Comparison review: Ten compact sedans (2nd place)

Nissan originally launched this Sentra as something of a premium compact car, complete with premium pricing. It was never premium, with humdrum interior décor, driving dynamics and styling.

 

But as prices have slid over the years, particularly compared to competitors whose going rates have soared of late, the Sentra has become a surprisingly compelling budget car. Compared to the Kia Forte – the only vehicle in this comparison with a lower estimated out-the-door price – this Nissan has significantly plusher seats, a significantly plusher ride, and better gas mileage. 

 

As the Sentra's rebates have inched upward, so have its sales. Even as the car grows older with only the most minor updates, sales have increased from 83,000 in 2009 to 94,000 in 2010 to 90,000 through the first nine months of 2011 alone. 

 

The Sentra is showing its age in its middling safety ratings, and some shoppers will demand a more engaging driving experience or a more upscale feel. But even setting aside the price tag, few compact sedans match this car's interior space and comfort and its ride quality. 

 

Factor the price tag back in, and you get all that for some $3,000 less than many comparably-equipped competitors. 

 

In tuning the Sentra's suspension, Nissan offered little nod to driving enthusiasts. This is the Toyota Camry of compact sedans – not outright clumsy around a corner, but sacrificing zest for the intentional pursuit of excellent ride quality. The Volkswagen Jetta uses its extra heft to convey a more solid feel, but the Sentra is still one of the best-riding economy cars. 

 

It's pretty quiet, too, if not hushed. The continuously variable automatic transmission has no fixed gear ratios, which means the engine will stay at its most efficient rpm during acceleration – a move that helps efficiency while often creating a steady droning sound. This issue only become an issue in the Sentra when you're really asking the car to hustle, but this car wasn't built for someone who wants to hustle anyway. In gentle to moderate acceleration and at a steady cruise, the Sentra is one of the more refined vehicles among these 10. 

 

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has adequate pep but particularly good fuel economy ratings, particularly in the city. The EPA estimates it will return 30 miles per gallon in mixed driving; it's one of only four cars in this comparison to pull that off. 

 

The Sentra has a pleasant, very comfortable and generally functional-feeling interior. The wide, high, well-shaped front seats are soft but supportive and trimmed in a sturdy-feeling cloth. They face a dashboard that's ordinary and forgettable for its look and feel – nothing fancy but no assembly issues or glaring cheap bits. 

 

The gauges are a little small and the digital orange secondary gauges – for temperature and fuel level – aren't terribly easy to read quickly. Other controls are straightforward. The tested model's center stack is dominated by a storage compartment; Nissan includes an in-dash navigation system as part of a $1,300 package along with a Bluetooth phone connection and a sunroof – an unusually reasonable price.

 

It may not look it from the outside, but the Sentra is one of the larger cars in its class, which pays off in the spacious rear seat. The car's boxy shape also makes way for plenty of headroom above the high seat cushion. The stubby trunk, though, is only class average with 13.1 cubic feet. The rear seat does tumble forward for an unusually wide pass-through for long items. 

 

 

One area the Sentra clearly shows its age is its safety ratings. 

 

There were no particularly bad results, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety judged it just Acceptable – where nearly all competitors scored the highest rating of “Good” – for its side-impact, rear-impact and rollover protection. Similarly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded it just three out of five stars for front- and side-impact protection. 

 

That's not to say the Sentra is an unsafe product. Just a few years ago, few cars did well in the IIHS' demanding tests, and NHTSA only released a more-challenging evaluation procedure last year. But you can do even better in competitors. 

 

 

Aside from the lackluster crash test results, the Sentra does little to advertise a reason for its low price; it's pleasant, practical and very comfortable. It just offers those traits for an estimated out-the-door price of $17,566 – a price that includes a navigation system and a keyless entry and starting system. 

 

In the 2009 comparison of small sedans, Nissan's subcompact Versa similarly outshined the Sentra – and the competition – for being solidly competitive, though unsporting, for thousands less than any other car that could offer the same. 

 

Nissan has recently redesigned the Versa to focus even more on budgets, but this smooth, quiet and discounted Sentra can serve the budget customer very well in its stead, without the car regularly reminding them how they saved money. 

 

Vehicle tested: 2011 Nissan Sentra

Vehicle base price (MSRP): $16,060

Version tested: 2.0 S

Version base price (MSRP): $17,770

Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $18,795

Vehicle price as comparable (MSRP)*: $20,050

Estimated transaction price as comparable**:  $17,566

Test vehicle provided by: Sheehy Nissan of Waldorf, Md.

 

Length: 180.1 inches 

Width: 70.5 inches 

Height: 59.5 inches

Wheelbase: 105.7 inches

Weight: 2,994 pounds 

Trunk volume: 13.1 cubic feet

Turning circle: 35.4 feet

Engine (as tested): 2.0-liter I4 with 140 horsepower 

Transmission (as tested): CVT automatic 

EPA city mileage: 27 miles per gallon 

EPA highway mileage: 34 miles per gallon 

EPA combined mileage: 30 miles per gallon

Assembly location: Mexico