Nissan Sentra review: a good-looking sedan that Bahrain's own Nissan line-up outshines
3.3/5motorssouq Editorial Team
The Sentra is not a bad car — it is a competently built compact sedan with sharp styling — but it is a hard car to recommend on value in Bahrain specifically, because Nissan's own showroom undercuts it from both directions. Consider it if the design genuinely wins you over; otherwise the Sunny does the same commute for less and the Altima does more for a manageable step up.
Pros
- Distinctive, coupe-influenced styling that stands out from class rivals
- Cabin borrows visual and material cues from the larger Altima
- Straightforward Nissan mechanicals serviced at any familiar workshop
- Comfortable, composed ride for daily Bahrain commuting
Cons
- Less power (113 hp) than Nissan's own cheaper Sunny in a bigger, heavier car
- Not meaningfully roomier than the Sunny despite costing more
- Gives up space and engine choice to the Altima for a modest saving
- Xtronic CVT needs documented fluid changes to be trusted used
The B18 Sentra's design is genuinely more distinctive than a Sunny or a Corolla — a lower roofline, a wider stance and a cabin that borrows visual cues from the Altima above it. It is a car that photographs well and reads as more expensive than it is, which counts for something on a shortlist.
Where it struggles in Bahrain
The problem is purely internal to Nissan's own range. GCC-spec Sentras use a 1.6-litre engine making 113 hp, less power than the 118 hp Sunny gets from a comparable-size engine, in a car that is larger and heavier. It does not feel underpowered around town, but it also does not feel quick, and the CVT does its usual job of keeping the engine at a steady drone under hard acceleration.
Against the Sunny, the Sentra costs more for a car that is not meaningfully roomier inside despite being longer overall. Against the Altima, it gives up rear-seat space, boot capacity and the option of a more powerful engine for a relatively small saving. That leaves styling as the Sentra's real argument.
Buying one used
Mechanically it shares its underpinnings and Xtronic CVT with the wider Nissan compact family, so the same advice applies: confirm the transmission fluid has been changed on schedule, and treat a car with no service history as needing that work immediately. Parts and service are straightforward at any Nissan-familiar workshop in Bahrain.