2007 Nissan Sentra Dallas TX

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Step up to the new Nissan Sentra; the Japanese manufacturer's bland little compact has just taken a giant evolutionary leap forward in terms of refinement, styling and driveability.

Then again, who isn't doing that these days? It's 2007. Compact cars are a booming market, thanks both to rising fuel prices and a dramatic increase in demand for style and sophistication no matter what you've paid. This end of the market is the playground of the ultra-refined Honda Civic, the hip Scion and MINI Cooper families, and the fun-to-drive Ford Focus and Volkswagen Rabbit. If your redesigned products don't represent a quantum leap forward, you might as well go home.

Nissan's not holding back with the new 2007 Sentra. New styling, new powerplants and a new platform help to up the ante. The Sentra's riding on a new global C-class platform that's shared between Renault and Nissan. European car aficionados will recognize the Renault Megane as one of the Sentra's platform mates. Everybody else, don't worry about it; that means it's a good car.

The son-of-Maxima styling ditches the previous Sentra's forgettable lines in favor of a floating element grille, aggressive hood contours and swept-back headlamp units. The flowing design masks the relatively stubby nose and tail, as well as the Sentra's height. The smooth, unadorned flanks manage not to look off-puttingly Spartan.

The interior is more functional, with a nicely laid out silver center stack and a high-mounted shifter for improved floor space. The materials are surprisingly nice for a car at this price point; nothing feels cheap. The Sentra, like many others in this class, has gotten larger and more refined. There's a significant size increase--six inches in wheelbase and three to the width. That makes the Sentra the latest so-called compact to feature interior dimensions that put it in the mid-size class. The increased width isn't immediately evident until you realize that you're not rubbing shoulders with your passengers. The rear seats are nice and tall, and there are handy high-mounted net pouches on the seatbacks as well, for stowing your passengers' cell phones or other small items. A removable CD folder lives above the driver's sunvisor. It clips into place magnetically, and can be used to tote CDs from house to car. The cup holder is configurable for stowing a variety of objects in the center console. Side and side-curtain airbags and air conditioning are also standard equipment.

Rear-seat room is generous enough that for many people, the Sentra is about as large a car as they'll ever need. Recognizing that some buyers want more luxury without necessarily opting for a bigger car, cool options abound: Nissan's Intelligent Key keyless entry system, Bluetooth connectivity, XM or Sirius satellite radio and a leather interior can all be added to make the Sentra into a luxury compact car. An available trunk divider offers long-term trunk storage for large items that often live in the cars of space-constricted apartment dwellers. A hidden compartment hides gym bags or sports equipment from prying eyes, as well as keeping things from tumbling about during the day-to-day--Nissan wants the Sentra to be a backpack with wheels.

There's a new engine as well. The 2.0 liter four-cylinder is an all-new, all-aluminum engine that features weight- and friction-reducing design features similar to those used in Nissan's excellent VQ-series V6 engines. The large-ish displacement and variable valve timing make the Sentra torquey beyond what its 140 horsepower rating would suggest. Fuel economy is an impressive 29/36. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is the only automatic offered as an option; a six-speed manual is standard. The third-generation CVT gets improvements to the shift logic and responsiveness. Most drivers who prefer automatics won't notice anything but improved mileage and smoothness. Drivers who like to be more involved in the driving experience will find the six-speed manual to be very rewarding, and the Sentra doesn't mind being driven hard. It's a tight, direct gearbox that works well with the torquey engine. It's not as happy-go-lucky as a Mazda3, but we suspect it would keep up with one through a set of S-curves. The Sentra is also happy on the freeway, displaying all-around capability that's not common in small cars. Engine compartment damper technology trickled down from Nissan's luxury car lineup reduces engine noise, and it's surprisingly quiet on the open road.

A longish wheelbase contributes to a gentler ride than we've come to expect from compact cars. Emergency maneuvers are confidently dispatched. The rear suspension has been repackaged to improve trunk room. A flatter torsion beam, separate coil and shock setup help create a flat trunk floor. "Ripple control" dampers are used at the rear, and do a good job of taming the traditionally crude ride of the torsion-beam rear suspension. Electronic power steering (EPS) is also used to boost fuel economy. The Sentra's EPS is less numb than others we've driven, but still lacks the direct, connected feel that many enthusiasts will want. Around town, the Sentra's EPS works effortlessly. Anti-lock brakes are available as well.

This car already had the reliability and economy down; added refinement and improved curb appeal will make the 2007 Sentra a serious player in the compact market. It's fun to drive and versatile enough to serve as a first-new-car for singles or small families without feeling like a compromise car. Pricing starts at $14,750 for the base Sentra; a fully equipped version goes for about $18,400. More power, more space, and better fuel economy? What more could you ask for? (For all the gearheads who just snarked, "A high-performance SE-R version," we're pleased to announce that it's on the way as well; Nissan plans to release more details some time in 2007.)


Specifications:
All specs are for the 2007 Nissan Sentra.
Length: 179.8 in.
Width: 70.5 in.
Height: 59.5 in.
Wheelbase: 105.7 in.
Cargo space: 13.1 cu.ft.
Base price: $14,750
Engine: 2.0 liter DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder
Drivetrain: continuously variable transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 140 @ 5100
Torque: 147 @ 4800
Est. mileage: 29/36