Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2013 Nissan Sentra SR; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

James thinks the new Sentra is a huge step forward in design over the previous gen.
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[Winterpeg]

I, for one, did not mind the looks of the previous Sentra...it was different, unique...er umm...ok it wasn't a standout but neither are the rest. The optional trunk partition/deviderc was a nice touch. Winger....does this gen have it at all?     

[theonlydt]

The last generation was strange, we have one and have also had the misfortune to have some as rental cars as well.

We love ours - it rides well (though a little firm for me), it has great acceleration, it's quiet, refined, has good seats and an excellent sound system. We've been doing quite a bit of highway driving recently, so our economy is averaging between 7 and 7.5 (also warmer temperatures have helped). The interior is holding up very well, we're at almost 80k, nothing broken, nothing scratched, nothing squeaking. We have a 2009 SE-R with the CVT. Great car and my in-laws like it if we have to borrow their odyssey for any reason, because they like how it drives, it picks up speed well etc etc.

All of the rental cars we've had are the 2.0 poverty spec that inevitably smell funny. The 2.0 doesn't seem to suit the CVT like the 2.5 does, the uprated shocks on the SE-R seem to control the ride from float better, the seat fabric is better in higher specs etc etc.

It seems as though the last generation is very trim sensitive.

Interestingly, what pushed me originally towards testing the SE-R was discs front and rear (the 2.0 were drum at the back) - testing the two back to back we noticed not only improved braking, but also improvements elsewhere that were well worth the  upgrade. For about $1k we couldn't go wrong. On fuelly our car is competitive with 2.0s for fuel economy.

Shame there will be no SE-R on the new one, at least they've so far said there won't be. The 1.6 turbo from the Juke would be fun.

[Jaeger]

All that silver-coloured plastic in the center stack is not working for me.

[aaronk]

The comparison from mid-size to compact is not something reviewers often cover - I'm looking forward to your perspective on this. As the debate often goes, "is it better to get a loaded compact or a base-model midsize". Not that this is the highest trim of the Sentra, but it should still be revealing.

I would suggest though that the base "S" model isn't a car 'nobody would buy'. It is surprisingly well equipped for a base model, and simply adding air conditioning to the options list would make it similarly-equipped to the mid-level trim of the previous generation Honda Civic. There aren't many 'stripper models' out there anymore...

[mixmanmash]

It still looks unbalanced and ugly IMO.  The proportions aren't right.  Honestly, the Sentra hasn't been a force to contend with like forever.  Personally, the B13 and B14 platforms were my favourite, but still ugly compared to the competition of the time.  Still, nowhere near Mazda or Honda in the looks and driving dynamics.

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway.  The Kia Magentis that I had the month before was doing 6.4, and the Elantra I had the month after was doing 5.9.  This was all measured over many fill ups by manual calculations.

[conwelpic]

sales of the Sentra for 2012 were low (a drop over 2011, which was a drop over 2010) to most of its competition in the compact vehicle class, the only two that sold less were the Lancer and Impreza

[whaddaiknow]

All that silver-coloured plastic in the center stack is not working for me.

+1 but the exterior looks nice.

[inco]

I predict this is now a Sentra that people will like. It cannot hurt sales and will finally give the folks at Nissan something to crow about. Can't wait to see if the sales numbers confirm this.

Before we started our Subaru journey the last car we had was a Sentra and with over 160,000 km on it when we sold it, it had only one issue and that was an alternator. Nissan folks treated us well, but living in a 'snow zone' prompted the look for AWD.

Next time around I'm thinking of having one smaller vehicle and one that carries people and is AWD.  I know one will have to be a Subaru and I'm not even going to try and fight that one. On the good news front the new Forester coming is a tad bigger and just maybe that will suffice. But the smaller one could be a Sentra. Hmm, good thing I have two years to plan this.

[Jaeger]

All that silver-coloured plastic in the center stack is not working for me.

