If there’s one thing the car world needs right now, it’s more affordable fun cars. The cheapest car I’d categorize as “fun” on sale right now is the 2026 Mazda MX-5 Miata, a car that costs $31,665. Inexpensive by modern standards, but by no means cheap. Nissan is even worse when it comes to accessible performance. It’s only sports car, the Z, starts at $44,165.
Enter Pinnacle Nissan, a dealership located in Scottsdale, Arizona. Noticing a gap in the lower end of the market, it has decided to develop an accessible, exciting car of its own based on the Sentra, and offer it as a dealer-installed package.
Called the Nissan Sentra Special Edition Rally Sport (SE RS), it builds upon the company’s cheapest car, the Sentra, and adds a bit of flair in the form of cosmetic upgrades and a few mechanical improvements, all for just over 30 grand. It’s exactly the type of cheap fun the market needs right now, and it looks awesome.
Here’s Exactly What the SE RS Gets You
The Sentra SE RS was developed by none other than Nick Scherr, better known online as NISMO Nick. If you’re a loyal reader of The Autopian, you’ve certainly heard his name before. He’s the guy who came up with that awesome one-off Xterra for SEMA last year, and the guy who bought up a bunch of Zs to help get them to prospective owners for MSRP, back when dealers were slapping the cars with huge markups.
According to Pinnacle, the SE RS was developed in “the spirit of the early-2000s tuner era.” The changes start on the outside with some sweet red, black, and grey striped graphics along the sides of the car, finishing off in a checkered flag pattern. The front valence and the side skirts get splashes of red, too, as does the rear diffuser area.
This isn’t just a cosmetic package. The SE RS gets some real, actual mechanical changes that improve performance, like a set of NISMO-branded lightweight wheels painted in black, backed by a coil-over suspension system. The naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine is untouched save for a NISMO cat-back exhaust. Yes, that means it still makes the same 149 horsepower as before, and it’s still connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission, getting power to the front wheels. But at least it’ll sound a bit rowdier, and you won’t lose out on the Sentra’s fantastic 40-mpg EPA highway mpg rating.
What’s The Price?
Pinnacle Nissan is asking $6,995 for the package, which includes the parts and the installation. Add that to the base price of a Sentra—$23,845 including destination—and you get a grand total of $30,840. Not bad, considering the average transaction price for a new car is over $50,000.
While it’s true that you can spend $700 more and get a Miata, the Mazda doesn’t have rear seats, a truly usable trunk, or even a metal roof. At least with the Sentra, you can actually use it as a normal car when you’re not carving up your favorite back roads. The SE RS’s closest competitor, to me, is the Honda Civic Si. Sure, it’s a bit bigger and definitely quicker, but it’s also nearly two grand more expensive. And if you’re really on a budget, that’s a big gap.
A representative for Pinnacle says the SE RS is already available to order from the dealership, and that the price of the package can be rolled into any financing deal, meaning you wouldn’t have to pay for it outright when you take delivery. Unlike some dealers, which limit these types of products to just a few units, the dealership plans to build as many as people want.
What Does Nissan Think About All Of This?
When dealers offer standalone packages like this, I’m always curious to know how the company itself will respond, seeing as how its products are essentially being modified by middlemen before they reach the customer. In this case, because Pinnicale is using official NISMO parts, Nissan USA seems cool with it. Here’s what a representative told me when I asked for a comment:
“Dealer-developed vehicle packages utilizing NISMO parts are independent initiatives and do not represent official Nissan NISMO models. We recognize some dealers create such offerings to meet local customer interest, and we value the passion that customers continue to show for the Nissan and NISMO brands.
Who knows—if Pinnacle sells enough of these SE RS models, Nissan might take notice and add it to the nationwide lineup. Either way, Pinnicale is planning to build three even more interesting vehicles for SEMA in November: Two custom Pathfinders and a Sentra with a turbocharged engine and a manual transmission. Seeing as how you can no longer get a Sentra with a stick, that last one is what I’m most excited for.
