Used 2012 Nissan Sentra for sale 

The 2012 Nissan Sentra sedan is offered in six different trim levels, including four mainstream models based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (2.0, 2.0 S, 2.0 SR, and 2.0 SL) and two high-performance variants powered by a 2.5-liter engine (SE-R and SE-R Spec V). The price of the base 2.0 sedan starts at $16,430 and goes up to $20,990 for the top-end SE-R Spec V trim.

The entry-level Sentra 2.0 starts with 15-inch steel wheels, air-conditioning, cloth upholstery, 60/40-split-folding rear seats, power windows and locks, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, and a four-speaker sound system with a CD player and auxiliary audio jack. The Sentra 2.0 S adds 16-inch steel wheels, power mirrors, a height-adjustable driver seat, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and a six-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with an iPod interface.

The 2.0 SR includes those items and adds styling cues from its sportier siblings, including distinctive front and rear fascias, side sill extensions, fog lamps, a rear spoiler, and 16-inch alloy wheels. Moving up to the 2.0 SL gets you a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry/ignition, Bluetooth, and an upgraded stereo with satellite radio and a color display.

Options on the 2.0 models vary by trim level and include leather upholstery with heated front seats (SL only) and a Convenience package that bundles keyless entry/ignition, Bluetooth, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel (S/SR only). A Technology package adds a navigation system, satellite radio, and an iPod interface (S/SR only). A Special Edition package includes everything in the Convenience and Technology packages plus a sunroof (SR only), while the Special Value package includes the sunroof, navigation, and a rearview monitor (SL only). An Audio package includes an eight-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio system (SL only).

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The models offering CVT engines are preferred over the base ones. Yet, when you're out on the test drive, if you're thinking about one of the CVT models, make sure you do some driving on hilly stretches and on the highway as the lagging, 'rubber-band' response of the transmission might bother some. If we have to choose one trim, the 2.0 SR trim is the one to own in the lineup.

The 2012 Sentra spans several quite different personalities. But most of the Sentra models you find at the dealership will pair a 140-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and Xtronic CVT; it's a decent combination for city driving, but on hills and in passing, it can feel a bit sluggish or delayed.

There's a six-speed manual gearbox that makes the Sentra a lot more enjoyable, but it's only offered in the base and SE-R Spec V trims. The sporty SE-R trim brings a larger 2.5-liter engine making 177 hp, matched only to the CVT. Then at the top of the line, the performance-focused SE-R Spec V gets a 200-hp, 2.5-liter four, hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox.

When comparing the car with its rivals, Sentra is not the quickest nor the fastest in the class. With a moderate price range to start with for its base trim, the sedan displays convincing results. When comparing the sedans in the competition, Ford Focus offers the most amount of power at 160 hp. In the 0-60 mph sprint, Focus leads the race with 8.0 seconds. 

Gas mileage is one of the top considerations for small-car shoppers—especially those who are on a tight budget and likely to consider entry 2012 Sentra models with the 2.0-liter engine. Here's where the Nissan Sentra is a letdown. Its EPA ratings, of just 24 mpg city, 30 highway, are actually worse than those of many mid-size sedans—and even when you get the more efficient CVT, ratings rise only somewhat to 27/34 mpg. The performance-oriented SE-R Spec V rates only 21/28—figures that, on the highway are beaten by a number of larger V-6 performance coupes.

The most fuel-efficient sedan of all the three cars featured here is the Ford Focus with a combined mpg of 31, and right behind it is the Chevy Cruze with a combined mpg of 30. The Nissan Sentra came not only short when compared to the others but also short by a considerable margin, as it recorded a combined mpg of just 26 mpg.

The Sentra's interior features unexpectedly spacious front seats that make it easy for even tall folks to get comfortable, though the lack of a telescoping steering column is a downer. The backseat is more of a mixed bag, with good headroom and hip room offset by a shortage of legroom.

Trunk space at 13.1 cubic feet is quite average for the class. From a driver's perspective, the dashboard gets high marks for the simple and straightforward design of gauges and controls. One notable exception is the optional navigation system's smallish 5-inch screen, which requires a fair amount of squinting to read.

Even in base 2.0 and 2.0 S models, materials feel about right for this price range—strictly budget-grade. The Sentra comes in only a single sedan body style, but it's a well-designed one, with tasteful but budget-grade appointments. Front seats are somewhat flat and unsupportive, but it's easy to find a good driving position, and there's just enough rear space for a couple of adults—thanks to the rather high roofline. Also thanks to that roofline, this small sedan's interior feels very spacious. While the seats themselves are flat and unsupportive, with padding that just won't work for long trips, most will be happy with space and the driving position. Some interior features are listed below for your reference:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated Front Seats
• Adjustable steering wheel column
• Optional Heated steering wheel
• Ambient interior lighting
• Steering Wheel Controls

2012 Nissan Sentra Sedan Infotainment System

A Rockford Fosgate audio system is among the top options, as is the navigation system with a five-inch screen, SD card reader, and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Intelligent Key keyless entry and start among other extras are available on the SE-R models. The other features offered on both top models includes USB connectivity and a full-color screen. The base Sentra comes standard with a four-speaker stereo with an auxiliary audio jack, while available features include satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a USB port. Few key features include-

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• 5 Inch Screen
• SD Card Reader
• Satellite Radio
• USB & Bluetooth

While the Sentra borrows many cues, including the flared-outward headlamps and prominent fender flanks from the still-current Altima sedan and Maxima, this small sedan's somewhat slab-sizes look and blunt rear design end up looking a bit dated compared to newer, more curvaceous rivals.

Up close, the 2012 Sentra doesn't look nearly as comely as the larger Altima; the arched roofline simply doesn't hold up well with these proportions, with the end result bearing some likeness, to our eyes, to the former Saturn Ion. 

The heaviest among the featured sedan cars is the Chevy Cruze, followed by the Nissan Sentra, and lastly the Ford Focus. But when it comes to length and height, the Sentra takes the pole position comfortably leaving behind the other two rivals on a fraction of the difference in the figures. In the case of the wheelbase, however, the Sentra and Cruze share the lead with both being measured identically. Some exterior features are:

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Fog Lamps (optional)
• Auto-Off Headlights
• Reverse camera
• Sunroof/moonroof

There are plenty of reasons to believe that the 2012 Nissan Sentra is a good, safe pick, but a set of unimpressive federal crash-test scores keep it from being a top choice for those who want peace of mind. Although in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Sentra gets top 'Good' ratings in frontal and side-impact tests, along with 'Acceptable' ratings in the IIHS seat-based rear-impact test. The Sentra's safety package is quite ordinary for the 2012 model year. Side and side-curtain airbags are standard, as are active head restraints and anti-lock brakes. Some other safety features include:

• Electronic Stability Control
• Child Safety Locks
• Traction Control
• Emergency Trunk Release
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Fully equipped airbags

With a poorer ride quality than rivals and a noisy CVT, there are of course better small cars than the 2012 Nissan Sentra. The 2012 Nissan Sentra is a respectable small sedan, unfortunately, the list of weak points is considerably longer, and the newer competitors outclass it in terms of power, fuel economy, athleticism, and charisma.