Topic: Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0

[Autos_Editor]

While the basic Nissan Sentra 2.0 model “isn't a thrilling machine” it comes with just about everything that economy car buyers are looking for under $20,000, including Freight charge, says Contributing Editor Chris Chase.

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[Alex_S]

While the basic Nissan Sentra 2.0 model “isn't a thrilling machine” it comes with just about everything that economy car buyers are looking for under $20,000, including Freight charge, says Contributing Editor Chris Chase.

A thorough and thoughtful review as usual.  Sounds like a decent ride but not sure if I would ever warm up to a CVT personally.. On a styling note and my opinon only, but I think the front and rear ends look simply terrible here.  Not much 'freshness' going on.. I might even prefer the Mazda3 front end styling to this..

Ponying up a little extra for a Civic or Mazda3 might be the way to go and hearing the new Hyundai Elantra might be one that will really impress..

[Juke1]

For people seeking comfort the Sentra is tops, it doesn't give you that go-kart ride of a Civic and makes it better suited car for the older generation interested in downsizing.  The Elantra is also a very pleasant little cruiser, I also find the new Mazda 3 ride toned down and consequently now on my list.

[sailor723]

I'm still not sure about the CVT. I REALLY don't like the feel of my dad's 05 Murano. Have the newer versions improved much?

[Juke1]

Never drove a Murano, can't comment.  What I can say is that a traditional actually feels weird after a while, I drive all sorts of cars on a daily basis.

[dboone]

My car has a CVT and I personally don't mind it at all.  You get used to the car losing that feeling of it shifting when you accelerate.  Some people don't like it but if you are really wanting control and the feel for driving, you wouldn't drive an automatic anyway.  As for me, if I had to choose between CVT and 5 speed auto I think I would take the CVT because after two years, you get used to the non shifting feeling.  When I drive my wife's car (5-sp auto) I find the shifting to be very noticeable now.

[Thinking Out Loud]

I like mine LOTS.   

[Juke1]

My car has a CVT and I personally don't mind it at all.  You get used to the car losing that feeling of it shifting when you accelerate.  Some people don't like it but if you are really wanting control and the feel for driving, you wouldn't drive an automatic anyway.  As for me, if I had to choose between CVT and 5 speed auto I think I would take the CVT because after two years, you get used to the non shifting feeling.  When I drive my wife's car (5-sp auto) I find the shifting to be very noticeable now.

When I drive my wife's car (5-sp auto) I find the shifting to be very noticeable now.

worse is traditional trannies that have a tendancy to flare, how annoying.

[wing]

Mr Woooopie and Mr Oppppps you are the same person, if you continue to talk to yourself you will be deleted and banned for being a psycho.  Thanks.

[Shnak]

Maybe you should go for the Corolla (wooooop's sorry...they have gas peddle problems and you might end-up wrapped around a tree), or a Matrix (wooooop's sorry....same problem) or a civic (wooooop's sorry....air bag recall)....what the hell...just buy a Cobalt!

Sure... if you don't the steering failures...
http://www.leftlanenews.com/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-cobalt-steering-failures.html

[libraman]

I have had two rental Altimas. I really did not like the CVT. The engine lugs(?) around town and makes a grating sound, especially when not fully warmed up. Fuel economy was not that great. Much more than advertised.

I would get the 6 speed manual. Better fuel economy (The governement figures are way off when it comes to Nissan CVTs).

I also had Sentra and liked it overall. Seemed more spacious then some of its competitors. But again, I would get the manual.

[gotak]

CVT's fine especially for this sort of car. I have the 07 SE R and I find the CVT pretty good with the exception of the hiccup issue I had when it was really cold few weeks ago. It's gone now and might have been due to the unsecured air filter (dealer idiots). If there's one reason not to buy a Sentra or a Nissan for me it would be the horrible built quality (check my posts, think at this point 7 major issues and counting with new rear seat on order to fix broken clips).

Fuel economy wise I am very shocked to see 11L/100km on the 2.0 tester. I get average of 9 to 10L/100 Km and I don't drive slow, plus my to and from work drive is all city stop and go. Not sure what the reviewer were doing with the car or if it's just new. Seem to recall when it was new it did have 1 2 L worse fuel economy.

Anyhow the Sentra gets beat up a lot on forums etc (and the SE R and Spec V even more). A lot of people say they don't get why anyone would buy one. Well it's quite nice inside and at the time this car was introduced it was in a lot of ways better than the competition. Now with a lot of options out there that's been improved the Sentra looks a bit dated but that's to be expected. I think this car is aimed at people who would buy a Corolla, which at the time was dreadful due to age(some would argue it still lacks something).

As for my car well the reasons for getting it is simple. The SE R is a automatic compact car with more go than a Civic or a corolla. It's as simple as that and if that's what you want back in 07 (with low interest rate to boot) it was a pretty good choice. I know my car makes my girlfriend unhappy with her 06 Civic.

