Holy Crap, If Cheap Is The New Hotness I'm Game: Quick Jump

Okay, we’ll finish this week out with one more Japanese small car after a week of them. Didn’t mean for it to turn out this way but with the way the world is, where the American economy stands, how the industry has responded on tariffs, and frustrated buyers are saddled with higher-than-anticipated costs; I assume you’re in need of something refreshing.

As am I. Which is why the 2026 Nissan Sentra blows me away. It pains me to admit that this is the best looking car in years to cost less than $30k new. Forget the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. This is on par with the Mazda3, a beautiful vehicle at any price point.

But sometimes, when everyone wants the same thing, it’s fun to seek the alternative. Inside manages to be even nicer:

Again, similar vibes to the Mazda3. There seems to be nice materials on the seats, dashboard and doors. Hopefully it’s soft to the touch. Your bum should sit in total comfort as the Sentra employs Nissan’s renown Zero Gravity seats.

As for how it drives? Well, it uses the exact same engine and transmission combo as the 2025 Sentra. A 2.0-liter motor connected to a CVT won’t set anyone’s hair on fire. With no hybrid in sight, I assume that’s how Nissan will keep the price of entry down as the Sentra is usually cheaper to buy and run versus its competitors. But when it looks the way it does, who cares?

Amazingly, the car pictured in orange is not the most expensive version of the Sentra. That honor goes to the tan(?)-painted SL, meaning you can get the sporty Sentra SR for less money. That would be my pick as the SL looks somewhat bland. Surface-level complaint aside, it has appeal.

So far, the 2026 Sentra looks to be a winner. If it drives about eight-tenths as good as the Mazda3—or even seven-tenths—then these are going to fly off the lots.

We love cheap goodness.

-TA