2013 Nissan Sentra

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Rating7.5

Ranked #8 in 

Compact Sedan
Write Review
$15,990 - $19,590
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on November 3, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

High quality and roomy cabin

Numb steering

Completely new for the 2013 model year

Exemplary fuel economy

Sluggish acceleration

Spacious trunk

Seat comfort

Bluetooth costs an additional $1000

Specs & Features

$16,590

price

130 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

128 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

torque

Continuously Variable-Speed Automatic

transmission

1.8L 4cyl FWD CVT

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Nissan Sentra is a compact sedan that has gained maximum traction in the American automotive market over the years. It has just stepped into its new generation for the year 2013. The Nissan Sentra has been given a raft of updates in its latest iteration. To start with, it gets a stylish and classy exterior which looks simply superb and there’s nothing to complain about.

Buying Advice

We recommend buying the SL trim of the Nissan Sentra. It is not only expensive but also the most heavily equipped variant with additional features like Wood tone accents, 17-inch wheels, Dual-zone climate control, Rear spoiler, 4.3" audio system color display, 6 speakers, Intelligent Key keyless ignition, Daytime illumination, Premium cloth seat trim and Leather-wrapped shift knob w/maple wood-tone surround. On the upside, you can get all these by paying an extra of $3000 from the base version.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

 Furthermore, it delivers one of the best mileage in its segment, thanks to its inline-4 engine that puts out a pretty decent power output and torque delivery. It vaunts a spacious cabin as well and it also happens to be a competitively priced sedan. Moreover, it competes for head-on with the likes of cars like the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, and Hyundai Elantra.

Features
7.0/10

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is available in a 7 wide array of different trims, each of which is distinguished from the other by the set of features they come with. It falls in a price range that starts from $15,990 for its base variant to $19,590 for its top-of-the-line trim which doesn’t seem very expensive. As standard, it includes features like a 6-way driver seat, 4-speaker sound system, 16” steel wheels, Chrome grille w/silver accents, and a Suede cloth with silver accents door trim.

Trims

S

FE+ S

SV

FE+ SV

SR

SL

MSRP

(Manual)

$15,990

-

     

 

(CVT)

$16,590

$16,990

$17,390

$17,790

$18,690

$19,590

Key features

6-way driver seat

Dual visor vanity mirrors w/extensions

Adds to the S trim

Front bucket seats

Adds to the SV trim

Includes SV and driver’s package

 

Air-conditioning

Suede cloth with silver accents door trim

Upgraded cloth upholstery 

Rear window defroster w/timer

Premium cloth interior

17-inch wheels 

 

4-speaker sound system

Daytime illumination

6-speaker sound system

Soft-touch driver side door armrest

17-inch alloy wheels

Fog lights

 

CD player 

Rear window defroster w/timer

Audio and cruise control steering wheel buttons 

Overhead LED map light

Rear spoiler 

Dual-zone climate control

 

Auxiliary jack

16" steel wheels 

Available optional driver’s package

Green tinted glass

Available optional driver’s package

Wood tone accents

 

16” steel wheels

Chrome grille with silver accents

LED taillights

Multi-reflector halogen headlamps -including LED accents, auto-off headlamps

 

Pandora internet radio

We Recommend:

We recommend buying the SL trim of the Nissan Sentra. It is not only expensive but also the most heavily equipped variant with additional features like Wood tone accents, 17-inch wheels, Dual-zone climate control, Rear spoiler, 4.3" audio system color display, 6 speakers, Intelligent Key keyless ignition, Daytime illumination, Premium cloth seat trim and Leather-wrapped shift knob w/maple wood-tone surround. On the upside, you can get all these by paying an extra of $3000 from the base version.

Engine and Performance
6.0/10

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is a decent performer when it comes to engine performance front if not the best. It comes with only one engine option even though it has a large trim range. It houses a 1.8 liter inline 4 engine that churns out 130 hp @ 6000 rpm and a torque of 128 lb-ft. Nissan has chosen fuel economy over performance and compromised a bit when it comes to performance. Furthermore, this engine is coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission which only comes in the base trim. 

You can also opt for a CVT transmission for improved fuel efficiency and fuss-free driving. However, there is no All wheel drive in this car as all the trim comes with only Front-wheel drive. Coming to the performance of the car. The Sentra can boost to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and does a quarter-mile run in 17.1 seconds which is pretty decent when seen in isolation but not up to the mark when compared to its counterparts. However, it manages to excel in terms of top speed. It maxes out at 127 mph which is one of the highest in its class.