[Spec5]

Man was the reviewer pissed off when he wrote this one!? Thought it was the same guy that did the last review on the Sentra just a few months ago. Anyway no doubt that its no sport-car but as he wrote at the end most people are just looking for basic reliable transportation. I have 3 people that have purchased this car on my recommendation in my family and all of them love it. As gotak noted I've never seen anywhere close to 11L/100kms on the ones in my circle - 9 seems to be the standard. And thats WITH running the thing for 20 minutes in the morning so that the heater finally starts to work and actually heat the interior (my only beef with this car - EVERYONE makes a better heater than Nissan). Bottom line is you get almost the same reliability as Civic/Corolla only at a much more reasonable finance rate. And that is why it continues to sell well - despite the fact that it looks like its designed to appeal to my grandparents.

[Blueprint]

Mine is a 2.0S with the 6-speed, and looks quite good in magnetic grey with the 16" alloys.

My ideal compact was (and is) a Civic Si, but I needed a real 5-seater.  My three daughters fit in the back, child seats and all, and this is the widest rear bench of any compact, period.  The car feels much more refined with the rare manual tranny, and the "S" brings a significant content upgrade for not much $$.  I also average in the 9's, urban mix, no real difference in winter, and on rare highway rides I get 7.7.  18,500 km so far, no issues.  I rented a base car with CVT last fall, and it did felt cheaper, plus I hated the CVT, but then again I hate most automatics.  The CVT in a loaner 1st-gen Civic Hybrid was smoother.

[WTF Transmission]

This would be a great car for the remake of "back to the future"....it looks like it was designed in 1980....lol.

Let me see...this car has been a real hit! As far as japanese import cars go, it gets out sold by the civic, the corolla and the mazda 3.  The funny thing is that the mazda 3 does way better than this car and they have half the dealer network....

Nissan should have scrapped this a model long ago....along with the useless CVT transmission it comes with (what a joke!).  They should call it the WTF transmission instead of the CVT transmission, because that's what most people say when the dealer hands them the repair bill....WTF!

[Vanster]

The great thing is how many real choices we have in this price class. All of them are good cars, especially when one considers what we had to choose from even ten years ago.

I am not a great fan of the Sentra. I find the interior reminds me of a 1970s Chevy, all "colour keyed." The panel gaps are a little wide for my tastes, too. That said, I am sure that anyone buying the car will be happy with it. Of course there are always malcontents who want a $20k car to look and drive like a $50k car.

As for CVTs, I have experienced a few of them and for the most part, they are fine. Different, yes, and take a little getting used to. In my opinion, all the slagging they get is simply because they are different. See that nice low price? Well, a CVT is significantly cheaper to make than a conventional automatic.

[Juke1]

This would be a great car for the remake of "back to the future"....it looks like it was designed in 1980....lol.

Let me see...this car has been a real hit! As far as japanese import cars go, it gets out sold by the civic, the corolla and the mazda 3.  The funny thing is that the mazda 3 does way better than this car and they have half the dealer network....

Nissan should have scrapped this a model long ago....along with the useless CVT transmission it comes with (what a joke!).  They should call it the WTF transmission instead of the CVT transmission, because that's what most people say when the dealer hands them the repair bill....WTF!

We have a case here of someone who simply has no idea what he's talking about.  But hey forums are forums and as long as the door is open to "guest" to post unfounded crap like this will make it in here.

[WTF Transmission]

This would be a great car for the remake of "back to the future"....it looks like it was designed in 1980....lol.

Let me see...this car has been a real hit! As far as japanese import cars go, it gets out sold by the civic, the corolla and the mazda 3.  The funny thing is that the mazda 3 does way better than this car and they have half the dealer network....

Nissan should have scrapped this a model long ago....along with the useless CVT transmission it comes with (what a joke!).  They should call it the WTF transmission instead of the CVT transmission, because that's what most people say when the dealer hands them the repair bill....WTF!

We have a case here of someone who simply has no idea what he's talking about.  But hey forums are forums and as long as the door is open to "guest" to post unfounded crap like this will make it in here.

Sorry Altima1 is right (lol�guess what he is driving�.there�s a unique car the Altima�.not many of those on the road�heeeeheeee).   You should all go out and buy a Sentra, I was wrong, they out sell the civic, the mazda 3 and the corolla.  And wow what styling!  Nissan is not really extending the warranty on the CVT transmission because they cost so much to repair.  All those news reports that say they are doing that are false (they should really call it the WTF transmission).  Listen to ALTIMA1 he is objective�even if he drives a NISSAN Altima.  What a world, what a life, I�m in love!

[Roger S.]

The lack of door bumper strips takes it off my list. I had a car like that once, and it was a ding magnet.

That said, this seems like a good value for the price. I wonder if cars like this are part of the reason sales of the Honda Fit are slumping.

[Seafoam]

The lack of door bumper strips takes it off my list. I had a car like that once, and it was a ding magnet.

That said, this seems like a good value for the price. I wonder if cars like this are part of the reason sales of the Honda Fit are slumping.

Doubt that . The Versa would be the Fits competition.