{"id":25278,"date":"2020-04-30T11:40:17","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T15:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=25278"},"modified":"2020-04-30T11:40:17","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T15:40:17","slug":"payne-affordable-nissan-sentra-makes-your-pulse-accelerate-until-you-hit-the-gas-pedal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/payne-affordable-nissan-sentra-makes-your-pulse-accelerate-until-you-hit-the-gas-pedal","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Affordable Nissan Sentra makes your pulse accelerate, until you hit the gas pedal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"speakable-p-1 p-text\">COVID-19 times are lean times. Toilet paper is priceless. Attorneys general are on the lookout for price-gouging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable-p-2 p-text\">They won\u2019t need to waste their time at the Nissan dealership.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The loaded all-new compact Nissan Sentra SR Premium that I tested is $25,325. I\u2019m not making that up. That includes sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, LED everything, floating black roof. Heated six-way automatic seats, heated steering wheel, automatic box, leatherette seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, adaptive cruise-control, blind-spot assist, automatic emergency-braking, stitched dash with Mercedes-style rotary air vents and tablet screen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Just $25,000. I\u2019m still not making this up.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t6Sdnw\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/f6b381ab-8a92-4088-9f6d-1e468634f7ba-sentra_audi.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The $25,000 Sentra SR is so good looking it compares well to a $63,000 Audi S4, left.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/f6b381ab-8a92-4088-9f6d-1e468634f7ba-sentra_audi.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/f6b381ab-8a92-4088-9f6d-1e468634f7ba-sentra_audi.JPG\" \/>The $25,000 Sentra SR is so good looking it compares well to a $63,000 Audi S4, left.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">I had the Sentra in my driveway next to a $63,000 2020 Audi S4 rocket ship. I couldn\u2019t believe these two cars were $38,000 apart. The Audi was flirting with the Sentra, it was so hot. Maybe because Hollywood starlet Brie Larson pilots a Sentra in its new ad campaign \u2014 but there\u2019s more to it than that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The interior is so nice I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s doing in a mainstream compact. When Mercedes debuted its sexy new CLA sedan a few years back \u2014 the German luxury brand&#8217;s first $30,000 entry-level sedan\u00a0\u2014\u00a0we auto reviewers asked: Where are the savings? It didn\u2019t take us long to figure it out. The interior was subpar with ill-fitting panels and a tablet screen tacked to the dash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Not the Sentra. The attention to detail here is remarkable, from the aforementioned orange stitching to the subtle\u00a0carbon-fiber trim around the instrument display to the graceful dash lines that seamlessly cups the tablet screen. No gouging here, Attorney General Nessel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Nissan has long been a value leader in automotive, but style? It\u2019s never been my first choice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Sure, the Japanese brand has had its moments. I\u2019ve been a Nissan Z sports car fan since it was called the Datsun 240Z. I was just a West Virginia boy in the early \u201970s when the Datsun hottie started showing up at the local autocrosses my father competed in. With a lusty shape modeled after the legendary Ferrari GTO and a growly, inline-six engine to match, I was entranced.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t7eirk\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/82e606d6-b93c-46d3-8745-ced20abeb80a-sentra_int.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"That's a $25,000 car? The interior of the 2020 Nissan Sentra would be at home in a luxury car.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/82e606d6-b93c-46d3-8745-ced20abeb80a-sentra_int.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/82e606d6-b93c-46d3-8745-ced20abeb80a-sentra_int.JPG\" \/>That&#8217;s a $25,000 car? The interior of the 2020 Nissan Sentra would be at home in a luxury car.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The 240Z eventually evolved into the equally sexy\u00a01990 Nissan 300Z. And then there was the 2004 Maxima, Nissan\u2019s full-size sedan hot-rod that combined Cadillac good looks with V-6 voom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">But like Nicolas Cage\u2019s acting career, the Nissan highlights have been few and far between.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">With buyers eyeballing boxy, utilitarian, subcompact crossovers, however, Nissan has turned the designers loose on its car lineup. If the midsize Altima doesn\u2019t flip your switch you need to get your switch checked, and the Sentra is better looking than the Altima. The purpose of this is not just to make pretty things, but because of the chance to hook entry-level buyers in a market abandoned by Detroit automakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The Mazda 3 is a $25,000 sculpted masterpiece that just beat out the $150,000 Porsche Taycan for World Car Design of the Year. The Mazda adds Michigan-friendly all-wheel drive to match the Subaru Impreza, which also has stepped up its style game. The always handsome Volkswagen Jetta has added value to its lineup with a new model that promises standard features just like Japanese automakers. Even Toyota\u2019s Corolla has become easy on the eyes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t6VbGg\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/cc73fa49-c9d2-4bc5-854e-676dd8a6ddc1-sentra_features-safety.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Nissan Sentra is loaded with standard safety features normally found on luxury autos.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/cc73fa49-c9d2-4bc5-854e-676dd8a6ddc1-sentra_features-safety.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/cc73fa49-c9d2-4bc5-854e-676dd8a6ddc1-sentra_features-safety.JPG\" \/>The 2020 Nissan Sentra is loaded with standard safety features normally found on luxury autos.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">And watch out for Hyundai\u2019s new Elantra. Though its spectacular Los Angeles debut was overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, the little Korean is a rolling wonder with more angles than a Frank Gehry building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">But the big dog\u00a0in the compact segment is the Honda Civic. Honda\u2019s\u00a0best-selling retail compact offers a dizzying array of models, not to mention important features like a configurable center console and sporty ride. The latter is courtesy of the entry-level car being designed with top-end performance badges like the Type R and Si in mind \u2014 hellions that will make you consider moving to Hell, Michigan, just so you have Michigan\u2019s best roads at your doorstep.