2010 Nissan Sentra SL Milwaukee WI

2010 Nissan Sentra SL By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor
DriverSide Overview
The Nissan Sentra has evolved quite a bit since the utilitarian commuter car days of yesteryear. Previously looked at as a fuel-conscious vehicle for everyday freeway duties, the interior has gotten some pretty major upgrades of late since the small car market has grown as the economy has contracted. Outside, it looks largely the same as last year’s model, with a revised fascia and headlights, but the same overall angular style that has become the Sentra’s profile. Packaging and options have been simplified to make the buying process easier, and the price of the 2.0 SL model has actually dropped by a useful $1,100. But the biggest news comes in the form of a new navigation system. It’s no $2,000 system like you might expect, despite including most of the features consumers are used to in a fully-fledged system; it’s actually just $400. The five-inch screen might seem diminutive, but prior to its introduction, the only nav options in this price range were wonky aftermarket systems packaged with the car. We like that Nissan is upping the ante for small cars by including affordable technology in the options list. Like we said, the Sentra is moving up.








What's to Like
Price reductions across almost the entire Sentra lineup for 2010 are a welcome sight. Nissan’s new 4.3-inch color audio display is a nice modern touch, and the optional $400 in-dash navigation system is a game changer if ever we’ve seen one. We like that Nissan has folded some of their options packages into standard trim level equipment to help simplify the buying process.

What's Not to Like
The Sentra isn’t, er, the prettiest compact car out there, and its angular styling may prove too polarizing for some to adapt. While continuously variable transmissions may be good for fuel economy, they still don’t quite do the job when it comes to drivability. Give a four-cylinder engine a foot-full of throttle and see how long you can stand the drone of the engine above 6,000 rpm. It won’t be long.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
The Sentra is an adept around-town tourer, feeling almost European in its ride quality, never feeling loose and squishy over bumps and imperfections in the road, but at the same time never feeling too harshly sprung. Nissan lineage is clear in the direct steering and the continuously variable transmission is pretty lag-free, another trait seen across the current Nissan lineup. Despite its low displacement and lack of a turbocharger, the engine has more than enough power to motivate the Sentra down the road, although when held at full throttle for extended periods it does sounds like it’s struggling to breathe. Still, we don’t know too many CVT users who leave the engine at redline for minutes on end, and the artificial gear ratios are convincingly ac...

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