2022 Nissan Sentra: MPG and fuel economy
The 2022 Nissan Sentra is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 33 combined MPG, with 29 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2022 Nissan Sentra. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model 3 RWD at 132 MPG.
- The Nissan Sentra has lost 7 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1984 Nissan Sentra at 41 MPG. That is often a sign of larger engines or heavier curb weights in newer generations.
- EPA estimates this car saves around $1,750 in fuel over five years compared with an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2022 Nissan Sentra. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 33 MPG |
| City MPG | 29 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 39 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $1,800 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 269 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Regular |
How the 2022 Nissan Sentra compares
The 2022 Nissan Sentra returns 33 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 35.2 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 6%.
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model 3 RWD at 132 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Nissan Sentra alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2022 model year (across all classes) returns 30.7 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2022 model year is on its own page.
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for regular gasoline, which is $3.99/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 454.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $900 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $1,800 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $3,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Nissan Sentra
The EPA has rated the Nissan Sentra across 37 model years, from 1984 Nissan Sentra through 2025 Nissan Sentra. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 1984 Nissan Sentra returned 41 MPG. The most recent 2025 Nissan Sentra returns 34 MPG. That is a drop of 7 MPG over 41 model years. Newer trims that grow heavier or carry larger engines tend to lose efficiency even as the rest of the lineup improves.
Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2022
If you are cross-shopping the 2022 Nissan Sentra, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Tesla Model 3 RWD leads this group at 132 MPG, 99 MPG ahead of the 2022 Nissan Sentra.
Specifications
The 2022 Nissan Sentra runs a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Midsize Cars
- Engine
- 2L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic (variable gear ratios)
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Regular
- Annual petroleum use
- 9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2022 Nissan Sentra
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2022 Nissan Sentra.
-
Is the 2022 Nissan Sentra fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2022 Nissan Sentra returns 33 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year sits at 35.2 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2022 Nissan Sentra get?
The EPA rates the 2022 Nissan Sentra at 33 combined MPG, 29 MPG in city driving, and 39 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 2022 Nissan Sentra per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $1,800 for the 2022 Nissan Sentra. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
What fuel does the 2022 Nissan Sentra use?
The EPA lists the 2022 Nissan Sentra as running on regular gasoline. Using a different grade than the manufacturer specifies can affect fuel economy and engine longevity. -
Has the Nissan Sentra become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has actually slipped. The first EPA-rated Nissan Sentra, the 1984 Nissan Sentra, returned 41 MPG, while the most recent 2025 Nissan Sentra returns 34 MPG. A drop of 7 MPG usually traces back to bigger engines or heavier curb weights in newer trims. -
How much CO₂ does the 2022 Nissan Sentra emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 269 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 4,035 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2022 Nissan Sentra?
City driving returns 29 MPG and highway driving returns 39 MPG, a gap of 10 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise. -
What engine is in the 2022 Nissan Sentra?
The 2022 Nissan Sentra has a 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: SIDI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2022 Nissan Sentra have?
The 2022 Nissan Sentra comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 2022 Nissan Sentra compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2022 model year is the Tesla Model 3 RWD at 132 combined MPG. The Nissan Sentra returns 33 MPG, a gap of 99 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.