Video: 2026 Nissan Sentra Review: From Forgettable Rental to Delightful Driver

om reviewer and I'm gonna show you how this cheap economy car has some surprising luxury. There's nothing chintzy about this cabin. The old model was dressed in some very low budget fuzz and some cheap plastic of an indeterminate color. It reminded me of the cubicle at my first job. But with the 2026 model, especially this top SL trim, Nissan blew that whole design plan up and this model is delightful. Quilted synthetic leather seats look and feel premium-ish, and the cabin has some other features that give it an upscale vibe. A heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a moon roof, dual automatic climate control, and an eight speaker Bose sound system. The 2026 Nissan Sentra is available in four trim levels and starts at around $24,000, making it one of the most affordable new cars on the market. But its thrifty price doesn't mean that it's thrifty inside. This top SL trim level starts at just above $29,000 and offers some premium features in terms of creature comforts and tech systems. On the tech front, the SL trim and some other mid-level trims get this slick-looking infotainment system. It's a giant 12.3 inch touchscreen infotainment system and another 12.3 inch driver display. They combine seamlessly for a modern look. They're easy to use and they're a big upgrade over the outgoing system. New this year are wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is a big upgrade over last year's wired connection, which was also pretty glitchy in my rental Sentra. Lastly, the new Sentra is more comfortable to drive in terms of its ride, with improved ride composure. Bumps are well damped and less vibration and noise make their way into the cabin this year. With its 2026 redesign, the Nissan Sentra has been transformed from forgettable rental car to delightful, affordable, and in some cases, even upscale compact sedan. For more expert reviews, be sure to subscribe to cars.com's YouTube channel. (upbeat music continues)