Used 2003 Nissan Sentra for Sale Nationwide
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About 2003 Nissan Sentra
Overview

It seems the 2003 Nissan Sentra has a car for every member of the family. The base XE is a nice compact economy car that's light on both features and the wallet. The GXE, with power accessories, a CD player, and 60/40 split-fold seats, is geared toward a young family or personal commuter. Then, for the mom or dad needing a break from routine, there is the sporty SE-R and racing-inspired SE-R Spec V. Now, in 2003, there is the 2.5 Limited Edition, a solid economy family compact sedan full of convenience and safety features.
Both the XE and GXE carry a 1.8-liter, 126-hp I4 engine with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. The 2.5 LE is basically a GXE that adds on standard ABS brakes and side impact airbags and comes only with the auto tran. The 2003 Sentra also bids farewell to the CA, as both the XE and GXE now meet low emissions requirements in California. The SE-R Spec V gets a new 6-speed manual transmission with closer gear ratios. Both the SE-R and Spec V are fueled by a 2.5-liter I4 that is rated at 165-hp (SE-R) or 175-hp (Spec V). The SE-R has a choice of the 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic. Both feature sports-tuned suspension, sport seats, a rear spoiler, side sills, chrome exhausts, and titanium gauges. The Spec-V is a bit more aggressive, with larger performance tires, stronger brakes, and a more racing-tuned suspension.
The 2003 Sentra is a popular choice for those seeking both performance power and a low price tag. Drivers say it the engines are responsive and the SE-R models are a lot of fun to drive. Handling is tight, and gas mileage is excellent, even on the SE-R models. Overall room seems larger than other compacts (and the Sentra is longer than its competitors). Owners also praise the sound system. Negative comments mention the lack of rear legroom, peeling and chipping paint, the poor quality of interior materials, no standard ABS on the XE and GXE, and the undescript rear styling that doesn't match the aggressive front end.
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4.4 Overall rating
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Richard F
Reviewed a 2003 Nissan Sentra on Jul 14, 2024
There is damage to the drivers door and the fender in front of the drivers door, it specification did not divulge the damage.
Anonymous
Reviewed a 2003 Nissan GXE on Apr 6, 2015
Rally nice car for daily commute. It saves money on Gas and has comfortable ride. It is low on maintenance which makes this car very economical. It's small in size that helps to park easily. Bottom line best daily commute car.
David K
Reviewed a 2003 Nissan SE-R Spec V on Sep 11, 2008
This car is great... I was looking for a nice sporty sedan with a couple requirements. One was it needed a sunroof (check) and another was a manual tranny (check). I looked around at a Mazda Protege5, but it wasn't very fast with the 130hp engine. Found a bright yellow SE-R Spec V Sentra for sale for about the same price as that Mazda. Test drove it and realized that it had been taken care of. The QR25DE 2.5L engine with 175hp and 180lb/ft of torque combined with the low gearing makes for some great acceleration. The car has so much low end torque that I can leave it in 6th gear when slowing down to 50km/h (32MPH) for a town and not have to shift down to accelerate back to highway speed. However, due to the low gearing, high speeds and fuel economyaren't high points. The 6 speed manual with it's double overdrive (4th is 1:1, 5th and 6th are both overdrives) can't manage more than 27 MPG with my wife driving or 25 MPG with me driving. In contrast, I had a faster SVT Contour with a V6 of the same capacity that could outrun this and acheived better fuel economy. The build quality is about par for a Japanese car, lots of durable but hard plastics and other materials. Due to the factory 17" wheels, the turning circle is VERY large for a car this size, but hey, this car definitely has the looks. Gets stares EVERYWHERE you go because of the "look-at-me-yellow" paintjob. This is definitely a super fun car to drive, but with my back I wish it had more lumbar support. It now has about 100,000 miles on it, and it hasn't needed any repairs beyond normal wear and tear items. This is a GREAT car for the price!
Anonymous
Reviewed a 2003 Nissan SE-R Spec V on Nov 16, 2014
I like the fact that the car is the last edition on the Sentra, it comes with a 2.5 engine with a 4 cylinder and is very economical in gas. Very low maintenance needs it for this type of cars. I don't like that sometimes with out realizing I am going over the speed limits.
2003 Nissan Sentra Trims
| Trim type | MSRP |
|---|---|
| 2.5 LE | $17,139 |
| GXE | $14,639 |
| SE-R | $16,739 |
| SE-R Spec V | $17,739 |
| XE | $12,639 |
2003 Nissan Sentra Price Trends
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![[KV9] Radium 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V Sedan Front-Wheel Drive Automatic](https://static.cargurus.com/images/forsale/2025/12/23/16/26/2002_nissan_sentra-pic-2360266065318618438-1024x768.jpeg?io=true&width=640&height=480&fit=bounds&format=jpg&auto=webp)



