You’ll notice a few trends if you’ve been writing about vehicles as long as I have. The automotive industry inevitably accelerates toward what manufacturers perceive as cutting-edge, exciting, and the next “must-have” thing. However, buying a new vehicle isn’t like replacing a cell phone every couple of years—not that my increasingly aging iPhone 13 Pro Max knows anything about that.
Buying a new vehicle is a much more intimate experience because you’re purchasing something that’s an extension of yourself, so to speak. For example, I don’t know the guy who drove by me today in a Cybertruck—but I know he drives a Cybertruck. You want your vehicle to represent yourself on the road, and you’re in luck if you’re shopping for a Nissan Sentra for sale. The Sentra is one of the most value-packed sedans where style and substance harmonize effortlessly. The buyer’s guide you’ll read next will tell you everything you need to know about the current lineup before you head out and get behind the wheel of this versatile sedan.
S Trim
The S is the entry-level 2025 Nissan Sentra. It starts at an MSRP of $21,590, meaning it’s one of the most affordable vehicles you can buy new. I understand if this makes you weary. You’ve likely been told that you get what you pay for your whole life, and there are many times when this is true. However, the Sentra S is an anomaly, for lack of a better term. This year’s Sentra S provides everything you’d want in a 2025 vehicle, including respectable performance and fuel efficiency, an assistive driver and safety suite, and a great infotainment center. I’ll discuss these features more in-depth once I’m done speaking about the trims.
A 2.0L I-4 engine is under the hood of every 2025 Sentra, paired with a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT.) The CVT provides a constant acceleration curve instead of the slight buckling you feel when a traditional automatic transmission’s gears shift. This 2.0L I-4 engine provides 149 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque, which is perfect for commuting on a budget because it gives you sufficient highway performance while staying fuel-efficient. My Toyota Camry provided around the same horsepower and torque, and I drove that vehicle everywhere without ever facing problems associated with the performance under the hood by what was also an I-4 engine.
The 2025 Sentra earns EPA-estimated ratings of 30 MPG in the city, 40 MPG on the highway, and 34 MPG combined. Topping its 12.4-gal fuel tank earns you a 422-mile range, meaning you can significantly reduce your gas station visits each week. I drive a fuel-efficient vehicle, and it’s a game-changer—your local gas station clerk may miss you, but remember it’s not goodbye; you just need space.
The 2025 Sentra S has a 7-inch infotainment center, and a 4.2-inch multi-information display nestled in the dashboard is standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the three trims, and every media center has a 3.5mm auxiliary port, Bluetooth connectivity, a 12V power outlet, and at least one USB Type-A port. The Sentra S has one USB Type-A port up front, and audio is carried through a quad-speaker configuration.
Every 2025 Sentra—including the S—has Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection to assist you in stopping your car if you fail to hit the brakes fast enough when a front-end collision is likely to occur with another car or pedestrian. An Intelligent Forward Collision Warning is in place to warn you to apply the brakes immediately when a potential collision is imminent, meaning Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection serves as a last-ditch effort and has the power to save lives under the right circumstances.
Other safety features standard with the 2025 Sentra S include a Lane Departure Warning with haptic steering feedback. If you accidentally cross lane markings, your steering wheel will emit a slight haptic vibration to redirect your attention back to the road. Two other features I wish to mention are the Blind Spot Warning and Rear Automatic Braking. I’m surprised to see these features standard on the base model of what’s already one of the most cost-effective vehicles on the market.
The Blind Spot Warning will alert you to vehicles in your blind spot, meaning you don’t need to rely solely on the old over-the-shoulder check. I recommend continuing to look over your shoulder anyway and using it as a companion feature as an extra set of eyes on the road. Rear Automatic Braking will attempt to stop your car before you hit a stationary object, like a pole or another parked car.
SV Trim
The SV is the second 2025 Sentra trim and has the most comparable price to the S, starting at a slightly higher $22,290. What does this trim that costs less than a thousand dollars more than the base model get you that’s not found in the Sentra S? The changes are understandably non-revolutionary but are more than enough to justify the slight price jump. For example, the Sentra SV offers available heated 3-spoke leather seats—a higher-quality cloth is standard—and has standard 16-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels instead of the 16-inch steel wheels standard on the S. Unlike the S, the SV’s wheels can be factory-swapped for 17-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels. Although the SV comes with the same 16-inch all-season tires as the S, an optional 17-inch set exists.