+1 but the exterior looks nice.

Absolutely - huge improvement there.

[dkaz]

The dashboard reminds me of the Camry two generations ago.

[Blueprint]

From the outside immediately I am impressed by the changes Nissan has distilled into the little Sentra. To be honest the previous generation is well… ugly,

...says the guy who owns a Yaris    I'd say the previous Sentra is one of those cars that look better in person than in pictures, and looks are trim-dependant (and year - not crazy about the chrome trim and revised grille on later models).

I also disagree on sales of the entry-level model. On the previous car, most sales (judged by what I see) are of the base trim with CVT and electric group - why people chose this instead of the barely more expensive S trim beats me.

Mine, 2.0 S manual, is probably the rarest combo.

[Blueprint]

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway. 

I too came accross a basic 2.0 Sentra rental with the CVT, and had I needed to go shiftless I would not have bought one.  Staying close to the speed limit (105-110km/h) on the 417 when going to Ottawa nets me 6.1, while speedier travel at 120 is pretty much around 7.7 (calculated - display is optimistic by 1 l/100km).

[mixmanmash]

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway. 

I too came accross a basic 2.0 Sentra rental with the CVT, and had I needed to go shiftless I would not have bought one.  Staying close to the speed limit (105-110km/h) on the 417 when going to Ottawa nets me 6.1, while speedier travel at 120 is pretty much around 7.7 (calculated - display is optimistic by 1 l/100km).

Yup, I netted 8.0 @ 120.  However, driving the exact same in an Elantra netted me 5.9, and in the Magentis 6.4.  Similar driving conditions, with each car in my possession for a month at a time.  I personally was most impressed with the Magentis.  For a car of it's size, even with the 4 cylinder, had enough power and delivered on fuel economy.

[Blueprint]

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway. 

I too came accross a basic 2.0 Sentra rental with the CVT, and had I needed to go shiftless I would not have bought one.  Staying close to the speed limit (105-110km/h) on the 417 when going to Ottawa nets me 6.1, while speedier travel at 120 is pretty much around 7.7 (calculated - display is optimistic by 1 l/100km).

Yup, I netted 8.0 @ 120.  However, driving the exact same in an Elantra netted me 5.9, and in the Magentis 6.4.  Similar driving conditions, with each car in my possession for a month at a time.  I personally was most impressed with the Magentis.  For a car of it's size, even with the 4 cylinder, had enough power and delivered on fuel economy.

My feeling is that the 6-speed stick is a bit more frugal in real life than the CVT, opposite of lab tests - my Dad has a 2009 2.0S CVT+conv.pkg., and he can't beat my results.  Mid-8s / low 9s though for winter commuting, about a litre less in summer.

[Blueprint]

The Google camera car went by while I was at home, with a clean Sentra in the driveway - I still think it looks good, especially in this colour:

[2latecrew]

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway. 

I too came accross a basic 2.0 Sentra rental with the CVT, and had I needed to go shiftless I would not have bought one.  Staying close to the speed limit (105-110km/h) on the 417 when going to Ottawa nets me 6.1, while speedier travel at 120 is pretty much around 7.7 (calculated - display is optimistic by 1 l/100km).

Yup, I netted 8.0 @ 120.  However, driving the exact same in an Elantra netted me 5.9, and in the Magentis 6.4.  Similar driving conditions, with each car in my possession for a month at a time.  I personally was most impressed with the Magentis.  For a car of it's size, even with the 4 cylinder, had enough power and delivered on fuel economy.

My feeling is that the 6-speed stick is a bit more frugal in real life than the CVT, opposite of lab tests - my Dad has a 2009 2.0S CVT+conv.pkg., and he can't beat my results.  Mid-8s / low 9s though for winter commuting, about a litre less in summer.

I'd disagree. I have an 07 2.0S with the stick. I have never cracked 8 l per 100km. Not even on locked on cruise at 105 or 115 for 300 km plus.

