The 2026 Nissan Sentra is coming soon, and it should be available by the end of the year. For those who haven’t adopted the crossover trend, it’s a relief that Nissan isn’t abandoning the production of small cars. Although the Versa may be discontinued soon, a brand-new Sentra is on the way to rival compact sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.
Refreshed Design
Nissan’s new design language is making waves and taking its place on every model in the lineup. It will be featured prominently on the new Sentra. Some of the design cues are already in place on SUVs like the Kicks and Murano. The spy photos of the new Sentra look much sharper than the previous model. It looks like it might be slightly longer as well.
The compact sedan will feature a new face with an angular headlight aesthetic. A light bar will likely run across the hood line above the V-shaped grille. The rear of the car should feature a similarly sleek design with LED taillights across the trunk lid. The spy photos also show a subtle spoiler, which should make the Sentra look a little sportier.
Technology Upgrades
If you’ve ever seen the interior of a Sentra at your Nissan dealer, the new model should look quite familiar. It’s likely to feature some touch controls, a screen-heavy design, and some physical buttons as well. The Sentra’s current 7-inch and 8-inch screen options should get bigger, and a digital instrument cluster will likely be added. Most of Nissan’s new models have dual 12.3-inch screens.
Will the Sentra’s Powertrain Change?
The current Nissan Sentra uses a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine that makes 149 horsepower. It’s unlikely that this will change, but it might add some power and efficiency. However, it’s also possible that the Rogue’s turbocharged 1.5-liter engine will be carried over to the Sentra.
Nissan has recently talked a lot about how it lacks hybrid options. The automaker might change that by adding a hybrid version of the Sentra. Currently, Nissan doesn’t offer a hybrid powertrain in the US market at all. It does have some in Japan, and those could make their way here.
Cost and Competitors
The Nissan Sentra might get a little bigger, but it should remain in the compact sedan category. This puts it directly in competition with stalwarts like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Kia and Hyundai also offer compact sedans with the K4 and Elantra, respectively.
The new 2026 Nissan Sentra probably won’t see a major price hike. The current model starts at just under $23,000 for the base model, and even the most expensive SR Midnight Edition trim is only $26,425. The new Sentra may start around $25,000, but Nissan might also move production from Mexico to the US to avoid any tariffs.
When Will the Nissan Sentra Arrive?
If you can’t wait to see a new Nissan Sentra at your Nissan dealer, the wait probably won’t be too long. Nissan has already confirmed that the 2026 Sentra will go on sale at some point in 2025. The exact timing hasn’t been confirmed yet.
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