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The new 2021 Nissan Sentra provides the reliable practicality it’s known for, but also adds style and luxurious interior features.
What’s New for the 2021 Nissan Sentra?
The Nissan Sentra has long been the choice of younger buyers that just need a cool, functional, compact sedan, but for 2021, this car is more mature. It’s far more refined than ever before and thanks to a big update in 2020, it looks the part too. We think that the target demographic of the Sentra has never been as large as it is right now.
Nissan released an all-new Sentra in 2020, but for 2021 it gets serious improvements in the form of technology. Not only is a WiFi hotspot finally available on the top trim level, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are now standard across the entire lineup.
2021 Nissan Sentra – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2021 Nissan Sentra on Carsforsale.com
The Breakdown
Upmarket styling
Outstanding interior quality
Great value for money
Lackluster engine
No other drivetrain options
Poor braking performance
Can we have the SE-R Spec-V back, please?
2021 Sentra Specs
- 149 horsepower from base engine
- 146 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 14.3 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Standard Android and Apple connectivity
- IIHS Top Safety Pick
- Warranty coverage is industry standard
2021 Nissan Sentra Powertrain
There’s no getting around the elephant in the room that is the all too pedestrian drivetrain in the 2021 Nissan Sentra. With just 149 horsepower and a CVT, this small sedan has the athleticism of your uncle Jerry who talks about his college successes but hasn’t actually run in more than 20 years. Tipping the scales at more than 3,000 pounds, this isn’t a light-enough vehicle for the drivetrain to get it moving with any sort of gusto or urgency.
The continuously variable transmission is actually pretty good though and we really appreciate how it adds to the comfort level by remaining out of the spotlight so to speak. The best CVT is always the one that you don’t notice and this is precisely that.
Steering is fairly numb but provides more feedback the closer you push it to the edge of its performance envelope. Braking though is disappointing, to say the least. While we haven’t checked out the base Sentra with DRUM brakes on the rear wheels, the full disc-brake-equipped vehicle is slow to stop and only proves worse after repeated attempts. We expect the drums wouldn’t help.
2021 Nissan Sentra Fuel Economy & MPG
While many more passionate drivers would love to see more powerful options available from the Sentra, it’s easy to keep track of its efficiency. Regardless of trim level or options, the 2021 Nissan Sentra will get 33 mpg combined according to the EPA. That’s not as good as some competitors like the Corolla Hybrid, but it’s better than others like the Mazda3.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The inside of the 2021 Nissan Sentra is one area where it’s an outright winner. The cloth interior is nicely appointed and comfortable, but the leather and simulated leather upholstery are on a level that no competitor seems to match in this segment. We especially love the quilted diamond pattern that really makes this car feel about $10,000 more expensive than it actually is.
They’re more than just good to look at too since they add to an already very composed and comfortable ride. Nissan touts them as “Zero-Gravity” seats and they don’t feel far from their namesake. If there’s anything that we don’t love about the ride, it’s that road noise does make its way into the cabin quite easily.
The layout inside the Sentra is pretty basic overall with similar styling to the aforementioned Corolla and not as futuristic as something like the Hyundai Elantra. Still, it’s laid out in a way that will make anyone comfortable with the system quickly. There’s ample storage inside too. Where other cars in the segment have to choose between rear passenger comfort or storage, the Sentra manages to hit both notes well. Most adults will have ample room to stretch out in the back and there’s still enough trunk space to support a weekend’s worth of cargo for four.
Entertainment & Technology
While the base Sentra S comes with a very nice 7-inch infotainment system, we imagine almost all 2021 Nissan Sentra models sold will be equipped with the larger 8-inch option. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is standard across the board and makes a decent infotainment system just that much more intuitive. That also addresses our only real complaint about technology which is that four speakers aren’t enough in this cabin.
Thankfully, both the SV and the SR get more. The premium Bose audio system in the SR is actually quite good with rich tones and clear notes even when the volume is cranked way up. We also really like the available 360-degree parking assist camera system. Available assistive safety features like adaptive cruise control are competitive within the segment.
Safety Features
Every 2021 Nissan Sentra gets some excellent standard safety features like forward collision mitigation and lane departure warning. In addition to that, the Sentra is a Top Safety Pick according to the IIHS and scored a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA when the generation arrived in 2020.
2021 Nissan Sentra Trims & Pricing
S – $20,410
Starting at the base S model, every 2021 Nissan Sentra will come with the same 149-horsepower 4-cylinder engine that’s mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) powering the front wheels alone. They’ll also get blind-spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation, and lane-departure warning. The Sentra S comes with features like 16-inch wheels, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that’s connected to four speakers and integrated fully with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
SV – $21,470
The Sentra SV gets a larger 8-inch infotainment system, six speakers, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an updated driver information display between two analog gauges. Buyers will also get 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, disc brakes in the rear, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. An optional Premium package adds 17-inch wheels, leather upholstery, a sunroof, and powered adjustments to the driver’s seat.
SR – $22,750
Those who select the SR model will get 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, as well as a rear spoiler. They also have a Premium package available that adds the same features from the SV package, but with the notable additions of a surround-view parking camera system, an eight-speaker Bose sound system, a heated steering wheel, and a simulated leather upholstery instead of actual leather.
Warranties
Nissan provides limited warranty coverage of three years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage of five years or 60,000 miles for the Sentra. Both figures are identical to the majority of competitors in the space and fall short of brands like Hyundai and Kia that offer more years and complimentary maintenance.
What we think
2021 Nissan Sentra – usa.nissannews.com | Shop 2021 Nissan Sentra on Carsforsale.com
For the cash, we think it’ll be hard to find a vehicle that feels as nice inside and looks as good outside as the 2021 Nissan Sentra. Nissan has focused on comfort and quality and it’s going to give them another winner for 2021.
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