Model

Nissan Sentra

Honda Civic

Chevrolet Cruze

Hyundai Elantra

MSRP

$15,990

$18,165

$17,130

$16,695

Engine 

1.8-liter inline 4

1.8-liter inline 4

1.8-liter inline 4

1.8-liter inline 4

Drivetrain

FWD

FWD

FWD

FWD

Transmission

6-speed Manual

5-speed Manual

6-speed Manual

6-speed Manual

Power

130 hp @ 6000 rpm

140 hp @ 6500 rpm

138 hp @ 6300 rpm

145 hp @ 6500 rpm

Torque

128 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

125 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

131 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

0-60mph (sec)

9.1

8.3

9.5

8.3

Quarter-mile (sec)

17.1

16.8

17.4

16.8

Top Speed (mph)

127

130

125

121

In comparison, all the cars make use of an inline-4 engine and are sold as front-wheel-drive variants only. All these cars make use of a continuously variable transmission as well as a manual transmission. In the acceleration test, Both Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra clock 8.3 seconds to the 60 MPH mark, while the Cruze takes 9.5 seconds to achieve a similar mark. Even in the top speed run, the Honda Civic continues its victory streak with a top speed of 130 mph.

Fuel Economy
8.0/10

This is where the Nissan Sentra does a great job. It performs really well on the Fuel economy front. The Nissan Sentra manages to return a mileage of 27 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and a combined figure of 30 mpg which is not bad at all. With a mediocre 13.2 gallons, it is capable of traversing a distance of 356 miles in the city and 475 miles while cruising down the highway.

Model

Nissan Sentra

Honda Civic

Chevrolet Cruze

Hyundai Elantra

MPG (city)

27

28

25

27

MPG (Highway)

36

36

36

37

MPG (Combined)

30

31

29

32

Fuel Capacity (gallons)

13.2 gal.

13.2 gal.

15.6 gal.

12.8 gal.

Range (city/highway)

356/475

370/475

390/562

358/486

Although all the competitors of Nissan Sentra hit the same ballpark in terms of the fuel economy figures, the Honda Civic has an edge over others with a better mileage but the 13.2 gallon is a disadvantage as it is not the best when it comes to range. The Chevrolet Cruze, with its 15.6 gallons, manages to cover the highest distance of 390 miles in the city and 562 miles on the highway.

Interior
8.0/10

The Nissan Sentra greets you with a simple interior and a pretty impressive comfort level. The dashboard also comes with wooden accents in the higher trims to enrich the look of the cabin. The Steering however looks a bit outdated but got you covered with audio and call controls which is appreciable. The AC vents are large and stylish and channel more air into the cabin.

The Nissan Sentra also comes with premium cloth trim as standard. Nevertheless, it offers some fantastic packages to enhance your interior even more. To start with, it offers a leather package where they offer leather-appointed seats and heated front seats for the first-class comfort. If you need a more splendid driving experience, you get a premium package that comes in handy which offers a Power sliding sunroof thereby enhancing the overall experience of the car.

Model

Nissan Sentra

Honda Civic

Chevrolet Cruze

Hyundai Elantra

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Legroom)(inch)

39.4/54.7/42.5

39/56.6/42

39.3/54.8/42.3

40/55.9/43.6

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Legroom) (inch)

36.7/53.9/37.4

37.1/53.3/36.2

37.9/53.9/35.4

37.1/54.8/33.1

Cargo Capacity (cu-ft)

15.1

12.5

15

14.8

In comparison, All three can easily accommodate 5 passengers with their fairly sized cabin. Both Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic have an almost similar amount of space for front-seat passengers, while the Rear seat passengers will find themselves comfortable in the Chevrolet Cruze. In terms of cargo capacity, the Nissan Sentra beats all the lineup of cars in its competition by a decent margin. Some standout and optional features you can find inside the Nissan Sentra are as follows:

  • Premium cloth seat trim
  • Maple wood-tone interior door handles
  • Leather-wrapped shift knob w/maple wood-tone surround
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel w/illuminated mounted cruise, audio & Bluetooth controls
  • Rear window defroster w/timer

How intuitive is the 2013 Nissan Sentra’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the Nissan Sentra is considerably packed with essential features on board. The infotainment screen makes its debut in the SR trim. However, you don’t get it in the base trim. As standard, it gets features like speakers, aux audio input jack, AM/FM audio system, and CD/MP3 player which seems not sufficient. But As the trim goes higher, you get some cool options such as:

  • 4.3" audio system color display (optional)
  • Bluetooth hands-free phone system(optional)
  • SiriusXM satellite radio(optional)
  • Navigation (optional)
  • Pandora Radio (optional)

Exterior
7.0/10

The Nissan Sentra gets an immense makeover for 2013 which makes it an absolute looker. It is stylish, smart, and quite appealing. It has that true Nissan DNA and can realize it at first glance. The headlights are sharp and curvy and add to the front fascia of the car. It also gets fog lamps if you go for higher trims. The front grille is surrounded by chrome bits that look flashy.

