CD Article: 2007 Nissan Sentra

[CD_Editor]

You may discuss our cover story of the day in this thread....
First Drive:

Based on a new platform it shares with the Renault Megane, the all-new Nissan Sentra has more interior room, more horsepower and better fuel economy, reports Brian Early.  The Sentra's "classier interior" is larger than all of its primary competitors, and its base price of $16,798 should make it a viable alternative to its best-selling competitors, Civic, Mazda3 and Corolla, he says.         More...

[Stuff]

I've always thought Nissan had great taste for interior. Has the Sentra always been this bland?

[Loudpedal]

ABS not standard   What year is it again Nissan???

[Stuff]

ABS not standard   What year is it again Nissan???

And look at the competitors, that doesn't leave much room for the Sentra on my shopping list. I'm always suprised to see how many people do not like ABS and wouldn't buy a car with it. I look at not having ABS as a 50/50 kind of thing. If its there fine, if it's not.....

[The Mighty Duck]

I like the sound of it, and would definately place it on my shopping list.  It would probably come third to the Mazda3 and Civic, though.

I find the six-speed an interesting choice, but I wonder at the logic of it.  How many buyers will actually find that extra gear a deciding factor?  Especially when the "king" of sporty subcompact is the Mazda3, and anyone looking for sport will likely look there.  It's kind of like Honda putting the Si six speed into the DX...  neat, but in the end it almost seems futile.

*shrug*

I am interested in the SE-R version, though.  I wonder who Nissan will target with it...

[Kain]

This Sentra looks very upscale compared with the outgoing model and I am sure that this new generation is going to be a good competitor against Mazda 3 and Honda Civic. I wish that Nissan had used a better wheel design for the most expensive model (2.0 SL). I`m looking forward to find a test drive comparo between mazda 3, civic and this Sentra soon!!

[xtrail1]

I really like the edgy lines of this car, it has a clean look and no bulges.  The interior is also a vast improvement, if it's anything or even better the the Versa that will be a plus.  CVT would be my pick, I drove the Versa and I really like it.  This car will do well for Nissan, catering to a slightly different crowd than the Civic or Mazda 3.

[Rupert]

I like the design overall but as with other marks find the gauge cluster wanting. I supose that one would have to sit in the drivers seat to properly check it out but the speedo seems small and partially obscured from view. The tach is the same dia and appears more visible. This is strange since on an automatic car you have absolutely no reason to look at the tach. Why similar emphasis is placed on the usefull and the useless is a bit mystifying.

[jww]

The last Sentra, like this one, was modelled after the Maxima. It looks ok - but, as already mentioned, this car would definately come in behind the 3 if I were looking to buy a compact. I am not keen on the rear-end treatment at all - it seems too short.

The interior is nicely understated IMO. I like the placement of the shifter - raised higher and closer to the steering wheel for easier access - however, the shifter itself has a bad reputation right now - Nissan manuals aren't the best to shift these days - they really need to do something about that. Maybe they should sub-contract out to Getrag?

Also - this car may be somehow related to the Megane, but it doesn't look anything like it's Renault sibling, and probably isn't as good a car to drive either.

This is a typical Nissan offering in the compact space. Not a performer, but not intended to be either.

[Bullet Blue]

It would look much better without those clear tail lights  Not a deal breaker though. The interior is actually very nice. I don't usually like Nissan interiors, but this one seems much brighter and classier (at least when compared to the outgoing model). The 6 speed is interesting. I wouldn't even consider the SL trim since it's CVT only, just like I wouldn't ever consider the new Maxima for the same reason. Overall, I think it's a decent car, and it will be interesting to see just how well it does against the Civic, Corolla and 3.

[Jameel]

I love the interior especially with the shifter on the dash (looks good).  It’s odd that they’ve included a 6 speed.

[grumbo]

I found the comment that Nissan is going to be adding a Versa sedan to it's available vehicles a surprise. Kind of seems redundant with the Sentra competing against it 
From reading these forums I get the feeling I'm in the minority, in my liking sedans over hatchbacks, but a Versa sedan would be my choice over the Sentra. Never saw this mentioned in any of the Versa articles on here (Then again at my age I probably just missed it )

Cheers,
Grumbo

[tpl]

A Sentra wagon would be interesting.  Same size as a Jetta or Focus wagon probably.    But as for the Sentra sedan, I'd get a Versa to get the utility of the hatchback... but Then I wouldn't. I'd get a FIT for the greater versatility of the hatchback or a Rabbit 'cos I like VWs

[Thanou]

I wish they have the Sentra station wagon version. We need more station wagons here in Canada!

Best,
Thanou

[Bullet Blue]

I found the comment that Nissan is going to be adding a Versa sedan to it's available vehicles a surprise. Kind of seems redundant with the Sentra competing against it 
 

Well, The Versa being more of a Sub-compact, in theory, no it wouldn't. Although I'm sure there are some who will cross shop the two. Toyota does it with their Yaris Sedan and Corolla, and as far as I know, neither are eating into each others sales significantly.

[grumbo]

I found the comment that Nissan is going to be adding a Versa sedan to it's available vehicles a surprise. Kind of seems redundant with the Sentra competing against it 
 

Well, The Versa being more of a Sub-compact, in theory, no it wouldn't. Although I'm sure there are some who will cross shop the two. Toyota does it with their Yaris Sedan and Corolla, and as far as I know, neither are eating into each others sales significantly.

I understand what you're saying, but with the Corolla I wouldn't even look at it until it gets side curtains and air bags. Toyota has missed the boat imho insofar as coming out with a new version of it. I like the Yaris sedan too
I just find that everytime they do a model upgrade, they make them so damn close to the model above that they all move up inside and then they bring in something at the small end (eg Yaris and Versa).
To me the Sentra (Ive not seen the new only the old version) and Versa are close enough in size not to worry about, and the Corolla and Yaris insofar as space inside goes to the Yaris when I've test driven. I can sit comfortably in the front and rear of a Yaris. Can't in the back of a Corolla. With Honda the Civic is a compact that is much bigger in my subjective eye much larger than the FIT. Neat car but way too small for me.

Cheers,
Grumbo

[Arthur Dent]

Reading between the lines it sounds like it will be middle of pack sort of car with a little extra space as its best attribute. Not promising for fresh design.

[jww]

Reading between the lines it sounds like it will be middle of pack sort of car with a little extra space as its best attribute. Not promising for fresh design.

The one thing that has recently annoyed me about Nissan's new offerings since the Altima, is that - save for the Versa (which is a Renault Megane in disguise) - they all look too much the same. I recall when looking at the previous generation Sentra after it first came out and the salesrep telling me "It looks just like a mini-Maxima". Then, when the most recent model Maxima came out it was "It looks just like a high-end Altima". Man, they gotta get a new marketing pitch!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

I really like that two-tone-ish grey interior. Nice set-up, and I like the higher mounted shifter. On the top end, lots of features and technology for the price.

I like the front styling a lot - trunk looks kind of too stubby, but overall quite clean and pleasant. I like the front without the new corporate thing goin' on.
Wood trim inside is just terrible if the auto show unit is anything to go by. And I typically like wood - if done tastefully.

This is the first generation of Sentra I would put on my list worth comparing. The previous generations never made the cut in my book.