Several additional SV upgrades are available, including heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals and a moonroof. A 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support is optional, beginning with the SV, which is also one of Nissan’s patented zero-gravity seats. These seats are designed with the human back in mind, which sounds redundant, I know. However, anyone who understands the spine and its intricacies is familiar with the importance of ergonomics.
Nothing about the zero gravity seats is mechanical, and its benefits involve no moving parts. It’s all in the design of the chair. More specifically, it’s how it contours to your back for prolonged driving sessions. I’ve sat in many comfortable cars as a driver and passenger—the Cadillac CT5 takes the cake. However, I’ve also spent time inside a Chrysler 300S, Chevy Camaro SS, Dodge Durango, Dodge Magnum, and, on the more practical side, the Toyota Camry and various Honda Accords. These seats were all special, but they weren’t zero-gravity seats, especially once you add the power-adjustable seats and lumbar support to the mix. Every manufacturer should take note of Nissan’s efforts and the fact it’s a prominent feature in one of the most affordable sedans on the market—-need I say more?
The 2025 Sentra SV has more advanced tech than the SV. A four-speaker setup is standard, and satellite radio is added to the system. There’s an available Bose audio system with eight high-quality speakers that’s perfect if you’re keen on investing in a premium soundscape to enjoy all of your favorite songs and podcasts. Many of the features I’ve mentioned for the SV are available in one cohesive optional package—the SV Premium Package.
The Sentra SV also has an upgraded 8-inch infotainment center and a 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist Display for your dashboard. An additional USB Type-A port is added with the SV, located in the rear row, and a USB Type-C port is introduced to the front. SiriusXM is also added to the mix with the SV, adding hundreds of exclusive radio stations. Lastly, an optional Wi-Fi hotspot enables safe and speedy internet that travels wherever your Sentra does.
Adaptive Cruise Control is standard, and an Intelligent Around View Monitor is available for the 2025 Sentra SV. Adaptive Cruise Control dynamically adjusts your speed to match traffic and will always find its way back to your preset speed. The Intelligent Around View Monitor provides camera angles around your vehicle that you can select with your infotainment center. This includes a makeshift top-down view that makes parallel parking easier than ever—take it from someone who can but chooses not to parallel park whenever possible because I hate doing it.
SR Trim
The SR is the highest-tier 2025 Sentra trim. It starts at an MSRP of $24,590, so what do you get for the higher price? 18-inch 10-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels are standard, as are 18-inch all-season tires. High and low-beam reflector LEDs are also standard, along with the optional LED turn signals on the side mirrors from the SV. These are heated outside mirrors—the SR is the only trim with heated mirrors.
Heated seats are also included with the SR at no additional price and can be stitched with an optional leatherette material. Dual-zone automatic climate controls are standard with the SR while remaining optional on the SV. You can be cold and run the heat while your passenger who feels warm can run the air conditioner exclusively on their half of the cabin without interfering with your comfort.
Remote Engine Start is another standard feature on the SR that’s optional with the SV. This feature allows you to start your Sentra from your keyfob without entering the vehicle. A great example of when you may appreciate this feature is during those cold winter mornings. I know many people who start their vehicle from inside their home to begin warming it up while they get ready for work.
The SR Premium Package is an optional package exclusive to the SR trim and provides you with the ultimate Sentra experience with the SR Premium Package. It’s ultimately a culmination of the most premium features I’ve mentioned today, including the Wi-Fi hotspot, the Bose speaker system, leatherette seats with a power-adjustable driver’s chair, a moonroof, and illuminated vanity mirrors. It also comes with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and several other features.
Finding the Right Sentra for Your Needs Is Easy
How do you pick the right Sentra? It’s easy. You should use the base S trim as your starting point and compare and contrast it to the standard and available features for the SV and SR that I’ve mentioned. Use your budget as a reference point because that’ll play a large role. Every 2025 Sentra trim is worth the money, so no matter what your budget looks like, there’s a model that’s tailor-made to your specific needs without making you break the bank for a great compact sedan.