The Taillights get the same style as the front headlights, it is such a stylish-looking light. It also gets a smooth and aero-efficient body design. Speaking of the wheels, the base version gets 16 inches alloys wheels on offer. Moving on to the dimensions, the Nissan Sentra measures a length of 182 inches which is the longest car in the segment and also the tallest sedan in its competition measuring 59 inches.

Model

Nissan Sentra

Honda Civic

Chevrolet Cruze

Hyundai Elantra

Curb weight (lbs)

2822 lbs.

2740 lbs.

3093 lbs.

2661 lbs.

Length (in.)

182 in.

179 in.

181 in.

179 in.

width (in.)

69 in.

69 in.

70.7 in.

67 in.

height (in.)

59 in.

57 in.

58 in.

56 in.

Ground Clearance (in)

6.4

NA

NA

5.5

Wheelbase (in.)

106.3 in.

105.1 in.

105.7 in.

106.3 in

In comparison, the 2013 Nissan Sentra smashes its competitors in terms of overall dimensions, while the Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic measure an overall similar length of 69 inches. The Hyundai Elantra on the other hand has the highest ground clearance 5.5 inches However, the Honda Civic occurs to be the lightest car in the segment with a curb weight of 2740 lbs. Some standout exterior features include:

  • 17" 7-spoke aluminum wheels
  • Multi-reflector halogen headlamps -inc: LED accents, smart auto headlamps
  • LED taillights
  • Fog lights
  • Variable intermittent windshield wipers
  • Green tinted glass

Safety
8.0/10

The Nissan Sentra comes with a handful of safety features on tap and has a good reputation for safety due to its decent scores in the crash tests conducted by the topmost organizations. It procures an overall five stars from NHTSA making it, perhaps one of the reasonable picks of the lot. Furthermore, it scores Good rating in almost all the areas from IIHS except the Small overlap front: driver side where it scores Poor rating. Some standout safety features include:

  • Anti-lock braking system
  • electronic brake force distribution 
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • Vehicle dynamic control 
  • 3-point ELR driver seat belt
  • Energy-absorbing steering column
  • Zone body construction

Final Verdict

The Nissan Sentra is its new generation and it has improved substantially compared to its predecessor. It is more athletic, more comfortable and has got more character than before. Moreover, it gets a decent safety rating and has performed quite remarkably in the crash tests thrown at it. On the whole, it is geared up with some modern features and the exterior design and interior space are what sets it apart from some of the rivals in its competition, and in our opinion, it is an ideal car to buy in the compact sedan segment.

Trims

    S
    $15,990 onwards
    • 16-inch steel Wheels
    • A-Spec Sport Seats
    • AM/FM stereo
    • Cloth Seat trim
    • Front manual air conditioning
    • Remote keyless entry
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    FE+ S
    $16,990 onwards
    • seek-scan Radio
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • 4-way manual adjustable driver
    • AM/FM stereo
    • Manual front air conditioning
    • Power Windows andamp; Door Locks
    SV
    $17,390 onwards
    • Premium cloth Seat trim
    FE+ SV
    $17,790 onwards
    • Engine: 1.8L 4cyl FWD CVT
    • Horsepower: 130 hp @ 6000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 128 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9.9 sec
    • Top Speed: 120 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 34 mpg
    SR
    $18,690 onwards
    • 17-inch silver aluminum Wheels
    • Front Fog/driving lights
    SL
    $19,590 onwards
    • 1St row LCD monitor
    • Dual zone automatic front air conditioning
    • Heated mirrors
    • Seek-Scan Radio
    • Siriusxm AM/FM/Satellite

Compare to similar cars

Price

$15,990- $19,590

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.52

Horsepower

130 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

128 lb.-ft. @ 3600 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$25,900- $31,400

Gasoline

8.12

150 hp @ 6500 rpm

140 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$23,080- $29,105

Gasoline

8.27

180 hp @ 6700 rpm

171 lb.-ft. @ 4900 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,130- $23,550

Gasoline

7.82

138 hp @ 6300 rpm

125 lb.-ft. @ 3800 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,995- $19,995

