The redesigned Sentra is slightly larger inside and, thanks to bigger glass areas, might feel even roomier. We had enough head- and legroom to feel comfortable, even on long trips.
As far as standard interior equipment, all Sentra models come with features such as a tilt steering wheel, reclining front bucket seats with adjustable head restraints, pull-out dual cupholders, a handy center console and a foot rest for the driver.
The sentra's instrument panel is surprisingly handsome for a sedan in this category. The tachometer and speedometer are easy to read inside the instrument cluster, and are covered by a hood that sweeps quite gracefully into a pair of air outlets on the top front of the dash panel.
Below those outlets, a control panel for the air conditioning and sound system extends slightly forward from the dash panel. The knobs for the climate control are large and have a nice quality feel when they are turned.
The stereo system in the Sentra is a bit of a disappointment, though, earning only a barely average rating from us in terms of sound reproduction. The system had a large volume knob, but tuning the radio had to be performed with small up/down buttons that required too much of our test driver's attention.
Nissan has done a good job with the sentra's upholstery. Patterns are subdued and the cloth itself has a quality look - especially the velour in the GLE. There are also cloth panels in the doors of the GLE and GXE models instead of the typical grained plastic, adding to the this-is-not-a-cheap-little-sedan look.
In the all-important cubby count, the Sentra does just OK with storage compartments only in the doors, along with a small area for stowage just forward of the shift lever.
Safety features are evident throughout the Sentra, with all models having dual airbags, adjustable front shoulder-belt anchors and child-safety rear door locks. However, anti-lock brakes are optional only on the GXE and the GLE, a fact that we find to be regrettable.
The Sentra offers no surprises on the road, but no real disappointments, either. Although the 1.6-liter engine has good low-end torque, it definitely lacks zip at higher rpm. That means it will get you going smartly but won't provide any thrills once you're under way. It also is quite buzzy at high rpm. But these observations didn't come as a shock to us. The Sentra is a small sedan doing what most small sedans typically do.
Over the road, the Sentra delivers as advertised. The new rear suspension seems to exert a strong grip on the road, absorbing bumps, holes and ripples, and doesn't send much audible or vibrational evidence of its progress into the passenger compartment. And, despite the aforementioned buzz, engine noise was at acceptable levels, due (we think) to a much larger muffler and stiffer mounting of the engine than before.
The Sentra is, of course, rather light - 2400 lb. is the average weight of the four models - so it has a nimble feel on the road, which converts to easy maneuvering around town.
Add to the mix the increased body rigidity and you have a vehicle with noticeably improved handling. Also, the steering isn't over-assisted and transmits good road feel.
The 5-speed manual gearbox shifts smoothly with good gear-to-gear feel. The 4-speed automatic transmission offers equally smooth shifts and quick drop-down for passing.