The number of cars Americans can still buy for less than $20,000 is dwindling. But Nissan has kept its compact Sentra sedan in that price range for the 2022 model year. The 2022 Sentra gets a new Midnight Edition package and a starting price of just $19,510 (plus a destination fee of $975 – one of the few destination fees still under four figures).
The Sentra currently sits at sixth place out of nine in our list of the Best Small Cars. But don’t let its mid-pack ranking fool you. The Sentra offers an enticing blend of refined driving dynamics, a long equipment list, and an extensive suite of automated safety technologies. It’s also a sharp-looking car, particularly in the available two-tone color scheme.
The Sentra uses a 149-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. That combination won’t produce a high-performance car. But it’s paired with a more sophisticated suspension than many automakers use on budget cars – the rear has an independent multi-link setup – making it a surprisingly engaging drive for the price.
Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 system is standard. It includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic on/off headlights with automatic high beams.
The Sentra was redesigned in full for the 2020 model year, and Nissan hasn’t made dramatic changes for 2022. A new $695 Midnight Edition package paints the grille, rear spoiler, and rear diffuser gloss black. It wears black badges and black 18-inch aluminum wheels.
A new All-Weather Package ($590) for the mid-range SV model adds dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, and remote engine start.
In keeping the price below $20,000, Nissan has bucked a trend. Just last week, Volkswagen moved the price of its compact Jetta sedan over that mark. Other natural competitors like the 2022 Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda3 have all seen their prices creep over the $20k line for 2022.
2022 Sentra Pricing:
| Sentra S: | $19,510 |
| Sentra SV: | $20,570 |
| Sentra SR: | $22,100 |
Class of 2022: All the New Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
