2013 Nissan Sentra

[Jeff Kleb]

Got a brochure for the 2013 Nissan Sentra in the mail recently. What a very nice-looking car! I have seen two or three of them on the road, and they do very much resemble a miniature Altima.

It seems as though Nissan did their homework with this car, but I notice that they went back to a 1.8L engine, down from the 2.0L used in the 2007 to 2012 Sentra. Is this the same 1.8 engine as used in the B15, or is it totally new?

My guess is that Nissan really wanted to aggressively pursue the 39 MPG highway rating for the new Sentra - so as to stay on par with the Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic.

Anyway, I really like the new Sentra - but really don't want a car payment right now. The old 2002 will have to keep on going until I hand it down to my son in about a year and a half.

[01GXEStock]

Plus - Very good amount of room for the price and exterior size. Styling looks nice enough to me.
Minus - Rather slow - about 10 secs to 60 with the CVT. CVT which don't have a track record of durability, and reviews mostly pan them for non-intuitive operation that makes it difficult to accelerate without drama. Can't get a manual except in the cheap trim, and probably would be hard to find on dealer lots. (How fast to 60 with the manual?) Reviews pan the ride-handling balance as being too little of both, or not enough of either. I think the same gripe on ride-handing was made about the B15, but I like mine OK, except for the rattle in the steering.

[Jeff Kleb]

I watched a TV review of it done by a car magazine. They basically said the same thing. I wonder about the power of the 1.8L engine - 130bhp - as it is only four more ponies than my 2002 Sentra. It doesn't seem like it's going to be a stoplight brawler, even if you could get a six-speed manual transmission in anything but the "el cheapo" base model.

The 39 highway mpg rating is pretty good and if the rest of the car is top-shelf, one could overlook an acceleration handicap. We shall see.

[mikeLekan]

still reading for more reviews before i replace my 2006 model

[Jeff Kleb]

I am going to put off getting a new car until at least a year from now (if I can help it). My son will be driving during the summer of 2014 and is going to get my 2002 Sentra for his first car - and then I'll replace it with a new ride. My 2004 Silverado truck will still be my 'weekend' vehicle, but eats too much gas to serve commuter duty.

Among new cars, I would look at the Sentra, the Civic, Elantra and perhaps a Ford Focus or smaller Mazda. My company is relocating our terminal and I'll have a 35-mile commute each way (compared to 25 now), so fuel mileage will be important.

I am also waiting to hear what the car magazines have to say about the Sentra after it logs a few miles.