Nissan giveth and Nissan taketh away.
After handing me one of its priciest offerings — a $100k QX80 Sport from its luxury brand, Infiniti — I was lent the company’s least expensive U.S. model for 2026: the Nissan Sentra.
The price? A breezy $29,685, after shipping, for this higher-end version. A base Sentra starts at $23,845, after shipping.
This one is the Sentra SL, though, and it stands out because of its surprisingly posh interior.
No, this does not have an infrared sensor checking the temperature of my rear-seat guests like the QX80 did. (It doesn’t even have rear seat air conditioning and heating vents.)
However, this SL trim does feature snazzy, quilted gray synthetic leather seats, set off further by ambient lighting strips. You even get a heated steering wheel — hardly a common occurrence in the compact economy segment. And the back seat offered plenty of space for the kids.
Nissan also touts a “clean, modern dashboard.” The screens and camera views were indeed excellent. And while climate functions were thankfully kept off the touch screen, this did feature a “touch-sensitive climate control panel” that was a little harder to use than the physical buttons that I crave.
The trunk is useful, with “one of the lowest trunk liftover heights in the class and an optimized opening shape,” according to Nissan, though there is a tire repair kit in there instead of a true spare.
One nifty feature is Nissan’s Easy-Fill Tire Alert. While filling up a tire with air, the horn will honk to tell you when the ideal pressure has been met. Flashers will go off to tell you to release some air.
This one is not fast. Power comes from a four-cylinder engine that is just fine for getting around town, though, and handling is nimble.
Dark alloy wheels help add some visual interest against the Imperial Bronze paint.
Overall, this Sentra SL adds some much-needed style to a category usually associated with rental-car frumpiness.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
