How much does the 2016 Nissan Sentra cost?

Prices have softened 9.00% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 881 listings available, which suggests you should have some room to compare prices and condition across the market.

If you find a listing below $7,968.82, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra a good car?

Yes — the 2016 Nissan Sentra earns a 5/5 user rating and an 8/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Cost effectiveness and Safety.

The Sentra is positioned as an affordable compact sedan with a spacious interior, modernized styling, and strong fuel efficiency. It’s especially appealing if you want a practical daily commuter with a roomy back seat and a straightforward cabin layout.

The model also posts a 24.9% good-or-great-deal rate, which gives you a decent chance of finding a competitively priced listing.

Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The Sentra’s value proposition is reinforced by its efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, smooth CVT pairing, and a setup that prioritizes everyday usability over complexity. The expert evaluation also highlights its solid handling, controlled braking, and commuter-friendly fuel economy, all of which support a dependable ownership experience.

It also comes with a 36-month/36,000-mile limited warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, which adds some reassurance for used buyers. For long-term ownership, the main risk is making sure the car has been maintained well, since a budget-focused sedan can show wear if it’s been neglected.

What should I look for when buying a used 2016 Nissan Sentra?

At 52.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially on cars with higher mileage or visible cosmetic wear. Focus on signs of prior body repair, uneven panel gaps, tire wear, and any evidence that the car has been used hard in daily commuting.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base S trim includes halogen headlights, dual power outside mirrors, Bluetooth hands-free phone service, cruise control, cloth seating, manually adjustable front seats, and 60/40 split rear seats. It doesn’t have many extras, so moving up the range is where you get more comfort and convenience features.
• Powertrain: Every trim uses a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 130 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. The base model gets a 6-speed manual, while the rest of the lineup uses a CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard, and the engine is adequate for city driving but less confident for highway merging.
• Safety package: Airbags, vehicle dynamic control, front seatbelt pretensioners, and child safety locks are standard on every Sentra. Forward emergency braking and blind-spot warning are available only as options and only on the top two trim levels.
• Infotainment: The base system includes AM/FM radio, a CD player, 4 speakers, a USB port, an Aux jack, MP3/WMA CD playback, and Bluetooth hands-free phone service. Higher trims add a 5-inch color monitor, a 5.8-inch touchscreen, navigation, voice recognition, NissanConnect mobile apps, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Siri Eyes Free.
• Fuel efficiency: The Sentra is rated at 29 mpg city/38 highway/34 combined, and the FE+S trim is rated at 30 mpg city/40 highway.

Which 2016 Nissan Sentra trim should I buy?

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is offered in 5 trim levels: S, FE+S, SV, SR, SL.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The S is the most stripped-down choice. It gives you the essentials, but it lacks the added comfort, tech, and safety options that show up higher in the lineup.
• Sweet-spot trim: The SV is the best value for many shoppers because it adds a rear-view camera, NissanConnect with mobile apps, hands-free text messaging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a better infotainment setup without jumping all the way to the sportier or top-end trims.
• Premium/top trim: The SL is the most fully equipped version, turning many SR options into standard equipment and adding dual-zone automatic temperature control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and piano black interior accents.
• Off-road trim: None of the trims here are aimed at off-road use.

Forward emergency braking and blind-spot warning are available only as options, and only on the top two trim levels.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2016 Nissan Sentra?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 24.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 881 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.00% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 52.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $7,968.82, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2016 Nissan Sentra's resale value?

The current average of $7,954 sits slightly below last year's $8,741.

That price movement suggests the Sentra has become more accessible for buyers, which can help support demand in the near term. For you as a future seller, that also means resale value may depend heavily on condition, mileage, and whether the car has a clean history.

Because this model year is positioned as a value-focused commuter sedan, well-kept examples should remain easier to move than neglected ones. If you maintain it carefully and keep records, you’ll be in a better position when it’s time to sell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra safe?

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and earned a top score of Good in every category. It also earned an overall rating of four-star ratings from NHTSA, with five-star ratings in side crash tests and four-star ratings in frontal and rollover tests.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

The Sentra includes airbags, vehicle dynamic control, front seatbelt pretensioners, and child safety locks as standard equipment. Forward emergency braking and blind-spot warning are available, but only as options and only on the top two trim levels.

The main safety caveat is that some of the more advanced driver-assistance features are not standard, so you’ll want to confirm whether a specific used example has them before you buy.

Should I buy a 2016 Nissan Sentra or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2016 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2016 if:

• 24.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 52.8% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 9.00% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It got a refresh that updated the exterior to match the rest of Nissan’s lineup and added interior enhancements to improve appeal.

The bottom line: If you want a value-focused compact sedan with strong fuel economy, a roomy cabin, and a lower asking price than it had a year ago, the 2016 Sentra is the primary path to consider. If you’re especially price-sensitive, shop carefully for a clean, well-maintained example and prioritize condition over trim level.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 14, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.