SUBDUED SEDAN
Nissan Sentra keeps cost of ownership in mind
Nissan Sentra’s 2013 redesign mimics the look and feel of the new Altima, displaying the most revolutionary design in the compact sedan’s 30-year history. It’s part of a bold, aggressive plan to grow the Nissan brand.
Sentra is easily recognized with its new Nissan signature trapezoid-shaped grille, large wraparound headlights with LED accents and rear LED tail lights. A lowered beltline provides a more aggressive stance and better outward visibility.
The 2013 Sentra’s new platform is lighter than the previous design, contributing to a more than 150-pound weight reduction. It has a surprisingly roomy interior and more trunk capacity. Better aerodynamics reduced the coefficient of drag to 0.29 from the previous 0.34.
The new look of the Sentra continues inside with the use of high- quality materials, including softtouch instrument panel and door armrests, optional leather seats and wood-tone trim. Electroluminescent gauges are backlit, giving them a high-quality look and making them easy to read.
Rear seat legroom is adequate for most adults and somewhat better than found in the other compact sedans. The rear seat is a standard 60/40 split fold-down design, offering versatile access to the 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space. During our test drive we found the six-way manual driver’s seat and four-way manual front passenger’s seat to be comfortable and supportive.
Standard interior features include a center console with padded armrest and cup holders, rear seat armrest with cup holders, air conditioning with in-cabin micro filter, tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows with driver’s auto up/down and auto reverse, auto-locking door locks, remote keyless entry and remote trunk and fuel-filler door releases.
A new dual-zone automatic temperature control system is offered for the first time with Sentra, allowing the driver and front passenger select individual temperature settings.
Standard audio is an AM/FM/ CD system with four speakers. Other available systems include a six-speaker AM/FM/CD system with 4.3-inch color display, USB connection for iPod and other devices, and a Bose Premium audio system with eight speakers. Also available is SiriusXM Satellite Radio and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system.
NissanConnect with Navigation is an all-new system featuring a hands-free text messaging assistant that reads incoming text messages and lets drivers reply without taking their hands off of the steering wheel. The system offers Pandora capability and streaming audio via Bluetooth. Its 5.8-inch touchscreen display is easy to read, especially when paired with NavTraffic and NavWeather functions.
The Nissan Sentra’s 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine is equipped with a twin Continuously Variable Timing Control that modulates both intake and exhaust valve opening similar to the arrangement used on the Nissan Maxima.
Rated at 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, this new engine is matched with a newgeneration Xtronic CVT that Nissan says improves fuel economy. It also offers a wide gear ratio of 7.3:1 by using a subplanetary gear and smaller pulleys, resulting in high-speed fuel efficiency at low revolutions per minute and responsive acceleration.
Acceleration is quick and almost effortless, but out on the open road, the CVT doesn’t seem to compensate for the meager 130 horsepower, so you have to leave plenty of space when passing.