Gasoline

8.01

160 hp @ 6400 rpm

148 lb.-ft. @ 4600 rpm

-

Read Review

$16,200- $24,200

Gasoline

8.34

160 hp @ 6500 rpm

146 lb.-ft. @ 4450 rpm

5

Read Review

$13,200- $18,200

Gasoline

7.6

120 hp @ 6350 rpm

112 lb.-ft. @ 5000 rpm

5

Read Review

$17,965- $27,965

Gasoline

8.13

140 hp @ 6500 rpm

128 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

$16,695- $21,115

Gasoline

8.08

148 hp @ 6500 rpm

131 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,400- $19,800

Gasoline

7.31

156 hp @ 6200 rpm

144 lb.-ft. @ 4300 rpm

5

Read Review

2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    9.7 sec17.3 sec120 mph
    8 sec16.1 sec-
    8.1 sec16.4 sec130 mph
    8.1 sec--
    8.1 sec16.2 sec120 mph
    8.2 sec--

    2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      30 mpg36 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.356.4/475.2 mi.
      29 mpg39 mpg33 mpg12 gal.359.6/483.6 mi.
      28 mpg38 mpg32 mpg12.8 gal.358.40/486.40 mi.
      28 mpg41 mpg32 mpg15.8 gal.- -
      28 mpg36 mpg31 mpg13.2 gal.369.6/475.2 mi.
      26 mpg36 mpg30 mpg12.4 gal.322.4/446.4 mi.

      2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        182.1 in.69.3 in.58.9 in.6.4 in.106.3 in.
        183.9 in.72 in.57.7 in.6 in.106.4 in.
        183.9 in.71.4 in.58.4 in.9 in.105.7 in.
        182.2 in.70 in.57.2 in.5.5 in.104.4 in.
        181 in.70.7 in.58.1 in.7 in.105.7 in.
        2013 Mazda 3

        Ranked #5

        180.9 in.69.1 in.57.9 in.4.7 in.103.9 in.

        2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          15.1 cu.ft.95.9 cu.ft.167.9 cu.ft.
          12.5 cu.ft.94.6 cu.ft.147.4 cu.ft.
          10.3 cu.ft.95.6 cu.ft.94.1 cu.ft.
          12.8 cu.ft.85.1 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.
          13.2 cu.ft.90.7 cu.ft.315.2 cu.ft.
          12.4 cu.ft.89.3 cu.ft.71 cu.ft.

          2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            167.9 cu.ft.15.1 cu.ft.167.9 cu.ft.-
            67 cu.ft.15.5 cu.ft.67 cu.ft.-
            14.3 cu.ft.62.3 cu.ft.13.1 cu.ft.-
            83.1 cu.ft.12.8 cu.ft.96.8 cu.ft.-
            -12.3 cu.ft.--
            7.6 cu.ft.12.3 cu.ft.7.6 cu.ft.-

            2013 Nissan Sentra vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              -906 lbs.2822 lbs.
              1500 lbs.-2734 lbs.
              1000 lbs.-3300 lbs.
              -1047 lbs.2833 lbs.
              -931 lbs.2729 lbs.
              -899 lbs.3093 lbs.

              2013 Nissan Sentra Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              6

              Recalls

              3

              Investigations

              628

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              2013 Nissan Sentra User Reviews

              0.2

              [5 Reviews]

              1

              [20.0%] [1 Reviews]

              2

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              3

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              4

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              5

              [0.0%] [0 Reviews]

              POPULAR TAGS

              MGT

              Michael G Teachnor

              2013 Nissan Sentra

              S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: June 25, 2024

              Sentra Still a good car

              Pros - ["Roomy Trunk", "good Passenger room"]

              Cons - ["No blue tooth", "no rear USB ports"]

              I have owned a few different Sentra's, all of which have been fine cars. Good gas mileage, Good pep in the engine overall good ride. As an Uber driver, it served as an excellent car for passengers. It can carry 4 people and a driver comfortably. It has all the bells and whistles I desire

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review

              GM

              Gabriel Marmolejos

              2013 Nissan Sentra

              S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl CVT)

              1

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: May 10, 2024

              The perfect car for everyone

              Pros - The cars is comfortable, The MPG is great

              Cons - The transmission have problems, The SR model don't come with back camara

              The 2013 Nissan Sentra SR is a compact sedan known for its fuel efficiency and comfortable ride. The exterior design is sleek, and the interior boasts spaciousness. The 1.8L engine provides adequate power for daily commuting. The SR trim offers sportier features, enhancing the overall driving experience. However, the CVT transmission can be a bit noisy under heavy acceleration. The cabin provides...

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review

              MV

              Michael Villarreal

              2014 Nissan Sentra

              S 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 6M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: August 18, 2024

              It's a Great Car!

              Pros - ["Very light car, eco boost on Gas, great on long drives", "enough room for Tall people", "Perfect mileage"]

              Cons - ["AC always faulty", "Parts expensive", "AC faulty and expensive"]

              It's perfect just that the AC is always faulty and it's a lot to maintain and keep fixing but the rest is perfectly fine for me great music quality perfect seating awesome soft ride enjoyable at it's best

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review