Rent Nissan Sentra 2021 in Dubai

Renting from age 18 is the part most desks won't do, and it's where a lot of younger drivers in Dubai get stuck. We hand over the Nissan Sentra 2021 to anyone 18 and up, which already makes it one of the easier compact sedans to put a new licence behind. It's also our value pick in this class: the older model year keeps the rate down while the car gives you a full five seats, a deep boot and a quiet, easy automatic. If you want a comfortable commuter and airport runner without paying for the latest styling, this is the one to look at first.

Why the 2021 is the budget pick

The Sentra was fully redesigned for 2020, so the 2021 is the same generation as the newer cars on our fleet. You get the wider, lower body, the same 2.0-litre engine and the same cabin layout. What you don't pay for is the model year. A 2022 Sentra rents for more and gives you fresher styling and a slightly newer interior feel, but mechanically you're driving the same car. For a week of work commutes, mall runs and the odd airport pickup, the 2021 does everything the newer one does for less. That's the whole argument here.

If the look of the car matters to you, or you want the most current trim on the lot, step up to a 2022 Sentra. If you want the most space and refinement for the money, an Altima is the next size up. But if the job is honest daily driving on a budget, the 2021 Sentra is the sensible choice.

Specs at a glance

How it drives, and what to expect

The 2.0-litre four makes 149 hp, which is plenty for the way most people actually drive here. Pulling onto Sheikh Zayed Road, the Sentra gets up to 100 and sits there comfortably, and it'll overtake at highway speed without drama. What it won't do is feel sporty. The Xtronic CVT is tuned for smoothness and economy, not quick response, so a hard stab of throttle brings a flat surge of revs rather than a sharp kick. For commuting and cruising that's exactly right. If you want a car that feels eager when you push it, this isn't that car, and an Altima or a newer turbo sedan suits you better.

Around town it's relaxed and quiet, which is the point. The cabin stays calm at city speeds and the soft suspension takes speed bumps and rougher surface joints without jarring you. At 127 mm of clearance it sits like a normal sedan, so take mall ramps and steep parking entries at a sensible angle, but you won't be scraping on anything a regular road throws at you.

Cabin cooling in Dubai heat

A car that's been parked in July sun is a real test, and the Sentra handles it the way you'd hope from a mainstream sedan. The AC pulls a baked cabin down to comfortable within a few minutes of moving, and on the worst afternoons, when the dash is too hot to touch, give it five minutes with the fan high and windows cracked at first. The vents push hard up front, which matters most when you're the one driving. Rear-seat passengers cool down a step slower than those in the front, normal for the class, but for a family of four on mall runs it's never been a complaint at the desk.

Boot space and airport runs

This is where the Sentra earns its keep as an airport car. The 405-litre boot is genuinely large for an economy sedan, and the opening is wide and square. Two large suitcases and a couple of cabin bags go in without a fight, which covers a couple flying in for a week or a small family's holiday luggage. For a DXB or DWC pickup with four people and their cases, it works where a hatchback in the same price bracket would have you stacking bags on laps. The boot is the reason we put younger renters and visitors in this car for airport duty.

Fuel, range and running costs

At around 7.1 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, the Sentra is easy on fuel for its size. Real Dubai driving, heavy AC and stop-start traffic, will push that closer to 8 in the city, which is still cheap to run. The 45-litre tank gives you a realistic 550 to 600 km between fills, so a week of normal commuting is one fill-up.

Two practical Dubai notes. Salik tolls are billed to you as the renter, so each gantry you pass through is yours to settle, and any RTA fines during your rental pass to you as well. Belts are mandatory in every seat, front and back. None of this is Sentra-specific, but it's worth knowing before you take the keys.

Parking and city manoeuvring

At a touch over 4.6 metres long the Sentra is compact enough for everyday parking without being a chore. It slots into standard multi-storey bays, handles tight U-turns and threads through Marina side streets without the nervous reversing a larger sedan demands. Visibility is good and the light steering makes low-speed shuffling easy, so new drivers find it an unintimidating car to park, which fits the rent-from-18 crowd this car suits.

Who should rent it

Rent the 2021 Sentra if you want the most comfortable, roomy compact sedan we offer at the lowest rate, and you're driving for work, errands and airport runs rather than for fun. It's the obvious pick for younger renters from 18, for visitors who want a real boot, and for anyone who'd rather put the saving in their pocket than into a newer badge. If you want fresher styling, go for the 2022 Sentra. If you want more power and presence for highway-heavy weeks, size up to an Altima. For honest daily driving on a budget, this is the car.