2024 Nissan Sentra SR Review: A Stylish and Sporty Starter Sedan

When I was starting out my “adult” life after college, there were still plenty of choices for new cars that wouldn’t break the bank. I ended up buying a 1986 Pontiac Grand Am as my first new car – mostly because I thought it looked cool. There aren’t many affordable cars left here in America these days, let alone ones that look cool. Cue the 2024 Nissan Sentra SR. This compact sedan is reasonably priced (by today’s standards), has a great sense of style, and is quite pleasant to drive.

My test vehicle came slathered in a gorgeous Monarch Orange metallic paint with a gloss black roof. The 2024 Sentra rocks a sharp new version of Nissan’s “V-Motion” grille that looks wider and more dynamic than the previous design. The SR is the sportiest grade of Sentra, so it gets a special version of this grille with dark chrome accents and prominent red “SR” badging, which also appears at the rear end. I really like the new 18-inch two-tone wheels, which have a slightly twisted spoke design that gives them more of a sense of motion even when sitting still. In the back, there’s a small spoiler on the trunk lid that’s more aesthetic than functional.

For 2024, the Sentra sticks with a 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine that produces 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft. of torque. Power goes exclusively to the front wheels via an updated Xtronic CVT that slightly improves fuel economy. While I miss the extra power from the 1.6-liter Sentra SR Turbo from a few years back, this engine and transmission combo feels faster than its numbers might have you believe. I think that may have to do with the well-engineered CVT in this year’s model. Gone are the weird whiny noises that used to plague CVTs, replaced with a smooth-sounding powertrain that never sounds like it’s straining. Thanks to a more efficient design and the addition of a surprisingly inobtrusive idle stop-start function, the new Sentra SR beats last year’s model by two mpg in the city and one mpg on the highway, improving numbers to 30 city/38 highway/33 combined. The Sentra handles quite well, and its multi-link suspension helps keep its ride smooth and stable for everyday driving. The electronic power steering is nicely sorted, too, and the Active Understeer Control applies a subtle braking force to the inside front wheel, helping to improve cornering performance.

Inside, the Sentra really shines. Its cabin looks more upscale than its price tag might suggest, and it’s also tranquil even at highway speeds. The skinny A-pillars help enhance forward visibility, and the heated front seats offer excellent support and comfort like other recent Nissan vehicles. Smart styling choices like a leather-wrapped, D-shaped steering wheel, soft-touch materials, faux carbon fiber accents, and red accent stitching give the Sentra SR a sporty attitude. The aviation-inspired triple vents are something straight out of the Mercedes-Benz school of design. This car came with the $2490 Premium package, which adds faux leather seating surfaces, a power sliding moonroof, a heated steering wheel, a power driver’s seat, an upgraded sound system, and more. The 8-speaker Bose audio system sounds excellent, especially at higher volumes and with good source material. Trust me when I say you should play music from your Bluetooth or USB-connected device instead of satellite radio. It makes a massive difference in dynamic range, which I found especially noticeable in this system.

The Premium package also includes an Around View Monitor system, which combines cameras to provide a top-down view of the car for easier maneuvering in and out of parking spaces. It’s not entirely necessary with a smaller car like this, but it certainly can’t hurt to have it. The 8-inch touchscreen offers wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. I would have liked it more if the touchscreen had been better integrated into the dashboard. Ones that stick out like this seem like a carry-over from the early days of in-vehicle screens.

Every 2024 Sentra comes packed with standard safety tech, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and lane departure warning. Both the SV and SR trims come with intelligent cruise control, which does a good job of maintaining a safe distance as vehicles slow down and speed up in front of you on the highway. The back seat is about what you’d expect in a compact sedan. There are no bells and whistles back here except a single USB-A port for charging a phone and cupholders built into the center armrest. On the plus side, I found there was more knee room than I expected, and I could sit comfortably behind the front seats without my knees pressing into their seatbacks.

The 14.3 cubic foot trunk offers good capacity for a vehicle of its size, while its wide-mouthed opening makes it easy to carry golf clubs. I easily packed in a week’s worth of groceries and six one-gallon bottles of water with plenty of room to spare. The rear seat can also fold down in a 60/40 split so you can carry longer items.

With a starting price of $24,270, the Nissan Sentra SR is a great deal in today’s pricey new car market. It’s got an appealing and sporty design outside and in, rides smoothly and quietly, and offers good fuel economy. The vehicle tested here was priced at $28,220 after adding the Premium package, two-tone paint, floor mats, and destination and handling fees. If your budget doesn’t allow that, the base Sentra S starts at just $21,180, and the mid-grade Sentra SV starts at $22,110.