2026 Nissan Sentra Interior Review: Fun and Feature Rich

The new 2026 Nissan Sentra carries on the noble torch of being an affordably priced compact sedan that also brings some spark to the segment. Take the interior of the Sentra SR we evaluated, which is trimmed in athletic red with contrast stitching and offers contemporary tech that helps it run with the best cars in its class.

Although Nissan doesn’t offer a hybrid version of the Sentra, which we think is a shame, it’s clearly betting that because all Sentras start at less than $30,000, that factor alone is a compelling enough reason for a buyer to pull the trigger on one. Color us compelled!

The SR is the second-to-highest Sentra trim available, and it’s billed as the sportiest grade. Exterior cues include a blacked-out center for the front fascia, black side sills, a black trunk lip, a two-tone roof, and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the sporty treatment continues. Let’s dive into the cabin of the SR and take a closer look, shall we?

Infotainment

Screens

Perhaps the greatest strength the new Sentra has over its Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic rivals is its completely overhauled infotainment layout. Whereas the Civic and Corolla have yet to catch up on the dual-screen trend, the Sentra presents its drivers with a decidedly modern panoramic display. On the right is the 12.3-inch center screen that comes standard. On the left is a 12.3-inch driver information screen that’s standard on SV, SR, and SL grades. Only the lowest S grade gets the Sentra’s smaller 7.0-inch screen.

The big screen is nestled comfortably in the Sentra’s dash, forgoing the slapped-on-top look so many cars suffer from. No part of the screens are blocked by the steering wheel, and both are clear, bright, and easy to read. We especially appreciate the little cluster of quick-use buttons between the two front air vents that encompass the hazards, camera button, skip and rewind media buttons, and a physical volume knob. The silver climate vent surrounds are a little cheesy-looking and accentuate how small the vents themselves are, but it’s a tidy overall design otherwise.

Climate Control

Nissan is billing the Sentra’s new touch-capacitive climate control setup as a segment-first. While not as bad as a purely touchscreen-based system, it’s also nowhere near as useful as plain old buttons. The climate panel registers inputs well enough, yet it still demands more attention for incremental adjustments. Using it also creates a giant, momentary pop-up on the central infotainment screen that blocks anything you might have been looking at.

Tech

Despite the new Sentra’s economy car status, Nissan packed it full of standard technology. Beyond wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, there’s one phone charging pad and two USB-C ports in the front.

Available 360-Degree Camera(!)

Footage from the Sentra’s backup camera is decent, but the really great thing is the car offers a handy 360-degree camera, which the Civic and Corolla definitely do not have. We’re used to this being a luxury feature, but here, it’s standard on SL Sentras and part of the optional Premium package for the SR. Even though the Sentra is small and easy to park, it’s still nice to be able to see more of what’s around you.

Driver Assist System

All Sentras come standard with smart cruise control. While only the SL grade offers Nissan’s ProPilot Assist at no extra cost, it did come on our SR test car as part of an option package. The added lane keep function was definitely appreciated. It worked very well on the highway, guiding the car smoothly in its lane and keeping the follow distance to the car in front consistent and safe. No real issues arose during our loan.

Cabin Materials

Steering Wheel

The stylish two-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in synthetic leather and feels good in the hand. Physical buttons on the spokes make it easy to navigate the car’s menus. And it’s heated! Optional for the SR but standard on the SL, the warm wheel was perhaps the most welcome feature of all during our northeastern winter testing.

Red Detailing

There’s no denying there’s a ton of plastic trim all over the inside of the Sentra. But rather than just leaving it plain, Nissan dressed up its surfaces with textures and detailing. The SR wears soft-touch materials on the armrests, as well as subtle red stitching throughout. Our favorite bit was the line running up the right-hand side of the center console and crossing over the center armrest as a stitched line. Neat.

Seating

Front Seats

Supportive and comfortable, no major complaints arose after sitting there for a few straight hours. General ergonomics were good, as well, with the phone pad, cupholders, and charging ports easily within reach. Front legroom in the Sentra leads the Civic and Corolla, so these are the seats to be in.

Visibility is likewise good except for one issue: For some reason, perhaps due to the raked windshield, we felt the rearview mirror was positioned far too low and blocked a ton of forward visibility. Altering our seating position here and there didn’t really help, either, so it was just something we had to deal with over the course of the loan.

Rear Seats

The back seats are standard fare for the economy class, so don’t expect the same treatment as the fronts, but they're sufficiently supportive and comfortable. Rear passengers must share one charge port, though they do enjoy 0.1 more inch of legroom over the Corolla. Taller occupants might suffer from pinched head- and kneeroom, as features editor Christian Seabaugh noted in his First Drive review.

Trunk

If you’re someone who regularly hefts bulky items in and out of trunks, then you’ll appreciate the Sentra’s low lift-over height and wide opening. Although the Civic has a smidge more cargo volume, both provide good space for their class. The trunk slam on the Civic produces a deeper and more impressive thunk, however, if that kind of thing matters to you.

In Conclusion

They’re getting ever harder to find, but new cars that start under $30,000 absolutely do still exist, and the new Sentra SR one of the best of that set. With its starting MSRP of $26,245, you also get a full safety suite, remote engine start, and interior ambient lighting in addition to the bigger screens and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Our SR test car was optioned with an all-weather package ($650), the Premium package ($2,300), a moonroof ($650), 18-inch black alloy wheels ($610), carpeted floormats ($290), 20-color interior accent lighting ($400), and premium two-tone paint ($800). Total sticker came to $31,945. I’d personally lose all the extras, save for the Premium package, because I like a good sound system and lane keep assist.

Even with everything added on, the 2026 Sentra SR comes handsomely equipped for not a ton of money. It’s proof that going the economy route no longer means having to suffer major compromises in luxury and convenience features.