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">To compete with the Civic, the formerly homely Sentra had to rely on rental fleets to find sales. But with its new bod, the Sentra deserves a look at the dealer as well. It\u2019s so good looking it almost made me forget that the Sentra is not offered in hatchback form, my favorite dress for compact hatches.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t6AIVE\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/87b9d997-0fb5-4d5b-8974-5025df0b5743-sentra_side.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Nissan Sentra shows off sculpted lines that make the compact sedan desirable versus the boxy SUVs that dominate the market today.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/87b9d997-0fb5-4d5b-8974-5025df0b5743-sentra_side.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/87b9d997-0fb5-4d5b-8974-5025df0b5743-sentra_side.JPG\" \/>The 2020 Nissan Sentra shows off sculpted lines that make the compact sedan desirable versus the boxy SUVs that dominate the market today.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">If you\u2019re looking for a hatchback, the Civic Sport, Mazda 3\u00a0and VW Golf are where you should be shopping. But if sedans are your thing, the Sentra now is in the hunt for more reasons than just price.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">True to its value roots, the Sentra comes in a whopping $1,600 cheaper than a new Civic LS even as it offers standard goodies like that 7-inch infotainment screen, blind-spot assist\u00a0and automatic high-beams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">The question is whether you\u2019ll want to come back to the Sentra\u00a0drivetrain day after day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">In my driveway, this was where the Audi started to snicker \u2014 and not because the S4 had 200 more horsepower than the Sentra\u2019s meager 149.<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t63kIc\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/e366ec41-8449-4952-a337-5be5d98405a3-sentra_engine.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Nissan Sentra is powered by a 149-horse 4-banger mated to a CVT tranny.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/e366ec41-8449-4952-a337-5be5d98405a3-sentra_engine.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/e366ec41-8449-4952-a337-5be5d98405a3-sentra_engine.JPG\" \/>The 2020 Nissan Sentra is powered by a 149-horse 4-banger mated to a CVT tranny.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Mated to a continuously variable transmission, the Sentra\u2019s 2.0-liter four-cylinder is uninspired. The Sentra\u2019s all-new chassis is ready and willing, but the engine shouted as if in protest whenever I floored it out of corners. Compare that to the Civic\u2019s 174-horse 1.5-liter turbo, which \u2014 though also mated to a CVT \u2014 is always ready to play with punchy, 162 pound-feet of low-end torque.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Sentra\u2019s four-banger doesn\u2019t even allow you to claim virtue while putting up with its lack of excitement. Despite giving up 15% horsepower to the Civic, it lags by 12% in fuel economy:\u00a032 mpg versus 36.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Highway cruising is more in Sentra\u2019s wheelhouse, where I could engage adaptive cruise, settle back into the leatherette seats and contemplate the $1,000 I was saving in the Nissan\u2019s luxurious confines. That inner sanctum includes a back seat that matches the Civic\u2019s once class-leading 37.4 inches. That\u2019s two more inches than the $63,000\u00a0Audi S4.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Who\u2019s snickering now?<\/p>\n<div id=\"module-position-Sq_b7t6a2Q0\" class=\"story-asset image-asset\">\n<aside class=\"wide single-photo\"><div align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/37873f08-de08-422c-a0f3-eae3e5d3a354-sentra_rr-3-4.JPG?width=540&amp;height=&amp;fit=bounds&amp;auto=webp\" alt=\"The 2020 Nissan Sentra features a stylish back &quot;floating roof&quot; that debuted on higher-cost models like the Murano crossover.\" width=\"540\" data-mycapture-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/37873f08-de08-422c-a0f3-eae3e5d3a354-sentra_rr-3-4.JPG\" data-mycapture-sm-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2020\/04\/27\/PDTN\/37873f08-de08-422c-a0f3-eae3e5d3a354-sentra_rr-3-4.JPG\" \/>The 2020 Nissan Sentra features a stylish back &#8220;floating roof&#8221; that debuted on higher-cost models like the Murano crossover.\u00a0<span class=\"credit\">(Photo: Henry Payne, The Detroit News)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/aside>\n<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"presto-h3\">2020 Nissan Sentra<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Vehicle type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger sedan<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Price: $20,015, including $925 destination charge ($25,325 SR Premium\u00a0model as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Powerplant:\u00a02.0-liter four-cylinder<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Power:\u00a0149 horsepower, 146 pound-feet of torque<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Transmission: CVT<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Performance: 0-60 mph, 9.2 seconds (Car and Driver)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Weight: 3,084 pounds\u00a0as tested<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Fuel economy: EPA 28 city\/ 37 highway\/ 32 combined (SR as tested)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Report card<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Highs: Hot looks; bargain price<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Lows: Needs more power, oh, that CVT drone<\/p>\n<p class=\"p-text\">Overall: 3\u00a0stars<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>COVID-19 times are lean times. Toilet paper is priceless. Attorneys general are on the lookout for price-gouging. They won\u2019t need to waste their time at the Nissan dealership. The loaded all-new compact Nissan Sentra SR Premium that I tested is $25,325. I\u2019m not making that up. That includes sunroof, 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome grille, LED [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,87],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25278"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25278"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25278\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25279,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25278\/revisions\/25279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25278"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25278"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}