Car
Lines
by Larry Mason
2000 Nissan Sentra GXE
Did you know that the bumblebee is aerodynamically unable to fly? It doesn't know that so it flies anyway. I say that because the new Nissan Sentra is an econobox that is bottom of the line in Nissan's lineup. It comes across like it doesn't know that with sharp styling, excellent fit and finish, and performance that leaves you with a smile on your face.
The new Sentra is truly a world car, but manufactured exclusively for North America. Nissan Design International (NDI near San Diego) designed the exterior, Nissan Design Europe (NDE) the interior, Nissan Technical Center in Japan, and Nissan Research and Development in Arizona, California, and Michigan did the engineering, and Aguascalientes, Mexico is where it's manufactured.
The GXE that I drove is equipped with an all-new 1.8 liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that sports direct ignition, variable valve timing, and microfinished crankshaft and camshafts. These aren't the normal features you'd expect in an entry-level sedan. Furthermore, Nissan also has a "Clean Air" variant of this engine available only in California that's classified as a super ultra low emissions vehicle (SULEV).
The engine is high revving, smooth, and quiet and coupled with the great gearbox make the Sentra very peppy. With 126 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 129 lb-ft of torque at an unbelievably low 2,400 rpm just goes to show you how variable valve timing can add performance to a small engine. Although the Sentra is rated at 27/35-city/highway mpg, I only recorded 25 mpg in combined driving. The five-speed manual transmission is easy to shift, smooth, and responsive. I especially liked the fact that it was easy to heel and toe downshift adding to the fun-to-drive aspect.
The Sentra comes in the SE version which sports handling upgrades, larger engine and a few more styling cues, however the GXE is already plenty nimble with the Bridgestone Potenza RE92 195/60R15 tires mounted on stylish alloy wheels. You'll find many driving similarities to the Sentra's big brother – the Maxima. Most impressive is the lack of brake dive. When I went down a steep freeway offramp to test the ABS, I jumped on the brakes really hard. The Sentra just slowed down in a hurry with no drama, no brake lock-up, and no ABS. The car just flat stopped! That's what I call confident braking. Steering response is good although on-center feel is just a tad soft. Again, the Sentra belies its entry-level stature by having engine-speed sensitive, variable-assist, power rack and pinion steering. To further complement the handling, torsional rigidity has been increased 30 percent by way of larger gussets where the B-pillar reaches the floor and by the addition of a third chassis crossmember. This also serves to reduce squeaks and rattles (I heard none), and to reduce interior road noise. Only the tire noise on the freeway seemed to be a bit excessive considering all the other finely tuned attributes.
Inside the Sentra you'll find that European's like to store a lot of small items. The NDE team placed 10 separate storage spaces and trays throughout the front passenger compartment. Unfortunately, the key word here is "small". The center console is not only small, but it's also placed too far back to be of much use as a legitimate armrest on long trips. On the other hand, the front seats are very comfortable and include an adjustment to tilt up and down. Nice chrome inner door release handles and the emergency brake button accent the rich-looking cloth interior. The A/C worked just fine and the cruise control was conveniently placed on the steering wheel for better ergonomics. The stereo sound quality was poor with virtually no bass and a tinny sound – kind of like in the cars from the 70's. Even though the overall length was stretched 6.5 inches this year, rear head and legroom is still tight for any average sized adult. Visibility is good all 'round and the dash is straightforward and easy to read.
Exterior styling has conjured up images of "Mini Max" as in a mini version of the Maxima. Personally, I think it's better looking. In any case, the Sentra will be competing primarily against the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, which are extremely tough competitors. However, the Nissan has a tremendous amount of value and with such features as front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters, optional side air bags, and vehicle immobilizer system, it can be personalized to your needs. The GXE starts at $13,499. This one had the convenience package that adds remote keyless entry and 60/40 split fold down seat for $150. With destination charges you can have one for $14,169. Nissan is enjoying a resurgence of fortunes and wants your business. They believe their products are better than the competition's. Take a test drive and see what you think!
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2000 Nissan Sentra - a world class car built just for us! |
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Larry Mason
©Copyright 2000 Larry Mason