The 2006 Nissan Sentra had two personalities—the compact commuter car available in the 1.8 and 1.8S trims, and the compact performance vehicle that made waves with two special edition trims. The Nissan Sentra SE-R (which stands for Special Edition-Racing) and the SE-R Spec V (Special Edition-Racing Victory Specification) were both mouthfuls to pronounce, but they delivered excitement for driving enthusiasts.

The SE-R was introduced in 1990 as part of the Sentra’s second-generation lineup, offering a sporty alternative to the practical compact sedan. However, by 2006, even the SE-R and SE-R Spec V were outpaced by some of their competitors. One selling point for the Sentra, though, was its bargain-bin pricing schedule, with the base model starting at just $13,200.

If you’re thinking of buying a 2006 Nissa Sentra, one of the special edition trims is probably the best way to go. To guide you through the specifications, selling points, and shortcomings of the 2006 Sentra is

Jerry

, the trusted

car insurance

broker app. As a bonus, we'll even show you how to reduce your

Nissan Sentra insurance costs

What is the 2006 Nissan Sentra Special Edition?

There were two special edition models available with the Sentra’s 2006 lineup, with one being a hair sportier than the other.

While the base Sentra had a practical 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine that got 126 horsepower, the

Sentra SE-R

and

SE-R Spec V

both came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 165-horsepower and 175-horsepower output, respectively.

The SE-R’s starting MSRP was $18,100—that’s $4,900 more than the base trim—and the SE-R Spec V started at $18,300.

MORE:

All about the Nissan Rogue Special Edition

2006 Nissan Sentra overview

Before we explore what made the SE-R and SE-R Spec V worth $5,000 more than the base level, let’s look at the Nissan Sentra’s 2006 model year as a whole.

In 2006, the Sentra was about mid-way through its third generation. While in the early 2000s it stood out as an impressive model for its class, it faced some stiff competition by 2006, and in many ways was outperformed, by competitors like the

and

The base level

and the

both came standard with a 5-speed manual transmission, but a 4-speed automatic was an option. Weirdly, the SE-R came only as an automatic, while the SE-R Spec V was exclusively a 6-speed manual.

Here are some basic takeaways to know about the Sentra 1.8:

Key specs:

Starting MSRP: $13,200

Engine: 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder

Horsepower: 126 hp

Torque

: 129 lb-ft at 2,400 RPM

Mileage: 28 mpg city, 35 mpg highway

MORE: The best cars for your commute

Are you overpaying for your car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Compare Rates Now

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees

4.717k Ratings

5M+Drivers Joined

7M+Cars Garaged

What’s special about the Special Edition?

The SE-R and SE-R Spec V were the two top

trim levels

available for the Nissan Sentra in 2006. They got worse gas mileage but had a lot more power—not to mention a premium suspension. The quality of the ride may not have been improved, but its cornering and handling blew the base level out of the water.

Here’s what the SE-R offered:

$18,100 starting MSRP

2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine

165 horsepower

175 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM

Multi-link rear suspension with a stabilizer bar

16-inch aluminum wheels

And the SE-R Spec V leaned in a little more by bringing:

17-inch aluminum wheels

175 horsepower

180 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM

2006 Nissan Sentra SE-R vs. 1.8S

A step above the base level Sentra 1.8 was the 1.8S, which had a starting MSRP of $15,200. At nearly $3,000 less than the SE-R, the 1.8S carried most of the same interior and design features. However, it was only available in 11 exterior colors compared to the SE-R’s 12, and some of the optional buy-ins like fog lamps were unavailable on the 1.8S.

Otherwise, the main differences between the two vehicles lie in the performance specs. The 1.8S used the 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine that only produced 126 horsepower. Because of the serious difference in performance, the 1.8 and 1.8S trims only had front disc brakes with drum brakes in the rear, while the SE-R and SE-R Spec V had disc brakes on all four wheels.

MORE:

Is Nissan a luxury car?

How to find the best Nissan Sentra Special Edition insurance

It doesn’t matter if you end up economizing with the Nissan Sentra 1.8, or you go all-in for the SE-R Spec V—either way, you’ll need high-performance insurance at a great price before you hit the road. That’s why you should try

Jerry

, the car insurance comparison shopper and licensed broker app that can trim down your

Nissan insurance costs

With Jerry, finding

cheap car insurance

is fast and easy. All you need to do is download the app, answer a few simple questions, and look over the list of customized car insurance quotes compiled from Jerry’s network of 50+ top providers.

Once you buy insurance through Jerry, we’ll stay in your corner and on your side. Jerry will automatically shop for car insurance policies every six months, checking to see if there’s a better price available for you. As a

licensed insurance broker

, Jerry can help you stay on top of your car-related costs!

And all the legwork that Jerry does for you pays off. The average Jerry user saves more than $800 a year on car insurance!

“I love how easy it was for me, as someone who has an older beat-up truck, to get insurance without going through a lot of trouble. I would recommend anyone try
Jerry
, since it’s free!” —Melissa I.

Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Reduce your monthly car payments in minutes?

Find out if Jerry can reduce your payments by an average of $150/month

Check your rate!