The 6th generation Sentra is a mid-size that brings sensibility back into the auto arena, in a year that has seen gas prices soar, car stickers increase and fuel-consumption remain about the same. I test drove the 2007 Nissan Sentra S for a full week, and found that the “S” might just be apropos. While the “S” is not indicative of a “Supercar,” it IS indicative of a “Sensible” vehicle buy.
Beginning with its sporty wedge-shaped exterior -- short front, high rear deck on a long wheelbase – the Sentra, built on Nissan’s new “C” platform provides interior roominess and decent gas mileage for an aggressive base price of $16,450. In addition to the low sticker, a major appeal of the stylishly appealing Sentra S is its fuel consumption. The car is EPA rated at 29mpg in city driving and 36mpg on the highway. Green friendly, the Sentra S is also a designated ultra low emissions vehicle.
The heart of the 2951-lb. Sentra is its 2.0-liter engine (122 cubic inches), a 4-cylinder fuel-injection, feedback fuel system that puts out 140 horsepower and 147 lbs.-ft. of torque. There isn’t a ton of pick-up in the system, but at 140 horses and mid-30s gas mileage, what can you expect? I was able to get from zero to 60mph in about 8.8 seconds, and a 17-second quarter-mile is do-able. Acceleration from a stop and at speed is slow to develop, and there is hesitation when power is demanded, but despite some severe over-rev when mashing the pedal at high speed, there is adequate get-up in passing gear. But you can’t expect jet propulsion from a 2.0-liter that promises 30-plus mpg. The system, rated at 29/36mpg may be estimated a bit high, but my seven days of testing throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland delivered about 28.8mpg with about 60 percent of my tests on highways, 30 percent in boroughs and townships and 10 percent on the track.
During quick, tight cornering tests I found the Sentra to be a bit loose, but I experienced a surprisingly quiet ride and impressive interior room in a well-equipped but unimpressive cabin. Under normal driving, the Sentra’s torsion beam rear suspension with integrated stabilizer bar, independent strut front suspension, front stabilizer bar, power-assisted front disc/rear drum brakes and electric power-assisted steering perform adequately and confidently.
Comfort and convenience are addressed within via air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter, power windows with driver’s one-touch auto-down, power door locks, radio data system, tilt steering column, five-passenger seating, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, variable intermittent windshield wipers, oversize locking glove compartment, center console with adjustable front cup holders, electric rear window defroster, trip computer that shows outside temperature, distance to empty, fuel economy, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, remote keyless entry with trunk release and rear seat center armrest. Sentra also employs Nissan’s Intelligent Key keyless entry system. It is a hip item that allows you to keep the key fob in your pocket while the car recognizes that you have it and allows you to start the engine without inserting the key. Personally, I prefer putting a key in the ignition, because then I know where it is. I am also partial to push-button race car starters, but I still have to check and re-check my pockets to make sure I haven’t left the key in the car somewhere. Apparently the keys are more intelligent than certain operators.
Nissan has a track record of paying attention to safety and security and it has followed that mission with Sentra. My test vehicle was outfitted with a comprehensive array of protection items including the Nissan advanced air bag system, driver and front passenger side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags, vehicle immobilizer system, energy-absorbing steering column, hood-buckling creases and safety stops, front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, LATCH seats for children, front-seat active head restraints, tire pressure monitoring system and pipe-style steel side door guard beams.
The Sentra’s base price of $16,450 was boosted by many upgrades I has in my test model. Options included XM radio ($300) and a convenience package for $900 that includes Bluetooth hands-free phone system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, integrated overhead CD holder, divide-n-hide trunk system with hidden compartment Cargo net and hooks, cruise control with steering wheel mounted controls intelligent keyless entry system. The Rockford Fosgate audio package added another $750 and includes 8-speaker 340-watt audio system with 6-disc in-dash CD autochanger and stallite radio controls as well as MP3/WMA/ CD-Rom playback capability.
Front fog lights cost $270, while 16-inch alloy wheels with ABS and electronic brake force distribution added another $600 and destination charges are $615, for a bottom line as tested of $19,885.
For all that’s included in this mid-size, and with all its safety, fuel-consciousness and style, this Sentra S begins and ends with a capital S … sensibly.
Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.
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