One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
| Type: Economy Sedan Price: $16,780 Fuel Efficiency: 27 city/36 hwy Seats: 5 |
Best Suited For: Millennials, commute Notable Features: Good gas mileage, reasonably-priced Links: Official site |
The Sentra has been a staple of Nissan’s lineup for years. However, it was only a couple of months ago (yes, it took me a bit longer to get this review up 😛 ) that I was able to drive one for the first time. With a smooth ride, plenty of space in a compact sedan, and solid handling, that good reputation is not just fluff. The 2017 Nissan Sentra is a peppy ride. The downside is that the styling is, well, kind of boring and dated. Read on so I’m not shooting myself in the foot for writing this…
2016 Nissan Sentra Review — Features
The Nissan Sentra does not have the lag that I’ve experienced in other models from this manufacturer. To the contrary, the Sentra responds almost immediately and I have to be extra gentle on the gas to not rush forward when accelerating at a signal or stop sign. Handling is easy and it performs well in the rain and on longer commutes. Prepare yourself for a heavy amount of road noise, though, since noise insulation seems to be non-existent. This is very apparent while driving on our choppy California roads.
It’s pretty impressive that an economy car that costs around $20,000 has features such as navigation, backup camera, push-button start, blind spot monitoring, cross traffic alert, and heated seats. However, despite the inclusion of some newer technologies, the interior does not reflect the forward-thinking innovation of its inner components. It’s super bland and “plastic-y” for lack of a better word. The blocky buttons and plain knobs scream disguise the tech inside with a look that screams “budget.”
2016 Nissan Sentra Review — Interior
There’s plenty of wiggle room for the driver and passengers. The Nissan Sentra does a great job at proportioning the available space so those in the front and back have enough leg, hip, and head room. The car we had to review had fabric seats. The material seemed durable and I liked the subtle pattern printed on the smooth fabric.
Something seemed to go wrong in the trunk, almost as if they ran out of fabric to cover the whole thing or someone forgot to put an extra shelf in. Also, the shape is quite awkward. Fitting luggage into a trunk is always a Tetris-like puzzle but the rear side portions that protrude makes the process almost impossible. Basically, you can have one big suitcase in the middle and everything else has to be stuffed around it.
The 2016 Nissan Sentra SV is a great option if your budget is limited. You get a reliable car with great tech options… it’s just not very pretty and has no character whatsoever. That might not be a deal-breaker, though. When you’re averaging 34 mpg and need a car that can handle a daily commute, the 2016 Nissan Sentra can look pretty good as beauty is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.
