Climbing in is easy. The Sentra cabin has above-average roominess for its size class. Nice interior materials and a relatively high level of standard equipment keep these compacts from feeling miserly. We found the Sentra's front bucket seats to be on par with other compacts for comfort, and we were impressed with the excellent view over the sloping hood.
The instrument panel is straightforward. The SE's black-on-white gauges are a sporty twist over traditional white-on-black instruments. The climate control dials have a particularly nice feel, and the heating and air conditioning functions are exemplary.
In back, we found plenty of space for two. There's even room for three if they are small.
The trunk lid lifts from the top edge of the bumper, minimizing the distance groceries and other cargo need to be lifted when loading and unloading. Like most small cars, the Sentra's rear seatbacks split 60/40 to expand cargo space.
With its 2.0-liter engine, the Sentra SE offers sporty performance for a compact sedan. You may not win too many drag races, but it's a lot of fun to drive, particularly on a winding road. Best of all, this car inspires confidence in the driver, a big benefit when it is raining.
Steering and handling responses reflect Nissan's sporty heritage. The Sentra SE is agile and competent in avoidance maneuvers and the five-speed manual shifts smoothly.
We were impressed with the Sentra's stability at higher speeds, as well as its predictability in slippery conditions. We also appreciated the car's firm but comfortable ride quality, which enhances the driver's sense of control while simultaneously ironing out potholes and rough pavement.
An independent strut front suspension with an anti-roll bar provides precise, controlled handling. Nissan's multi-link beam-axle rear suspension was designed to provide as much room as possible for rear seat passengers and cargo. It also allowed Nissan to use a relatively long wheelbase without lengthening the car, which eliminates long, wasteful front and rear overhangs. The SE model's rear anti-roll bar helps keep body roll to a minimum in hard cornering.
While the other models are equipped with brakes using front discs and rear drums, the SE comes with four-wheel disc brakes that improve braking performance. They may shorten stopping distances, but the bigger benefit will be in reducing brake fade that can cause a loss of braking performance in mountain passes or in other conditions where they may get hot from hard, repeated use.
Keeping noise to a minimum was obviously a priority for the Sentra engineers. The rigid chassis and the suspension tuning minimize road noise, while the 2.0-liter engine sounds quieter and more refined than the Dodge Neon engine.
The Sentra SE accelerates quicker than many compact sedans and good low-end torque gives it responsive performance around town and in heavy traffic. All Sentra engines benefit from Nissan's variable valve timing, which helps it squeeze more performance from every droplet of fuel and minimize emissions.