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THE NISSAN SENTRA SE Reviewed by Colin Hefferon  Big bang for your entertainment buck Car geeks say it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. I'm not sure if this applies in the case of a Ferrari 360 Modena or a Porsche 911T but I know one thing for sure: I had a ton of fun driving the Nissan Sentra SE last week. It's not that the Sentra SE is slow -- in fact, it's exceptionally quick -- but it's not a Ferrari or even a Porsche. Let's face it though, if you push either of those supercars hard, you're in danger of getting fined big-time and possibly losing your license. Which is not a lot of fun, I'm told. No such risks with the SE; you can push it hard enough to have lots of fun yet still retain your pillar-like standing in the community. The sturdily-built little guy has an ultra-modern, remarkably fuel efficient, 145hp 4-cylinder engine that loves to spin fast, and a sporty suspension that loves the bumps and the curves. Frankly, until last week I'd always associated the Sentra name with economy. I still do but having driven the SE, I now also associate it with fun. It's not quite as much fun as the Honda Civic SiR I drove a couple months ago in this series -- few cars in its price range are -- but the SE's gives a big bang for your entertainment buck, nonetheless. Styling's a letdown Unfortunately, the Sentra SE's styling gives few hints of the excitement that lies within. Which is a pity since a lot of people who I suspect would enjoy driving the Sentra SE might be inclined to turn to something a little more sporty-looking. The bland styling of the entire Nissan line may soon be in for a radical change, however. As most car enthusiasts know by now, Japanese-owned Nissan was taken over this year by the French automaking giant, Renault. Industry scuttlebutt has it that the French influence will soon begin to be seen in Nissan's styling. And not a moment too soon, I say. Like most people I know, Nissan's stylists depend on trend-setters to point out where it's happening. Japanese auto makers have never hesitated to, um... borrow good styling lines not only from each other but also from automakers in other parts of the world. Think of the original Honda Accord 2-door hatch from the late '70s which was, at the very least, a flattering tribute to the VW Sirocco; or Nissan Motor Corporation's own early '70s Datsun 510 whose styling closely followed the Fiat 131 from the late '60s. Unlike the 131, however, the 510 was a superbly-built automobile which was dead reliable and a load of fun to drive. In fact, the 510 is still fondly remembered whenever car guys gather. My point is Nissan urgently needs some fresh styling ideas to go with its excellent engineering and build-quality and Renault can supply those ideas. While Renault's build-quality has often been criticized over the years, its trend-setting styling has always been respected -- not necessarily always loved, but definitely respected. Sporty roadholding brings firmer ride A female friend remarked to me the other day she found the Sentra SE's ride "very bouncy" and later "a bit rocky." At the time, we were moving along in light city traffic at 20 to 25 mph. In my experience, this is about the median speed at which traffic travels in most heavily-populated urban areas in North America outside rush hours. Because the Sentra SE is engineered to be driven in a European manner; that is, more aggressively than in North America, I think many people will find its ride somewhat harsh at speeds below 30 or 35 mph. Above 35mph, however, I found the ride quality improved considerably. So, if you're not prepared to drive this thing at least a bit aggressively, do yourself a favor and buy its sister ship, the Sentra GXE, which has a softer suspension. My friend was drinking a tall Starbucks latte at the time she made the "bouncy" observation. I noticed her paper coffee cup fit very snuggly in one of the two cup holders just in front of the 5-speed shifter. A couple of days later, after a very hot and dry 2-hour marathon session at a local Home Depot, we stopped at a convenience store to buy a couple of soft drinks. Neither of the 500 ml (about 17 ounces) soft drink bottles we bought would fit in the Sentra's cup holders. So be forewarned: If you or anyone who regularly rides in the front passenger seat is partial to soft drinks while driving, you'll need much bigger cup holders than the ones that come standard on the SE. Big Slurpees? Forget about it! Come to think of it, if you like big sound from your car stereo, better think aftermarket as well. The top-of-the-line stereo with CD and tape deck in the Sentra SE which I drove just doesn't cut it, even for the musically-challenged like myself. I found it seriously lacking in oomph, especially at the bottom end. An ideal urban car Cupholders and stereos aside, I really liked this little guy. I loved the way it drove and handled in traffic. I found it the ideal size for tight urban traffic situations and found it'll carry four adults in reasonable comfort. I would caution, though; if the front seat passengers are especially big or tall, it would help if the back seat passengers are not -- even for short trips. But really, how many times do four North American adults get into the same vehicle for any reason? In the northwest where I live, even the HOV lanes, for heaven's sake, only require two occupants. The trunk is quite large for a car this size. While I didn't apply the golf test, it looks like it would hold at least two tournament-size bags and I wouldn't be surprised if it held four. In other words, there's lots of room for all the suitcases and soft-sided luggage you're likely to carry back there. If you need more room for odd-shaped or extra-long objects, the rear seat splits and folds as well. Still more? See Hertz. The Sentra SE represents a reasonable solution for people who need or want a lower-priced four-door sedan that is roomy, comfortable, fuel-efficient and inexpensive to operate, yet sporty and fun to drive. I found this little guy to be a real prize and tough-as-nails. I beat the stuffing out of it all week and, unlike the V8-powered Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab I drove the week before, the gas gauge barely moved. Relatively speaking, of course. I found it an ideal city-type car. I'd even consider buying one. Photos © Nissan Vancouver-based Colin Hefferon regularly tests and reviews new vehicles. Though an automotive enthusiast by nature, Colin takes the perspective of the average car owner. Which, after all, is most of us! Colin Hefferon is the road test editor for About Cars where more of his car reviews may be found. |
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