2010 Nissan Sentra
A DECENT CAR THAT’S LOST IN THE PACK
The Sentra is one Nissan car that hovers in the shadows. You don’t hear much about it. It competes in a market dominated by the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, and populated by other good choices, like the Mazda3 and the Hyundai Elantra.
One of the main problems with the Sentra is that it does not stand out visually. It is the absolute opposite of the Mazda3, which virtually shouts “look at me.” However, the Sentra is nicely proportioned and inoffensively styled. If you are a person who likes a car that blends in, the Sentra fits the bill.
The interior of the Sentra is not flashy, but it is cleanly styled and functional. The dash doesn’t have soft-touch vinyl, but has a soft-touch look. The cloth upholstery is well finished and appears durable. The automatic shifter is nicely positioned at the bottom of the center control panel, and falls readily to hand. The cup holders on the console have a sliding divider to better secure large and small drinks—a nice feature.
Passenger space is good for four adults, as long as they are not too large. The driver’s seat features a manual height adjuster, which is good for short people, but tall drivers may feel short-changed, since the steering wheel doesn’t telescope, and is a stretch to reach with the seat all the way back. The trunk is spacious at 13.1 cu-ft.
My test car, a Sentra S model, was propelled by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower. (Top-of-the-line SE-R and SE-R Spec V models get 2.5-liter motors with 177 and 200 horses, respectively.) The Sentra S gets teamed with a continuously variable (automatic) transmission (CVT.) This combo is no barnburner, but it delivers adequate power, and will get you 26-34 miles per gallon of gas.
I drove the Sentra on a variety of roads, including freeways and neighborhood streets. My test car gave a good account of itself. Overall, it felt well balanced. I experienced only modest body-lean when cornering. Furthermore, the steering was quick, and a short turning radius made the car easy to maneuver. The ride quality was also good. The Sentra absorbed bumps well, and kept noise to a minimum in the cabin.
The base price for the Nissan Sentra S is $17,880. My test car came with the optional the Vehicle Dynamic Control package that also included traction control. This is a worthwhile safety selection at $370. Additionally, it had the optional keyless entry and start, as well as Bluetooth hands-free phone system for another $850. Floor mats added $110 to the bottom line, which read $19,210.
Snapshot Review:
Anonymous Styling
Adequate Power
Good Handling and Ride
