The 2022 Sentra delivers on the most important aspects for a small sedan. It's stylish, comfortable and well stocked with features. Its performance is unremarkable, but otherwise the Sentra is a pretty solid choice, especially if safety and value are top priorities for you.
Part of the eighth Sentra generation introduced for 2020
What is the Sentra?
The 2022 Nissan Sentra is a small, economical sedan that underwent a full redesign in 2020. Power is supplied by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and routed to the front wheels through a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Within the Nissan lineup, the Sentra is a step up from the smaller Versa and slots in just below the larger Altima.
We don't expect any notable changes for the 2022 model year since the Sentra is pretty fresh off its redesign. If anything, we're likely to see a minor shuffling of features from the options column to the standard features list. We should have more concrete information as we get near the end of 2021, so keep checking back for the latest updates.
Edmunds says
We like the Sentra for its smooth ride, better-than-average interior materials, and plentiful safety and tech features for the money. But it's hamstrung by slow acceleration, an out-of-date infotainment system, and rather long braking distances in a class dominated by the Honda Civic and newer competitors including the Kia Forte and Hyundai Elantra.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Nissan Sentra S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Georgia.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Nissan Sentra from 2008-2022.
$401/yr
vs. $416/yr for Average Compact Car
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).
0.94x/yr
vs. 1.01x/yr for Average Compact Car
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).
11.2%
vs. 10.4% for Average Compact Car
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Spent alot of time researching cars before I decided the Sentra was the one. Nearly every review mentioned it was "underpowered". Since I drive to work and back and don't drive laps at Daytona I have had no issues with power. Merging, passing and regular driving is not a struggle and RPMs stay low during driving which keeps noise down. Car is super comfortable and quiet, the nasa seats … are awesome and all of the amenities like heated steering wheel are a class above so it really is extra nice. Love the look of the car, love everything about it. Since I do alot of driving for work when I am looking for a car I am looking for comfort and gas mileage and this fits the bill by a mile!
Just bought, but excellent bang for your buck
5 out of 5 stars
Michael, 06/09/2022
2022 Nissan Sentra SV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
Just purchased with 7 miles on it and now have 26 miles on it. First, the bad. I’m assuming there are a lot of different ways to option. I was looking at a versa that has remote start but my Sentra doesn’t. Both were SV models. I don’t really mind too much about remote start but would be nice to have. I don’t like the parking brake being the foot brake kind. Wish it either had the hand … brake or better yet had electronic brake with brake hold which we have on our Elantra and use it all the time. Also the driver seat should go back a bit more. I’m 6’1 and 210 pounds and fit fine but can’t stretch my left leg out unless it’s in between the parking brake and the brake pedal. It’s still comfortable but if I could move the seat back another inch it would be perfect to put on the foot well. Not a deal breaker or I wouldn’t have purchased it. No lane keep assist which is nice to have on the Elantra and the Sentra has lane departure warning so not sure why they couldn’t have added lane keep assist. The infotainment screen is great but I wish it were more angled toward the driver like in my Elantra rather than just straight on toward the back seat.
It seems like I’m complaining but it’s more nitpicking for a car that’s $22k before taxes/fees/etc.
Now the good. I love the drive. It’s smooth as silk. I know it’s a brand new car but it drives, in my opinion, better than my Elantra SEL that’s also a 2022 with 5k miles. The transmission and engine feel great and I feel connected to the road more so than my Elantra. I like the infotainment. It’s responsive with each button press and Apple CarPlay is instant when you press the button. It’s a little delayed in my Elantra but the Elantra has wireless CarPlay so there’s a bit of a delay and I’m assuming using the usb-c to lighting adapter is faster than usb-a but it’s extremely quick. The satellite presets are quick too and I love the replay feature that records 12 channels at once, two more than my Elantra.
The armrest is nicely padded and extremely deep. The versa I was looking at had a laughable arm rest and the storage was almost non existent. I know it’s different price points but I will definitely say it’s worth the extra $2k to get the Sentra over the versa and the arm rest is one of the many reasons to do so.
I really like the a/c vents and at max ac and max fan speed it’s extremely powerful. Probably the most powerful fans I’ve ever felt and they’re super powerful if you close the vents on the passenger side if you’re driving alone even at a lower fan speed setting.
The trunk is nicely sized and the mouth of the trunk going into the cabin is gigantic compared to the Elantra. You can fit big items in that area with zero resistance. It’s a compact car but doesn’t feel that way. I’m sure through the years car dealers have been stretching the compact segment more and more so where it could have been considered a full size maybe 20 years ago. I remember riding in like a ‘99 Sentra and it was super tiny in comparison.
