[svgallery name="2010 Nissan Sentra"]

Sentra soldiers on

Nissan's aging compact sedan struggles for attention in crowded market

By John LeBlanc If the current Sentra was a person, you would almost feel sorry for it. In Nissan showrooms, it occupies the slot between the less expensive and smaller Versa hatchback and the larger Altima family sedan. But when it comes to Canadian new car buyers, the compact four-door may as well reside in the Bermuda Triangle. While the first Sentra hit North America in 1982, this sixth-generation model, which debuted in 2007 had an ignominious start. Rumours during its development suggested its makers were never quite happy with the final design. That caused a delay for new sketches. And while the previous Sentra was known for its quality build and materials, Nissan's CEO Carlos Ghosn was at the height of his cost-cutting crusade during the birth of today's Sentra, leaving a decidedly low-rent feel throughout. Given all that, it's no surprise that on today's Canadian new car sales charts, the Sentra is no where to be found. The majority of the Nissan's numerous rivals - Mazda3, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus - occupy the top sales slots. Even the Versa cracked the top 10 best-seller list last month. Despite all this, Nissan still puts the Sentra out there. The question is, is it worthy of your consideration if you're in the market for a compact sedan? Funnily enough, for 2010, Nissan hasn't exactly gone out of its way to make you consider the Sentra. The Japanese automaker says it's updated the sedan's front and rear fascias, not that anyone would notice. While inside - are you sitting down? - there's a new "brighter" beige interior cloth, and chrome accents on the HAVC controls. We know. Be still your beating hearts ... At least Nissan hasn't gotten too cocky about the Sentra's pricing. Base models like our Sentra 2.0 tester, start at $15,198, right in the wheelhouse of this segment. The Sentra isn't what you call bare boned for its asking price. But when its oversized glove compartment is considered a worthy enough standard feature to get called out in its "What's New for 2010" press release, you know Nissan is grasping at straws. The base gearbox is a six-speed manual. Our Sentra came with the only option if you don't want to use a clutch: a $1,300 continuously-variable automatic transmission. A $1,450 Value Option Package added, ahem, "value" in the form of air conditioning, heated exterior mirrors, keyless entry, power windows, 60/40 split rear seat, and a few other trinkets. Total damage? $17,498, but cruise control was no where to be found. And if you want stability and traction control (which every Canadian driver does) that's an additional $300. At least ABS brakes are standard now. Simple in design, there's really nothing terribly awful or wrong in the Sentra 2.0's cabin. However, there's nothing to sing about either. For those who shop at the Big 'n Tall store, the Sentra does possess one of the taller rooflines in its class. Head-, hip-, and shoulder room are excellent. And although its rear backseat is rather unsupportive, three adults in the back shouldn't moan too much. After that, the Nissan falls to the back of the pack when it comes to fit finish and design. Although Nissan tried to brighten the cockpit up, there's still too much beige and grey plastic, in forms and shapes that support the dated design. Heck, the $3,000-less-expensive Versa Sedan offers nicer accommodations. Particularly annoying is the orange instrumentation lighting, which disappears if you're wearing polarized sunglasses. While you can get sportier models with as much as 200 hp, lesser models like our Sentra 2.0 tester make do with a class-competitive 140 hp and 147 lb.-ft. of torque four-cylinder that displaces 2.0-litres. Zero to 100 km/h is average: in the mid-eight-second range. But like most CVTs, getting there is an experience similar to sticking your head in a clothes washer on spin. Although Nissan has chosen not to match Toyota, Chevrolet, Honda or VW in terms offering hybrid or diesels in any of its small cars, the Sentra 2.0's fuel economy is relatively miserly. While the CVT is a nuisance for enthusiasts, it scores at the pumps. Compared to the manual gearbox, city consumption goes form 8.4L/100 km to 7.5, and highway ratings drop from 6.4 L/100 km to 5.8. As tested in our week with the car, we saw 6.8 L/100 km overall. Saving fuel may be the only fun you'll have in this Nissan - there's a lot to be said when an anodyne Corolla feels more engaging to drive. While the tall cabin means plenty of noggin space, it makes for a tall centre of gravity (i.e. tippy handling). Cornering grip is low, and the pillow-soft suspension is no friend to the aggressive driver either. Instead, if you're the type of driver who really isn't into driving, the Sentra 2.0 makes sense. As a cushy highway cruiser, it could pass as a mini Mercury Grand Marquis. When not being flogged, the CVT/four combo is quiet at highway speeds. Those soft shocks almost guarantee a comforting ride. And the Nissan's big and wide front seats, while offering zilch in lateral support, are La-Z-Boy comfy heading down the highway. Unfortunately, within this highly competitive class, Nissan's compact sedan looks like it's moving backwards while standing still. But let's be clear: the 2010 Nisan Sentra 2.0 is not a bad car, it's just the sort of car that when faced with as the last choice in the rental lot on the eve of a long weekend, would be just "fine." But if the Dodge Caliber didn't exist, it's hard not to put the Sentra at the back of a crowded compact pack, one that will also see a larger (and cheaper) 2011 VW Jetta this fall, joined by the new 2011 Chevy Cruze and European-designed 2012 Ford Focus. 2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0 WHAT WE LIKE: Roomy interior; Quiet highway demeanour; good fuel economy. WHAT WE DON'T: Whiney CVT; soft handling; uninspired interior. Base/As tested price: $15,198/$18,083 Type of vehicle: FWD compact four-door sedan Engine: 2.0L, 16-valve, DOHC I-4 Power/Torque 140 hp/147 lb.-ft. Transmission: CVT (std. six-speed manual) Fuel consumption (city/hwy/as tested): 7.5 / 5.8 / 7.8 L/100 km Competition: Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Suzuki SX4 Sedan, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen Jetta

Comments