $15,599
    MPG
    27 City / 36 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLE Manual
    Starts at
    $15,649
    MPG
    29 City / 39 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn GLE Auto
    Starts at
    $16,199
    MPG
    27 City / 36 Hwy
    Seat capacity
    5
    Engine
    Gas I4
    Drivetrain
    Front Wheel Drive
    Shop this trim See all specs

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

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Safety review

Based on the 1997 Nissan Sentra base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
Frontal passenger

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
6 years / less than 80,000 miles
Basic
N / A
Dealer certification
167-point inspection
See all CPO program details

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Consumer reviews

100% of drivers recommend this car
Based on 13 reviews
Write a review
Comfort
3.9
Interior
3.7
Performance
4.2
Value
4.8
Exterior
4.1
Reliability
4.8

Most recent

  • By MommaTibbs from Charleston, SC
    Used to own this car
    June 2, 2021

    After a new computer at 7k mile.. won my heart

    What can you say bad about a standard tranny? I wish it had mode changes and cruise control back then! Our children outgrew it. So happy to be back in 2 again.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By C.cannon from Evanston
    Owns this car
    March 4, 2019

    The cars fantasca only for 20 years

    This car has outlasted my other 3 cars it functions beautifully its great on gas u can get great mileage on this car for sure this car will run a long time trust me. Just change the oil & get a tune up when necessary this car will run forever . Its a very safe car. I've been hit 4 to 5 times and the car maybe looks ugly but it's a sound body car......it has steel casing in front of it so when the person hit me it didn't damage any of the components inside the car that's the best thing ever It doesn't have a bumper anymore but she's OK so it's a great car to have. I would recommend buying this car if you had to buy any use card this is the one to buy
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    4.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    4.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By "Happy Buyer" from Staten Island NY
    Owns this car
    August 2, 2018

    Very Reliable

    This Car Is Very Reliable And Very Dependable,Even With The Age Of This Vehicle It Serves The Purpose That I Need Which I Love And I Would Buy Another Nissan When This Vehicle No Longer Runs.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Chrislindy from Wildwood Crest, NJ
    Owns this car
    May 21, 2018

    21 year old reliable transportation

    Paid $400 for this car in 2015. 192000 miles. Needed some work (axles, brakes, exhaust). Now three years later 271000 miles. Changed distributor and timing chain tensioner. That?s it. A/C still works. Car is rusty but still going strong. Hope to pass 300k before rust takes it.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    3.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    3.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By nick puleo from gowanda,ny
    Used to own this car
    August 17, 2017

    car was awesome always started right up

    car ran great was awesome on gas got over 38 mpg was a little a slow on take off but would cruise once going would love another one
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    4.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By AnnySylvie from Fairborn
    Owns this car
    May 16, 2017

    I've owned them all and THIS IS THE BEST DEAL

    I have owned Fords, Mercury, Pontiac, Volvo,Dodge, Saturn, Toyotas, and Chevy. But of all of them my 97 Nissan Sentra GXE auto has been the most pleasant and easiest to maintain. A woman bought it new and sold it to me for only $200 in 2015. It had over 120,000 miles and had sat in her garage for 4 years. It had broken down on her, and as she was having health problems, she could not drive much anyway. Having no idea what I was getting into as I could not test drive it, and being a busy mom without a car,I hoped for the best. All it needed was a fuel pump, change of fluids, new brake pads, and a tune up and the car runs like a dream. My boyfriend fixed all these things so I only paid for the parts. Ive only put $600 (including tags, title,taxes, and purchase), into this car and I cant believe how great it runs! I usually pay thousands for a used lemon that spends more time in the garage being fixed than on the road. This Nissan is the Best vehicle Ive ever owned.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    5.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    4.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By PeytanWALT from Des Moines, IA
    Owns this car
    March 12, 2017

    20 years later..

    I bought this car right before I moved out of my parents house, its a 5 speed manual base model. I love this car, its 20 years later and it still runs and shifts like butter. The previous owners didn't maintain it so it is extremely rusty at this point but she still runs great. I would highly recommend this car to anyone looking for a small compact little car that keeps on going.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    4.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    4.0
    Value
    4.0
    Exterior
    4.0
    Reliability
    4.0
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  • By Misato from Memphis, TN
    Owns this car
    January 23, 2011

    Not your average econobox!