Top graphic image: Pinnacle Nissan
I like the idea, and I’m glad they did it, but I can’t think of anyone I could recommend this to. Anyone I know who’s willing to put up with the NVH of coilovers and a performance muffler either wants more power or a manual transmission. I hope they prove me wrong.
I like it when dealerships do this kind of stuff, but this one seems kinda meh. It catapults that Sentra to a price point where there are a number of more compelling options.
Wasn’t there a Ford dealer making their own street trucks for about the same add on price? But instead of some stickers and wheels it was a full on supercharger.
It’s the Nissan Sentra “All Show No Go” edition.
I’m all about dealers being willing to do appearance packages to spice up basic affordable sedans. I think there’s a number of people out there that, when making the largest non-housing purchase they’re going to make, would like to have their car be something other than completely invisible.
7k tacked onto a 23k base price though? Uhhhhhh, yeah that’s… a lot. Seems like a 2-4k optional appearance package would be a little more practical. Having a 150hp CVT equipped base model Sentra exceed 30k completely defeats the purpose.
I would bet that the dealer is willing to haggle over the price of this package? At 4k it would be pretty neat? But I’m going to bet the people who are attracted to this aren’t going to be the same people in a position to negotiate much.
Edit: Also, back in the 80’s/90’s, my dad was a sucker for dealer applied pinstriping. Example, 1998 Camry in beige with… two other shades of beige for pinstriping down the beltline. Even though I almost fell asleep typing that, I will admit that the pinstriping somehow helped.
It’s a good way to devalue any remaining performance credibility in the NISMO brand. That 2.0-liter farting at fixed rpm through the catback while trying to keep up with a Prius is going to be a good laugh. But at least they only spent seven thousand additional dollars for it…
If this was something like 2K-3K, I think it would be a good deal as I think it mostly works and looks pretty sharp. …but a 7K pricetag for stickers, rims and an exhaust tip? Sign me up for the Civic Si. We’re not even that far from an Elantra N.
Too much money for what it is.At least they are trying.
You lost me at cvt.
You mean cvt and loud exhaust. The drone must be horrible.
In Japan, Nissan will slap “Nismo” on pretty much anything this side of a bag of rice, so this is no problem.
I could go for some Nissan Nismo ramen soup right about now.
Who remembers the two-tone orange \black Scion TC that seemed to be all over LA back in around 2005 or so. I still see some of those around today. No idea if those were factory Scions or dealer packages, well anyways good luck to this Nissan dealer, hope they sold well like those orange Scions.
It was a release series, I have a bright yellow one limited run once a year models that one was kinda ugly but Its cool because its from factory
A 2026 Subaru Impreza RS stickers at $30,690 including destination. It isn’t slammed on coilovers (good luck with chassis part warranty coverage with that) but it is a complete, factory-engineered package including a 180 HP, 2.5L engine, AWD, and some sporty additions including upholstery, wheels, sport-tuned suspension, etc that are unique to the RS.
Yeah, I’ve heard a few people who had trouble understanding even the RS. But with AWD and a hatch and more power, it feels like a genuinely deal compared to this Sentra.
I like having a few “warm” options in the market, some people want a little extra performance and appearance without having their daily become a chore to commute.
For my money, in the Subaru world I would try to stretch to the re-introduced base model 2026 WRX, which is $33,690 MSRP with destination. I understand that a dude in his early 20’s probably couldn’t afford the insurance on a WRX even if he could make the payments on the car itself. I guess that’s why the RS exists.
I don’t see it. For $32,700, you can buy a manual Mazda 3 or a Civic Si. Both have 40-50 more horsepower, better handling, and the ability to choose a stick shift. You’d have to be a die-hard Nissan fan for this to make any sense.
Or be in the Nissan credit score bracket.
This is cool. More dealers should do tasteful things like this
$7000 for a dealer-installed appearance package on a $24,000 car is a nearly 30% upcharge for looks.
You can walk into your Mazda dealer and get a very nice midrange 3 with better performance out the box less money.
Crackpot.
I mean, we’re talking brand new performance wheels, coilovers, exhaust. That ain’t just an appearance package, and it’s not just decals either. I get that the math won’t work for most types who’d rather do their own build, but I don’t find it obcene either. I kinda like it.
