The Nissan Sentra is a compact car built from 1982 to 2026 over 7 generations. Most were assembled in Mexico — 87.8% of those on record. Between 1985 and 2027 it grew 39 cm longer and gained 447 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Sentra is
The Nissan Sentra is a compact car that Nissan built from 1982 to 2026 — 45 model years. Our measurements put it at 7 generations, the current one starting in 2017. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Hybrid power. Its closest siblings in the Nissan range: GT-R, 200SX, PULSAR.
Where the Sentra is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 5,068 Sentras on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3N1 | 1991-2026 | |
| the United States | 1N4 | 1985-2014 | |
| Japan | JN1 | 1982-2003 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Nissan VIN decide which of these 7 lines your Sentra belongs to. What every character in a Sentra VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Nissan Sentra adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Sentra generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Sentra's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Sentra that gives 7 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-1993 | 425 cm | 240 cm | 888 kg | - | - |
| 1994 | 433 cm | 243 cm | 1059 kg | +8 cm | +171 kg |
| 1995-1997 | 433 cm | 249 cm | 1052 kg | +0 cm | -7 kg |
| 1998-1999 | 432 cm | 254 cm | 1074 kg | -1 cm | +22 kg |
| 2001-2006 | 451 cm | 254 cm | 1165 kg | +19 cm | +91 kg |
| 2007-2016 | 457 cm | 269 cm | 1313 kg | +6 cm | +148 kg |
| 2017-2027 | 464 cm | 270 cm | 1335 kg | +7 cm | +22 kg |
Between 1985 and 2027 the Sentra gained 39 cm in length (+9.2%) and 447 kg in weight (+50.3%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Sentra that is 447 kg against 39 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Nissan Sentra tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Sentra owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Nissan Sentra have? Power & range
The Nissan Sentra is offered with 2 powertrains — 2L 4-cyl, 1.7L 4-cyl Hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Nissan Sentra, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | Regular |
| Hybrid | 1.7L · 4-cyl | Manual 4-spd | FWD | Diesel |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Sentra by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Nissan Sentra. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Sentra | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 158 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 6,168 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $2,143/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 2,878 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Nissan Sentra?
The Sentra is a compact car, built from 1982 to 2026 across 7 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, Hybrid.
Where is the Nissan Sentra made?
Across 5,068 cars in our records the split is: Mexico (87.8%), the United States (10%), Japan (2.1%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Sentra have?
7 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2017. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Sentra grew 39 cm longer and gained 447 kg.
What is the Nissan Sentra warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Sentra reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Sentra?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Nissan
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Rogue | 2008–2026 | 94 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan GT-R | 2009–2026 | 9 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Nissan Altima | 1993–2026 | 146 | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Frontier | 1998–2026 | 142 | 22 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 1986–2026 | 149 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Nissan Versa | 2007–2026 | 75 | 35 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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