Nissan gave the Sentra a light refresh for 2010 with new front fascia, grille, front and rear light housings and body-side molding with chrome inserts. The changes on the outside would be hard for me to pick up on unless I had the updated model and the previous model side by side, to be honest. The current-generation Sentra has never stood out to me from a design standpoint and still looks a bit dull to my eye.
However, I did pick up on the new stereo head unit in the interior, which looks sleeker and is user-friendly.
The good news for your pocketbook is that Nissan dropped the base price across the entire Sentra lineup for 2010. In the case of our 2.0 SL model, the base price was reduced by $1,100 compared with the 2009 model year--not too shabby.
The car also stacks up well against the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla. With a solid platform, the Sentra handles and changes directions quick. I was pleasantly surprised by the steering, which had nice weight and steering feel, unlike most regular Nissan vehicles. The suspension is competent to tackle daily road problems such as bumps and holes fine with some lean through turns.
Performance from the 2.0-liter is sufficient, and the CVT wasn't bad. I still prefer the operation of a good old-fashion torque-converter automatic instead of the drone CVT-equipped vehicles have under hard acceleration. Brake performance is also strong with a solid pedal feel.
The interior is straight-forward with good quality materials and plastics trim finishes throughout. As with the exterior, it's on the dull side, but is a comfortable enough place to be.
The thing is, simple and bland styling with competent driving performance and good fuel economy reigns supreme in this category. For that, the Sentra has it all down pat.
SENIOR WEB REPORTER GREG MIGLIORE: The Sentra is a decent competitor in this segment and has plenty going for it. I liked the tight chassis. It gave the car a good feel with just enough firmness--well done. I came away impressed with the I4; it worked well with the CVT and provided more than adequate get-up. When a car has 140 horses, you tend to fear the worst, but the Sentra is not underpowered and is more than up to the task for passing. I did rev it close to redline to split traffic during the morning commute, but it did the job, no problem, with just the expected four-banger noise rasp.
The cabin is a relatively nice setting. Some of the materials, particularly the seats, look and feel great. Some of the other materials were a little less impressive. The interior is also quiet enough for a car this size. Some outside noise filters in, but we're not talking luxury cars here.
The satellite radio, seat burners and sunroof all give this a livable feel; it's nice to be able to dress up a fairly basic car. My only real beef is I wasn't a fan of the steering; it just felt a little rubbery to me. I also think the pricing is a touch high.
The design is bland on the outside, but what car in this segment does drop jaws? The Sentra is nonoffensive and has some nice touches with the body molding.
Overall, this is a solid package, and the fuel economy is great. In these times, this is a good product to have in your arsenal if you're a carmaker looking to move the metal.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: Nissan, not really often on my radar screen, seems to be perking up a bit. The Juke is cool in my opinion, and the upmarket Infiniti QX56 looks strong.
As for this Sentra, it's not a bad a little car, like the Versa that I drove a while back. It's almost perfect for commuting.
As I've often said, CVTs remind me of a snowmobile: You hit the gas, the engine revs up, nothing happens at first and eventually things get rolling. But this is good, basic transportation. The ride is compliant and comfortable, one of the better rides among the small cars, something one would appreciate in Detroit.
Build quality and materials are not as bad as the Versa and even if they weren't, you'd sort of expect it. I did hear some rattles coming from the back-seat area. Like the Versa, the Sentra is not sexy, fast or fun. But it's a decent little commuter/city car. This is a fine alternative to the Honda Civic/Toyota Corolla cliché.
2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL
Base Price: $19,280
As-Tested Price: $21,080
Drivetrain: 2.0-liter I4; FWD, continuously variable transmission
Output: 140 hp @ 5,100 rpm, 147 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 2,978 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 29/24.3 mpg
Options: 2.0 SL premium plus package including power sliding-glass moonroof with tilt feature, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, cargo net and hooks, heated seats ($850); SL leather package with leather seats ($700); splash guards ($140); floor mats ($110)
