2025 Nissan Sentra SR Sedan Review

It is so refreshing these days to see a really nice, good-looking car, that is also a great value.  Such is the case with the 2025 Nissan Sentra.  It is a great compact sedan that looks and drives larger than it actually is.  The top-of-the line SR that I tested, and it starts at just $24,590 before any discounts or the generous rebates that are available at the time of me writing this.

Exterior   

For 2025, the Sentra appearance hasn’t changed from the re-do of 2024 when it received a new front fascia and restyled headlights, and beautiful new 18-inch alloy wheels. Sentra SR last year sported a restyled rear fascia and new interior accent stitching color as well. 

It is a sharp-looking car with great lines, decked out in a beautiful Atlantic Gray with a matching roof, a rear spoiler, the V-Motion grill, and a chrome exhaust tip.

Powertrain 

Under the hood of this beauty is the 2-liter Dual Overhead Cam 4-cylinder engine, putting out 149-horses and 146-pound feet of torque.  I know that doesn’t sound like a lot, but the Sentra feels as if it has a lot more horsepower, which is often the case these days with smaller engines.  It is mated to a new Xtronic CVT transmission, which we all know I have not been a fan of, but I will say that this one is actually OK.  Nissan programs in simulated shifts and it really makes a difference in how it feels, and it is really good to increase gas mileage and the CVT is one of the reasons it feels so peppy. 

Interior  

Open the door and you’ll see a well-done interior with comfortable and quilted leather-appointed seats.  Stitching is abundant across the dash, around the seats, and surrounding the flat-bottomed steering wheel.  I was pleasantly surprised with all the soft touch materials, especially for a vehicle in this price range.

The 7-inch gauge cluster is colorful and easy to read and is highly configurable, including a digital speedometer.  All the controls are on the heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel.  Glance to the right and you’ll see a well-done 8” touchscreen that is easy to operate and actually moves quite quickly. 

From there you operate the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant, SiriusXM, and the Nissan Connected suite of apps.  The Bose stereo with 8-speakers sounds fantastic and the resolution from the 360-degree surround view rear camera system was extremely good.

The center console is nicely-appointed, has a couple of cup holders, two USB-C ports, a wireless phone charging pad, the pushbutton start, electronic emergency brake, push button start, and a 12-volt power outlet.

Back seat leg and headroom is fairly tight for adults, especially larger ones, but it is a compact sedan so just what you’d expect.  Trunk room was surprisingly good and has a nicely-cut opening to make loading things easier.  Both rear seats fold down for more room if needed.

Standard Features 

Notable standard features include remote start from the key fob, power windows & door locks, tilt wheel, dual zone climate control, a rear spoiler, rear pulldown armrest, and LED headlights. 

Options

Options include the SR Premium package, which is an outstanding value for $2,990 and includes: A power glass moon roof with sliding cover, the 18” aluminum alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, the 8-speaker Bose premium Audio, a 6-way power driver’s seat with a 2-way power lumbar, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, the Wi-Fi hotspot, over-the-air updates, and around-view monitor.  That is a LOT of popular options for under $3,000. The two-tone paint runs $425, floor mats and a trunk mat are $280, frameless inside mirror with garage door openers runs $335, door sill plates are $90, and map pocket lighting is $185.

Safety

On the safety front, you get Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six advanced driver-assist systems including Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Assist, easy-fill tires, Intelligent forward collision warning, traction control, and Rear Automatic Braking.  

Ride and Drive

The bottom line with this 2025 Sentra SR is that this is an impressive compact sedan that drives and rides very well, interior quietness is actually good, and the acceleration is fine to get you up on the freeway.

Verdict 

Fuel economy is an impressive 30 in town and 38 on the highway.  MSRP on this top-of-the-line loaded model is just $29,635 before dealer discounts and rebates. If you are in the market for a compact sedan, a nice car like this for under $30,000 this one has to be on your shopping list. You even get a spare tire!