Test Drive: 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0

2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0. Click image to enlarge

More Nissan Sentra reviews on Autos.ca Manufacturer’s web site Nissan Canada

Review and photos by Peter Bleakney

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2012 Nissan Sentra

Let’s all take a few moments out of our busy schedule and send warm thoughts out to the Nissan Sentra. In arguably the fiercest of automotive arenas, this compact Nissan sedan is a perennial bridesmaid – a tag-along back marker that forlornly watches a seemingly endless parade of fresh debutants strut their stylish, direct-injected, cutting-edge stuff. Look at Mazda’s SkyActiv, Hyundai’s value, Focus’ looks and handling, the Cruze’s refinement…. well, the hits just keep on coming and the poor old Sentra, now into its fifth year, takes ‘em.

2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0. Click image to enlarge

After a week at the wheel of a $15,478 2012 Sentra 2.0 fitted with the optional $1,300 CVT (continuously variable transmission) and $2,000 Value Option Package, I came away with a new respect for this little Nissan. It is one of the most pleasantly inoffensive and user-friendly devices I’ve driven. And if that sounds like damning with faint praise, it’s not meant to.

Let’s start with the interior. No flash here: plain as a piece of dry toast…not even a multi-function steering wheel. And yes, the lack of front seat heaters is worrisome, but the tall greenhouse and elevated seating position make ingress a breeze, and once positioned in the very comfy fabric seats you’ll find Marge Simpson-grade headroom and a commanding view down the road. It is similarly spacious in the back. Indeed, the EPA categorizes the Sentra as a mid-sized sedan based on its interior volume. The trunk is a healthy 371 litres (bigger than Civic, smaller than Cruze, Elantra and Focus), has proper hinges with struts (not the luggage crusher type), an interior latch release, and the 60/40 split rear seats fold forward (part of the Value Option Package).

The dash may not have the visual zing of the Elantra or Focus, but its plastics are of a higher grade than those of the Honda Civic and it is the model of clarity. Two large and legible analogue gauges, a trio of rotary knobs for HVAC and a radio placed high on the console with good old-fashioned preset buttons were refreshingly logical after testing a string of high end vehicles with their obtuse interfaces that had me heading for the ditch before I could switch from AM 680 to FM 99.1.

The aforementioned $2,000 Value Option Package adds air conditioning, keyless entry, trunk lid spoiler, heated and powered outside mirrors, 60/40 folding rear seat, power windows and 16-inch alloys.

2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0. Click image to enlarge

Once on the road, you’ll marvel at how quiet and smooth riding the Sentra is, handily trumping the Hyundai Elantra in this regard. Similarly, the steering has a natural linear feel that eludes the Elantra and Focus. The suspension effortlessly soaks up road imperfections and on the highway the cabin is serene – thanks in part to the CVT transmission that sees the 140 hp 2.0-litre four turning a sleepy 2,100 rpm at 120 km/h.

Nissan is one of the few manufacturers to have a handle on the continuously variable transmission. Excessive engine drone is kept to a minimum (the Scion iQ and 2012 Subaru Impreza conversely suffer) yet the car never feels flatfooted – there’s always a nice little serving of torque under foot.

With its relatively high centre of gravity and compliant suspension, the Sentra is no sports sedan, but it handles safely and predictably with no upsetting habits. And guess what: ninety per cent of shoppers in this segment couldn’t give a fiddler’s fart in a hoe-down about understeer, lift-off oversteer or how fast you can attack an on-ramp before the tires peel off the rims.

2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0. Click image to enlarge

Take my dad, for instance. He was recently in the market for a new compact and I sung the praises of the Ford Focus for its cool interior and fine handling. He hated its quick steering and bought a 2012 Civic for the price, better ride quality, comfortable seats and highly legible bi-level dash.

With official fuel consumption rated at 7.6 L/100 km city and 5.7 L/100 km hwy, the CVT-equipped Sentra is a competitive fuel sipper, edging the auto-equipped Toyota Corolla (7.8 city, 5.7 hwy), Honda Civic (8.2 city, 5.7 hwy), and Chevy Cruze 1.8 (9.2 city, 5.6 hwy), but lags behind the Hyundai Elantra with auto (6.9 city, 4.9 hwy ) and Ford Focus with 6-speed twin-clutch (7.3 city, 5.2 hwy). Over a week of mixed driving I saw 7.5 L/100 km.

When it comes to value, the Hyundai Elantra is now the 300 lb gorilla in the room. For about $200 more than this Sentra’s as-tested price, the Elantra GL with six-speed auto delivers better fuel economy, sharper styling, heated front seats, a bigger trunk, telescopic and multi-function steering wheel, Bluetooth and USB, height adjustable driver’s seat, alarm, cruise, trip computer, and rear disc brakes; although you make do with 16-inch steel wheels.

But if you prefer your compacts comfy and quiet, this Nissan has the edge. So next time you’re cruising the compact sedan dance, look in the corner and say Hi to the Nissan Sentra 2.0. It has a great personality.