Introduction

The fifth generation of Nissan Sentra was introduced in 2000 and remained practically unchanged through 2006. Small size four-door sedan. Front-wheel drive, transverse mount engine, 5- or 6-speed manual (SE-R Spec V) or 4-speed automatic transmission, MacPherson struts in the front, Multi-Link Beam? suspension in the rear.
Two engine choices: 1.8-liter DOHC engine with 126 horsepower and more sporty 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (later replaced by 2.5-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine with 165 horsepower).
The interior is conservatively styled. Simple instrument panel; a dashboard has a convenient storage compartment on the top. Space for rear passenger is limited. Split rear seats fold flat for extra cargo room; trunk is fairly spacious for a small car.
Stiff suspension, firm ride, decent handling for a small car; the engine is a bit noisy on acceleration.
ABS is optional. Disk brakes in the front, drums in the back (four-wheel disk brakes optional).
In NHTSA frontal crash test, 2001 - 2006 Nissan Sentra has four stars for both driver and passenger.

2003 Nissan Sentra

2006 Nissan Sentra interior

The engine

Nissan Sentra 1.8L DOHC 16-valve engine

Sentra is available with two engine choices:
4-cylinder 1.8-liter 16-valves DOHC 126 hp engine with single-type timing chain, direct ignition system and variable valve timing.
Second choise on 2000-2001 models is the 2.0-liter all-aluminum DOHC engine with 145 h.p.
From 2002 Sentra SE-R, SE-R Spec V and the 2.5 Limited Edition come with 2.5-liter DOHC with 165 hp (175 hp in SE-R Spec V) engine, same as in the 2.5L Nissan Altima. Any of these engines are fairly reliable and don't have major problems.

Strengths

- Good gas mileage
- Not very expensive
- Easy to maintain
- Fairly reliable
- Good trunk space for a small car
- Very powerful optional 2.5 L engine

Weaknesses

- Engine is noisy on acceleration
- ABS is not standard
- Stiff suspension
- Plain interior
Common problems are: noisy belts, check engine light, wiring problems and electrical.

Overall

Nissan Sentra is very economical, small car. Relatively inexpensive, simple and easy to maintain. Optional 2.5-liter engine provides lots of power. The Sentra is not as reliable as Civic or Corolla, but it doesn't have major problems. Still, you may want to consider an extended warranty.

What to look for when buying a used Nissan Sentra

Definitely check the used car history records to protect yourself from hidden problems.
- Check the service records if available - it's important to verify that the car was properly maintained.
- Look for leaks
- If the "check engine" light is on, have the problem assessed with your mechanic or a Nissan dealer before buying a car; in worst cases a defective part might be quite expensive (e.g ECM, airflow sensor, catalytic converter).
- Make sure to test horn operation.
- Check operation of accessories including all windows and heater controls.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
- Prior purchase have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice on a lift - many components (e.g ball joints) can not be properly inspected by simple visual inspection.
After buying a car, visit your local Nissan dealer to check if all necessary recalls have been performed.
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition; check our step-by-step used car buying guide for more information.
Some models may be costly to insure. Get the insurance quotes first.

Few maintenance tips

- Wash and wax your car regularly to protect the paint.
- If you live in the area with high humidity, rustproofing will help to protect the car body from corrosion.
- Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid regularly.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine; this may cause serious problems.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, before they cause something serious.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in the garage on the lift (e.g when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at one of those fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
Check more Car maintenance tips from Samarins.com

Nissan Sentra short specs. (2004 US model)

Dimensions:
Overall length: Overall width: Overall height: Wheelbase:	177.5 (4509 mm) 67.3 (1709 mm) 55.5 (1410 mm) 99.8 (2535 mm)
Cargo volume:	11.6 cu ft (328 liters)
Base Curb Weight:
1.8 Manual: 1.8 Automatic: 1.8 S Manual: 1.8 S Automatic: 2.5 S: SE-R: SE-R Spec V	2513.3 lb (1140 kg) 2587.8 lb (1174 kg) 2580.9 lb (1171 kg) 2624.8 lb (1191 kg) 2763.4 lb (1253 kg) 2761.3 lb (1253 kg) 2710.1 lb (1229 kg)
Engines:
1.8 / 1.8 S 2.5 S / SE-R SE-R Spec V	16 valves 1.8L DOHC I4, model QG18DE 126 h.p @ 6000 rpm, 129 lb-ft @ 2400 rpm 16 valves 2.5L DOHC I4, model QR25DE 165 h.p @ 6000 rpm, 175 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm. 16 valves 2.5L DOHC I4, model QR25DE 175 h.p @ 6000 rpm, 180 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm.
EPA Fuel Economy:
1.8 / 1.8 S Manual: 1.8 / 1.8 S Automatic: 2.5 S / SE-R Automatic: SE-R Spec V Manual:	city: 28MPG (8.4 L/100km) hwy: 35MPG (6.7 L/100km) city: 28MPG (8.4 L/100km) hwy: 35MPG (6.7 L/100km) city: 23MPG (10.2 L/100km) hwy: 28MPG (8.4 L/100km) city: 23MPG (10.2 L/100km) hwy: 29MPG (8.1 L/100km)
Recommended Fuel:
1.8 / 1.8 S / 2.5 S / SE-R SE-R Spec V	regular unleaded premium unleaded
Fuel Tank Capacity:	13.2 US gal (50 liters)
Engine Oil capacity:
1.8 L engine: 2.5 L engine:	3.1 quart (2.9 liters) 4.1 quart (3.9 liters)