2009 Nissan Sentra vs. Its Competition

Meta Rating 7.6 out of 10

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Our expert editors build comparisons like this one to make it easy for you to understand the small handful of cars you should compare to whatever car you are already looking at. You get general thoughts on each car you should consider plus an easy way to compare basic information for yourself.

Trevor Wild

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2 Feb 12, 2009

The 2009 Nissan Sentra stands in the middle of a fiercely competitive class with many excellent offerings.

The 2010 Mazda3 launches in early 2009 and offers features not found on any other competitors; it’s also an enthusiast favorite.

The 2009 Honda Civic matches the variety, including coupe and sedan body styles and multiple powertrains—even hybrid and natural gas—and it has more interior style than most others in this class.

The 2009 Toyota Corolla has been recently redesigned, and its LE trim level is very attractive.

The Ford Focus puts forth a coupe alongside the sedan, plus Ford’s unique SYNC hands-free system and great fuel economy, but it can’t compete with the Sentra on looks.

The 2009 Hyundai Elantra and Dodge Caliber lag this pack in overall refinement and style.

2009 Nissan Sentra Browse Used Listings	2008 Dodge Caliber Browse Used Listings	2008 Ford Focus Browse Used Listings	2008 Hyundai Elantra Browse Used Listings	2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Browse Used Listings
Quick Specs
Meta Rating
7.6 The 2009 Nissan Sentra is a worthy contender in the compact segment, but the CVT transmission may turn off some buyers.	7 The Caliber has a very practical layout and quite a few innovative features to get excited about, but it's lacking in driving enjoyment or refinement--even compared to its low-priced competition.	7.2 The 2008 Ford Focus isn’t all new, but it is an improvement, and a solid choice if you’re looking for a roomy car that handles well with a base price that starts around $15,000.	7.6 The 2008 Hyundai Elantra doesn’t have a lot of personality, but it’s the undeniable practical choice.	7.8 The 2008 Mazda 3 is easily one of the best compact cars for sale in the United States.
MSRP From
$15,350	$14,965	$14,395	$13,970	$13,895
Gas Mileage
21 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy	19 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy	24 MPG City / 35 MPG Hwy	24 MPG City / 33 MPG Hwy	18 MPG City / 32 MPG Hwy
Engine
Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I4	Gas I4
EPA Class
Compact	Mid-size	Compact	Mid-Size	Compact
Style Name
4dr Sedan I4 Man 2.0	4dr HB SE FWD	2dr Coupe S	4dr Sedan Man GLS	4dr Sedan Man i Sport Ltd Avail
Drivetrain
Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive	Front Wheel Drive
Passenger Capacity
5	5	5	5	5
Passenger Doors
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Body Style
4 Door Sedan	Hatchback	2 Door Coupe	4 Door Sedan	4 Door Sedan
Transmission
Manual	Manual	Manual w/OD	Manual w/OD	Manual w/OD