2013 Nissan Sentra a comfortable, worry-free ride
It may not be the most fun, but Nissan is comfortable, practical
Next year marks the arrival of an all-new seventh-generation Sentra. With this new car, Nissan is hoping to steal some of the limelight from the star players in the compact segment — Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla — and to duke it out with recent arrivals such as Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Dodge Dart.
In many ways, the 2013 Nissan Sentra is somewhat of a paradox. Everything mechanical is somewhat low-key and yet the car tries really hard to achieve an upscale look and feel. An all-new 1.8-litre in-line four (down from the 2.0L engine in the previous model) develops a lowly 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the least powerful entries in the segment. Also, the new Sentra does not feature advanced technology such as direct injection, unlike some direct competitors.
Two transmissions are on offer as the base car gets a decent sixspeed manual gearbox, while the other variants are equipped with a second-generation version of the carmaker’s Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to improve fuel economy figures. Even without direct injection, Nissan quickly points out new Sentra achieves a best-in-class fuel consumption rating average of 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres. I was only able to achieve 6.9 L/100-km on my test drive.
As is often the case with CVT transmissions, the driving experience of the new Sentra can be unrefined in certain conditions, namely under full-throttle acceleration. It feels as if a weed whacker is running amok under the hood before the transmission reacts and quietens while the car picks up speed. However, under normal driving conditions, when only part-throttle applications are required, the new Sentra remains relatively quiet.
If you’re looking for some driving enjoyment behind the wheel, the 2013 Sentra will disappoint. In the compact segment, the Mazda3 and Honda Civic deliver very good driving dynamics. Cars like Toyota Corolla are at the bottom of the fun- to-drive scale — exactly where the new Sentra lands. In fact, the new Sentra actually feels like a roomier and more modern Corolla. Opting for the “sportier” SR model, with its 17-inch wheels and rear disc brakes, will only marginally improve driving dynamics. No added power or suspension upgrades here; the more aggressive-looking appearance gives the Sentra SR good looks with nothing much to back them up. Effectively it’s a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
So, Nissan isn’t chasing performance enthusiasts with the new Sentra but rather customers who are looking for a “worryfree” ride and handling as described by Tim Franklin, senior product manager for Nissan Canada. Gear heads will have to wait for the SE-R variant, which is surely in the pipeline, although Franklin would not confirm that information.
Built on an all-new platform featuring more high-strength steel, the new Sentra trimmed 68 kilograms from the outgoing model. From a styling standpoint, the car makes a clean break with the boxier look of its predecessor by borrowing styling cues from its recently redesigned Altima sibling. The look remains conservative, but the seventh-generation Sentra is more aerodynamic. It also gets an upscale treatment with LED accent lights at the front, full LED tail lights, and chrome trim around the windows. Inside, the new Sentra also feels upscale with premium cloth or leather seats and Maplewood-tone trim, plus more subtle features such as the soft-touch instrument panel and armrests. The styling of the dashboard and centre console is rather conventional, but gauges are easy to read and controls easy to locate.
The cabin feels very roomy up front. Nissan claims the new Sentra has more rear-seat legroom than many competitors in the compact segment. That may be true on paper, but the low height of the back seat combined with the fact that it is difficult to fit your feet underneath the front seats does not make for the most comfortable seating position while riding along in the back. On the practical side, the trunk’s volume has increased by 57 litres for a total of 428 — thanks to an increased rear overhang.
The 2013 Nissan Sentra will arrive in Canadian dealerships in late October. The base S model with a six-speed manual gearbox will retail for $14,848, while the top-of-the-line SL model will fetch a price of $22,998.