I have had a few CVT rentals and I easily cracked down into the 7s even at 120 kph in Toronto.

Its likley gearing as the 6 speed spins around 3,000rpm at 120. The CVT lets ti drop down nearly 800 rpm. I have been really disappointed in the Mileage in my Sentra and I do not drive it hard at all...it is a car that discourages any kind of hard driving. Heck I got better MPG in my DSG GTI despite driving it much harder.

The new one seems to continue the main positives of the last version quite, more of a "big car/midsized feel" and utterly inoffensive. Basically if you used to drive a big Buick but now need an economy car you buy this 

[Blueprint]

I totally agree with theonlydt's comments on the 2.0. Had one as a rental for a month in 2007.  What an awful car and engine / trans combo.  I could not get it to do better than 8.0 on the highway. 

I too came accross a basic 2.0 Sentra rental with the CVT, and had I needed to go shiftless I would not have bought one.  Staying close to the speed limit (105-110km/h) on the 417 when going to Ottawa nets me 6.1, while speedier travel at 120 is pretty much around 7.7 (calculated - display is optimistic by 1 l/100km).

Yup, I netted 8.0 @ 120.  However, driving the exact same in an Elantra netted me 5.9, and in the Magentis 6.4.  Similar driving conditions, with each car in my possession for a month at a time.  I personally was most impressed with the Magentis.  For a car of it's size, even with the 4 cylinder, had enough power and delivered on fuel economy.

My feeling is that the 6-speed stick is a bit more frugal in real life than the CVT, opposite of lab tests - my Dad has a 2009 2.0S CVT+conv.pkg., and he can't beat my results.  Mid-8s / low 9s though for winter commuting, about a litre less in summer.

I'd disagree. I have an 07 2.0S with the stick. I have never cracked 8 l per 100km. Not even on locked on cruise at 105 or 115 for 300 km plus.

I have had a few CVT rentals and I easily cracked down into the 7s even at 120 kph in Toronto.

Its likley gearing as the 6 speed spins around 3,000rpm at 120. The CVT lets ti drop down nearly 800 rpm. I have been really disappointed in the Mileage in my Sentra and I do not drive it hard at all...it is a car that discourages any kind of hard driving. Heck I got better MPG in my DSG GTI despite driving it much harder.

The new one seems to continue the main positives of the last version quite, more of a "big car/midsized feel" and utterly inoffensive. Basically if you used to drive a big Buick but now need an economy car you buy this 

If you can't crack in the 7's at 105 km/h, then your car might have an issue...  Rear drums get dirty real quick if, like me, you drive it pretending it's a Mazda3 (or GTI  ), so you might have some drag there.  I can crack into 5's during long, flat low-speed stretches when no stopping is involved.  But 6's at 105 on long highway strectches are pretty easy, and 115 is in the 7's. Any in-town driving shoots it up in the 8's, and winter short trips (say, inner-suburb during the Holidays) push it into the 9's.

[dirtyjeffer]

The Google camera car went by while I was at home, with a clean Sentra in the driveway - I still think it looks good, especially in this colour:

??

you have interlocking bricks on your driveway and walkway, stonework on the front of your home, both of which are high end features...but then you have a single car garage!??!?  BOOOOOOO!.

[Blueprint]

The Google camera car went by while I was at home, with a clean Sentra in the driveway - I still think it looks good, especially in this colour:

??

you have interlocking bricks on your driveway and walkway, stonework on the front of your home, both of which are high end features...but then you have a single car garage!??!?  BOOOOOOO!.

I could fit 4 Smarts ForTwos in there ... but would want to do that ? 

It's 17', shelving + Odyssey + bikes/snowthrower/city-imposed recycling SUV. A double would have prevented the storage, and the side yard to the right of the house.

Stonework was mandatory, as per the city's criteria for the street, and they had to approve all materials.

Come to think of it, most garages on my street are singles, and I have the lone plus-sized single.