My favorite things are the safety technology and the instrument cluster. I like how the tach and speedometer and analog and there’s a big digital cluster with a variety of info that you can see while driving, from the digital speedometer to the real time mpg. It’s really great. Our Elantra has the all digital cluster so Elantra wins there, but the Sentra is no slouch. I really like the variety of the various customization of the cluster. The adaptive cruise control is amazing. Have it on the Elantra and one reason I chose the Sentra over the versa. The 2k difference was worth it for that alone but I like the blind spot monitor on the inside instead of on the mirror. The backup camera could be better quality but honestly it does the job. As stated previously I wish it had lane tracing but not a big deal it doesn’t.
I know I only had the car for a couple of hours and put 20 miles on it but don’t sleep on it. I never owned a Nissan and frankly was scared to but I was okay with getting it since it has a long warranty and I take care of my cars with maintenance. I usually go with Hyundai but they never got back to me so I put an inquiry into Nissan and within 5 minutes had an appointment an hour from the phone call and with 3 hours of the appointment papers we’re signed after I took the versa, kicks and Sentra on 10 mile test drives. The technology and safety features are great and really worth considering purchasing new. I probably wouldn’t buy a used anything these days but if you can get a new one at a decent price then go for it. I look forward to ownership for the next few years.
Elegand and Sleek Sedan
5 out of 5 stars
Esteban, 04/27/2021
2021 Nissan Sentra SR 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
I was looking for a practical car for my long commute (76 miles RT) The Corolla SE and Nissan Kicks SV were at the top of my list. I test drive the corolla first and didn't like it, the car was just ok. I continued to Honda and test drive a Civic (Sport) in red, the driving dynamics were by far superior to the Corolla. The Civic is sporty and sexy on the outside and well appointed and … comfortable inside. I almost bought this car, but my wife didn't want the Civic. The following day, I went to Nissan to try the kicks and told my reluctant wife that the Mazda CX-30 was next on our list. Upon arrival at Nissan, we spotted a beautiful two-toned dark red kicks SV with a black roof, the car was really nice, had plenty of room on the second row and trunk, but the engine was severely under powered. Then we spotted an electric blue Sentra SV (which was never on my list or my wife's), it came with a premium package (ivory leather seats, power seats, sun roof, Michelin tires) we test drive this car and got blown away by the experience (peppy engine), the Sentra cornered sharp curves like nothing, since it is a new model (been on the market for few months now) as opposed to the 4-year old Civic, the interior was superior to the Civic as well. It is very elegant, everything is in the right position and visibility is superb, you definitely get more car for the money. We were so impressed with the test drive that decided on the spot that the Sentra was the car we were buying. In the showroom, they had a metalic orange Sentra SR with a black roof, LED lights, lower suspension, spoiler and other add ons to make it look very sporty. We bought this car and got a great deal from Nissan ($21.5k, 0%, 60 months) After few hundred miles, I like this car even better, it is really elegant, the interior is comfortable, roomy (my 12 and 14 year old daughters love all the space they have in the back) and it comes with all the latest technologies. Nissan did a good job with this car for sure. On the negative side, its hard to find something to say here, but there are few minor things for consideration: (1) MPG is listed as 29/39 on the SV and 28/37 on the SR, which is the trim that I have, but I am getting only 29-30 (average) so far, which is below the 32-33 MPG I was hoping/expecting. (2) at highway speed, sometimes I get a vibration on the steering wheel for a second or two, it might have to do more with the Hancock tires on the SR (I test drove the SV with Michelin tires and never felt the vibration), and lastly (3) the light sensor is super sensitive, when I drive underneath overpasses sometimes the dash goes dark (low light mode) and comes right back to high light mode (for contrast) when receives sun light again, I wish Nissan engineers had tuned this feature for a lag of 20-30 seconds or so, so it doesn't change light modes so fast, but some drivers might like this feature instead. I am really happy with this car, it has everything at a really good price, without unnecessary trade offs, it is roomy, agile, elegant and sporty.
LUV my Nissan Sentra…for good reasons!
5 out of 5 stars
Bassdude, 04/01/2022
2022 Nissan Sentra SV 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT)
I’ve owned a lot of different cars, makes and models over the years, but never a Nissan. Read pro reviews on this model, checked it out anyway. Bought it new a month + ago. Really love everything about my Sentra relative to the pricing for my SV…tremendous value. Why? This car delivers (for its size, class, price) great styling, ride, handling, quiet, plenty of the power one needs for … standard driving, great seats, interior design and ergonomics, dash readout just right mix of standard and electronics, excellent touchscreen display. Love it!
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Nissan Sentra, so we've included reviews for other years of the Sentra since its last redesign.
By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.