    I bought a Sentra used in 2001 for two reasons: it was a practical little car and it was inexpensive. It excelled in both those respects and more. This car got me back and forth to college (which was over a thousand miles away, mind you) and then just kept on going. It handled great in the snow and ice of New York as well as on the pothole-stricken roads of Memphis, TN. And yes, it also routinely squealed - mightily - about being flung into a corner faster than its little thirteen-inch tires were prepared to take (yes, Virginia, you can drive stupid fast in a slow car). But once you discovered its limits, including the suspension travel and its tendency to eat CV boots, it was fun to drive in a way. This was the last Sentra built in the United States. The attention to detail shows - these cars were built to last if you take care of them. Fit and finish was excellent, although the seat foam Nissan used on the basic trim levels is seriously lacking compared to newer models (a set of sport seats from a '98 SE fixed that right up). The carpet even held up well, considering the mats wore out about three years ago. A weak point was the anaemic standard stereo, but at least a CD player was available. The engine was a hamster-in-a-alloy-block with barely 100 hp, but even with the four-speed auto, it still had a little bit of spunk and could get up to city speeds rather quick. (Dodging tractor trailers on the interstate at 80 MPH, however, was an adventure I will not relate fondly in my old age.) Everyone has had a car in their life that just refused to die. You wanted something new, but you couldn't really bear to get rid of it because it doesn't require a lot of maintenance, it doesn't ask anything of you, and it was paid for. This Sentra, for me, was that car. Plus, you gotta love rockin' an iPhone through a tape deck.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    4.0
    Performance
    3.0
    Value
    4.0
    Exterior
    4.0
    Reliability
    4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Sandman from new york, new york
    Owns this car
    July 6, 2009

    good economy/performance compromise

    Bought new and now has 90,000 original miles. Been very reliable and very good economy. I have the GLE top of the line model. Nicer interior materials, a tachometer, small armrest, and alloy wheels, are the major differences to this model. 4 times, this car would not start. 12 times, the remote alarm/door unlock had failed and required dealer repair. New exhaust, starter, alternator, egr valve, vapor cannister...repairs happened during the last 4 years.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    4.0
    Value
    4.0
    Exterior
    3.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Rob from Atlanta, GA
    Owns this car
    May 23, 2009

    Oldie but goodie

    Isn't it rather weird? Why am I even reviewing a car that is more than a decade old? I am not sure, but let me do this for information's sake. I have the GXE model, which I believe is the second-highest of the four trim levels. It is silver, got the 14" steel wheels, automatic transmission. It has given very little trouble so far at almost 130K on the odometer. It started developing creaks in the interior at around 100K, and the car had alternator and starter motor changed recently. Aside from that, it required no major repairs. The car runs smooth, or rather, it did; it has developed a metallic rattling noise and now requires tune-up. It is also quite low-frill; the dashboard and the center console are hard plastic and in two tones (black and tan), which is far from tasteful but it works, and it makes up with its durability. Front seats are comfortable and excellent for driving, while the back seat leaves much to be desired--there is little support, and very little road noise from the rear wheels are dampened. Overall, though, the car is surprisingly sound at this age. Handling is quite good, with excellent feel on the road, and steering wheel is very good as well. The brakes are, however, simply abysmal, especially with no ABS; be careful when driving faster and/or on a wet road, or you will be sorry. The gas mileage varies but is normally good, at around 26 on a bad day and 35 on a good one (and averaging around 30 normally). It's a cheap, used car, but it is still a great one, especially if they are properly maintained. Just be mindful that you may do some extensive maintenance work if you do buy one (it is old, after all).
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    4.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By badjrmo from Mesa
    Owns this car
    March 8, 2009

    1997 Nissan Sentra's

    I owned one, I got 34mpg city, 44 hwy miles per gallon. I used a K&N air filter and a good set of tires. Great Car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    5.0
    Interior
    5.0
    Performance
    4.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    5.0
    Reliability
    5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • By Jen from Grand Rapids, MI
    Owns this car
    December 31, 2008

    Has treated me well

    I have a '97 Sentra with manual transmission that I bought new. I'm sad to say that an accident at 150,000 has put an end to our relationship because this has been an excellent car. Sure, it is no race car, but the nearly 40 mpg makes up for that. Other that routine oil changes, brakes, tires and exhaust, we've put nearly no money into this car. We've never even had to replace the clutch. Early on there was a problem with the power locks, fixed under warranty. At some point the display on the clock stopped working and the fuel door wouldn't close. But if you are looking for a dependable, inexpensive car, you can't go wrong with a '97 Sentra.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort
    3.0
    Interior
    3.0
    Performance
    3.0
    Value
    5.0
    Exterior
    3.0
    Reliability
    5.0
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1997 Nissan Sentra?

The 1997 Nissan Sentra is available in 4 trim levels:

  • (1 style)
  • GLE (2 styles)
  • GXE (2 styles)
  • XE (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 1997 Nissan Sentra?

The 1997 Nissan Sentra offers up to 29 MPG in city driving and 39 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

What are some similar vehicles and competitors of the 1997 Nissan Sentra?

The 1997 Nissan Sentra compares to and/or competes against the following vehicles:

Is the 1997 Nissan Sentra reliable?

The 1997 Nissan Sentra has an average reliability rating of 4.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1997 Nissan Sentra owners.

Is the 1997 Nissan Sentra a good Sedan?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1997 Nissan Sentra. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.7 / 5
Based on 13 reviews
  • Comfort: 3.9
  • Interior: 3.7
  • Performance: 4.2
  • Value: 4.8
  • Exterior: 4.1
  • Reliability: 4.8

Nissan Sentra history

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