Wheels are $1600. Catback exhaust is probably $1200 (backordered/no price listed). Coilovers are $1500. So that’s $2700 for the graphics, installing the exhaust and coilovers, mount and balance, and an alignment. Probably 8ish hours of labor. If you really want an SE RS and don’t want to do the work yourself, it’s not terrible.
But… I’d rather have my midrange 3. Much nicer interior, and I can do all those upgrades and more if I felt like it. Wheels and an intake are done, but the list still includes coilovers (mostly to adjust front camber without raising ride height with just getting camber plates), catback exhaust (iffy on this as I like how the car sounds now), widebody kit once it’s for sale, catch can, a tune, make my own carbon fiber hood, and a rear sway bar. It’ll be in the neighborhood of 300 HP and 420 tq at that point and look like the cancelled TCR while still being a nice daily. But that’s also about $9500 in mods, assuming the bodykit is $5000 and I spend $1000 learning to, screwing up a couple times, and making an acceptable hood. Add the money I spent on wheels and that would have pushed the car to 41k new. Fortunately I didn’t buy it new, so all in I’m still under the purchase price of a new one.
Here’s the thing about upgraded wheels from the dealer:
You’re paying for a separate set of wheels & tires from what came on the car – so where’s the credit for the original wheels and tires?
And folks can justify the price of the dealer package all they want – but it’s still adding 30% to the price of a Sentra.
That’s just bonkers.
I generally assume the dealer’s not gonna give credit for a typical set of wheels, just like I haven’t sold my second set when I’ve replaced them on my car. I will agree the 30% premium on a normal Sentra with a gross CVT is bonkers, but it wouldn’t be to some people. I am not one of those people because I have no love for the car, and any interest I have in Nissan tends to be limited to their 90s/2000s race cars.
I’m a GenX kid, and local/regional tape-stripe “special edition” dealer gimmicks were common. I’m not against them! I don’t think this one adds much appeal relative to the upcharge however. I’d stick with the cosmetics and delete the exhaust and wheels. But I am not surprised that given the current “affordability” conundrum some dealers are looking to 1) juice their profits on low-margin cars, and 2) try to make meh cars more appealing to potential buyers with limited funds.
That money will get you into (among others) a NEW Mazda3 Carbon, a CPO Integra, a CPO Jetta GLI, new Elantra N-line, new K4 GT-line, and any new Civic short of an SI. It looks cool for what it is, but it’s all hat and no cattle.
this is embarrassing and not at all fun imo
elantra n-line is for sale with an MSRP of $30,645 and it has 201 ponies
there are also several new GLIs on autotrader right around $31k
As a counter point, this is how the Yenko Camaro was created.
As a counter counter point, a Yenko Camaro this isn’t.
Maybe if the take up for this is decent it might encourage Nissan to actually make a proper performance version.
Nis-meh.
Is the basic Civic.
The base Civic is 150hp, offers an automatic transmission, and a chassis that’s well sorted from the factory.
Which leaves you some money leftover do what you please with it.
The Si, on the other hand, offers 6MT, LSD, and 50more hp.
And, somewhere inbetween, is the Civic hybrid – which also offers 50 more hp.
If $7k for the package is ‘not bad’ then $2k more to an Si with more features is not a big gap. That’s also going off a base Sentra, assuming they can put it on any example, you are getting into the mid-30s.
Appreciate the spirit, it’s more like an NISMO/SE-R-Line if those still existed, but it will probably just get valued as a plain Sentra if you sell it down the road and so the depreciation is even steeper.
But, cars like these are more often outfitted just to show off the accessory catalog anyway.
I appreciate the effort and like having more options, but it really can’t compete with the Civic Si. That extra $2K gets you 50hp and a stick, which makes the CSi a relative bargain compared to this.
Glad to see this. I am scared about the Altima special edition.
I do appreciate this old school dealer spirit. Unfortunately, modern cars are so complex that it limits what they can do.
Remember when the Sentra replaced the Micra in amateur racing? Apparently the automaker had to be brought in because the cars kept bricking under modification.