Nissan is one of a dwindling list of automakers remaining committed to the sedan market. What it revealed Tuesday morning suggests that decision could be well justified. The 2026 Nissan Sentra makes its appearance with a completely new look that downplays the compact sedan’s humble aspirations. And that’s just the start, reports Headlight.News.
The ninth-generation Nissan Sentra.
Who says sedans are dead? Not Nissan which continues to offer multiple options for U.S. buyers. That includes Sentra which is set to get a major makeover for 2026 that could reach out to more than just buyers on a budget.
While not a complete, ground-up redesign, there’s plenty new about the 2026 Nissan Sentra, starting with its sleeker, fastback styling. There’s some welcome new technology, such as twin 12.3-inch screens and, on the top-line SL trim, the automaker’s ProPilot Assist system.
Sentra has been around for more than four decades and, when it debuted in 1982, was among the first models to be switched from the Datsun to Nissan brand names. While sometimes cross-shopped with the slightly larger Altima, Sentra traditionally has appealed to buyers on a budget. And that’s paid off the automaker which, last year, sold 185,752 of the sedans in the U.S. Even with the old model approaching the end of its lifecycle, demand has remained strong in 2025 – but the Japanese automaker is betting the new Sentra will pick up its momentum.
What’s new for 2026
All 2026 Nissan Sentra models, including this top-line SL, get LED lighting.
“It’s an uncompromising, statement-making vehicle that ensures drivers get the most out of their day,” said Christian Meunier, chairman of Nissan Americas.
The 2026 Nissan Sentra adopts an entirely new look, one that downplays its traditional positioning as a bargain option. With its fastback styling, it boasts a fresher and sexier look than the dowdy Toyota Corolla which, along with the Honda Civic, make up its primary competition.
The interior gets a newer, more modern – meaning more high-tech – look, with twin 12.3-inch screens and capacitive-touch controls for the climate control system. There’s plenty of updated technology, in fact, including LED headlights and the ProPilot Assist program.
A downside: a lack of a hybrid powertrain which could limit Sentra’s ability to conquest buyers drawn to that high-mileage option offered by the two key Japanese rivals.
New design
The upgraded interior of the 2026 Nissan Sentra.
While the actual dimensions change little, Nissan designers set out to “make Sentra appear wider, bolder and more dynamic,” explained Lihao Yu, Nissan’s design director.
The fastback-style roof comes through, while the more slit-like look of the now-LED headlights framing the Nissan V-Motion grille up front, along with the built-In rear spoiler, accent the sedan’s width.
New wheels range from 16 inches to 18 on the SR package.
Inside, the goal was to “elevate” the appearance with upgraded materials and more technology, starting with those twin digital screens available across the line-up.
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All 2026 Sentra feature a 2.0-liter inline-four paired with a CVT gearbox.
Powertrain
When it comes to powertrain technology, Nissan stuck with the tried-and-true for the 2026 Sentra.
The automaker has signaled plans to add more electrified options to its line-up and there’d been speculation it might offer a version of Sentra using the ePower hybrid. As it works out, Nissan is retaining the 2.0-liter inline-four package found in the current sedan. It produces 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. Power is delivered through a CVT to the front wheels on all trims.
Could a hybrid help here? Perhaps, but with fuel economy on the base package reaching 40 mpg highway on the base package – and 38 mpg with the SR – it remains competitive here.
Twin 12.3-inch LED displays.
New technology
Along with those LED displays, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on the 2026 Nissan Sentra.
The SL grade adds a Bose premium audio system, as well as the ProPilot Assist program which can help with steering, acceleration and braking. It’s capable of bringing Sentra to a complete stop in traffic and then resuming motion when the car ahead moves forward, Three USB-C ports are standard, while wireless charging is optional.
Digital safety features include a mix of standard and upgrade features such as forward collision warning, blind spot intervention, an around-view monitor and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Pricing and availability
The 2026 Nissan Sentra gets a wider trunk opening.
The 2026 Nissan Sentra will reach showrooms “later this year,” the automaker said, where it will join the all-new, third-generation Leaf battery-electric vehicle. Sentra will be offered in four grades, starting with the base S, SV, SR and Sl.
Pricing, the automaker added, will be “announced closer to the start of sales.”
For 2025, the current, eighth-generation Sentra starts at $22,730 before delivery fees. That positions it as one of the more affordable compact sedans on the market – though the smaller Versa, at a base $18,375, is Nissan’s real bargain package.
Whether Nissan holds the line on the ninth-generation remains to be seen and any increase could be driven not only by the added content in the 2026 model but the impact of the Trump auto tariffs. Various Sentra packages are produced in both Canton, Mississippi, as well as Aguas Calientes, Mexico. Even domestically made vehicles rely on plenty of imported parts and components which will be subject to duties, such as the new 15% tariff on Japanese imports.
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