1996 Nissan Sentra Review
Price Estimate: $1,350 - $2,250

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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
Prices have crept up, making the Sentra a hard sell against the Neon, Prizm and Cavalier. Still, you may be able to find a good deal on a former rental vehicle. We've seen tons of them at the Alamo rental lots.
For sale nearby
Vehicle overview
Print advertising for Nissan's launch of the new Sentra last year asked magazine readers if they had "seen it?" "Have you seen it?" asked small quarter-page ads. A couple of pages later, a two-page layout extolling the virtues of the new Sentra would appear, and then on the next page, another quarter-page ad asked "Did you see it?"
We've been asking ourselves the same questions. The Sentra was introduced a year ago, and we can't remember seeing one, aside from in print. We know why, too. Nissan stylists evidently feel that the company's corporate look should be one of extreme anonymity, and recent Nissan products have lost their visual flair. Witness the Maxima, 240SX, and now, the Sentra.
Looks aren't everything, as matchmaking friends have told many of us. True, but they do go quite a ways toward total satisfaction. If only the Sentra had kept its scrappy personality in its transformation from 1994 to 1995, we might be able to overlook the plain-Jane sheetmetal. Unfortunately, the zippy 1.6-liter engine that energized the previous-generation Sentra feels anesthetized in the new car. On the plus side, the newer Sentra has more rear seat room, and improved ergonomics. 1996 brings a new color to the lineup -- everything else carries over intact.
Base prices fell with the redesign, a miracle in an industry that has jacked up prices at twice the increase of the cost of living index, but are up again for 1996. A GXE runs $14,500, and doesn't include anti-lock brakes. What's worse, alloy wheels and a sunroof are standard and available only on the top-of-the-line GLE model, which will set you back at least $15,229. ABS is optional on the GLE too, and the base and XE models are not available with this important safety feature at all. However, the Sentra is notoriously reliable; a point in its favor. Besides, lots of compact sedans can ring up to...cha-ching!...$16,000 with a full load of options, such as the Neon Sport sedan and Honda Civic EX.
Do the pluses outweigh the negatives? Depends on what you're looking for in a compact sedan. If you want something fun-to-drive, try the Neon. If you want basic, reliable transportation with four doors, one of your many choices is the Sentra.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota
$129/mo for Sentra GLE
Sentra GLE
vs
$164/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Nissan Sentra Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Bomb Proof Dependability
4.5 out of 5 starsRay-ray, 05/05/2010
1996 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan
This car doesn't ask any questions. Turn the key and drive unlimited. Worst fuel economy: 24 MPG Best: 42 MPG Average: 33 MPG. Top speed: 110 Snow driving: like a snowmobile but don't turn while braking. Miles driven in 14 years: 243,300. Black is a hard color to keep up. Had some Alternator troubles. Rebuilt alternators are hit or miss. Fast driving will blow the valve cover gasket. … Not worth going over 80. better to sit in than an Altima. Good rear visibility, not like newer cars.
Fantastic Car
4.38 out of 5 starsDoubleA, 12/15/2009
1996 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan
This was the first car my wife and I bought together. Got it from a second owner 8 years ago with 72,000 miles on it for $3,000. It's had all new gaskets, brakes/rotors, rebuilt transmission (I think a mechanic loosened the plug and it dropped out while driving), starter. The thing is with all that I've only put about $3,000 more into it to keep it going for this long. It just won't … die. Now I'm in northern Michigan and I want a Subaru for the winters. This thing is a manual and gets 40 mpg, yes 40 and on all highway driving I've gotten up to 43mpg. It's now at 188,000 miles and it's good for at least another 30 or 40,000 more. Finding a new owner for it will be bitter sweet.
190 K miles and it keeps running
3.88 out of 5 starsCharlieH, 02/15/2003
1996 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan
7 year car, keep running, this is
manual trans, with orginal clutch
Replace only normal wear and tear
items.. tires (now is the 4 set of
tires) , brakes (now is on 3 set of
the front disk pad, 2 set of rotor,
rear brake shoe had been replaced
once) spark plugs, fuel filter, etc..
The only problem is the alternator
(last for 80 k miles only).. Now is on
the third … alternator !!
my 1st car ever bought, out of 4 today!
4 out of 5 starsdaddy-danny, 10/09/2008
1996 Nissan Sentra XE 4dr Sedan
Despite the fact that it was and still is a dull car, it was a ride or die! I bought this car for 1700 dollars, with 180,000 miles on it. It saved so much gas, and rode like a boss. I went to the bay area 3 times, and what not. But now that it has 230,000 miles, this car has faced a bit of problems. The catalytic converter is messed up, so it wont pass smog. But overall, this car has … proved itself. I never had a tran problem, nor engine problem. It still turns on without hesitation, and still rides hard. I will always love the car for the memories I put in it, and the reliability.
1996 Sentra Highlights
GLE
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 29 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $129/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 10.7 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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