2012 Nissan Sentra in Bradenton

         

The Nissan Sentra is a solid compact sedan that gets good gas mileage and offers a great value. The cabin is roomy and comfortable with nice seats and an attractive instrument panel. Sentra offers two excellent engines and a fine, forgiving chassis. The SE-R Spec V provides driving fun without being harsh or high strung. The Sentra, available as a four-door sedan only was designed for the American market and American buyers. The spacious cabin is finished like that of a more expensive car and it has comfortable and supportive seats. There's a 60/40-split rear seat that folds flat, opening up the trunk space and creating a large flat cargo area that's handy for hauling long items.

Powering the 2012 Sentra

The Sentra is fun to drive, with a level of performance and handling that's a pleasant surprise in a compact sedan. It's powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder of 140 horsepower, which is matched to a very nice 6-speed manual in the base car, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) optional in the base car and standard on all other trim levels. Two high-performance versions are available: Sentra SE-R has a 2.5-liter engine with 177 hp and the CVT. The SE-R Spec V has a turbocharged version of the 2.5-liter engine boosted to 200 hp and fitted with a 6-speed manual. Sentra SE-R models also feature suspension modifications for sharper handling. The suspension on all Sentras is struts in front with a torsion beam in the rear: The rear is a compact design with separate shocks and coil springs that allows more room for the trunk that's above it.

2012 Nissan Sentra Design

The Nissan Sentra is larger than the subcompact Versa and smaller than the midsize Altima. From every angle, it looks like the latest-generation Nissans. With its crisp character lines, the Sentra resembles a scaled down Altima. The new front end manages to look both cleaner and richer and more upscale, all at once. The previous look was sort of angular, with the fog lamps in sharp-edged openings and what seemed like a lot of cuts and creases, but the new front end is smoother. The grille opening looks like that of a more expensive car, and the integration of the grille, lower air intake, headlamps and fog lamps is much cleaner and less busy. The Nissan Sentra is a good choice for drivers who spend a lot of time in their cars. For example, the locking glovebox is deep enough to hold a laptop computer. There is also an available integrated removable CD holder on the headliner above the driver's sun visor. The front of the center console has a tray for items such as cell phones, as well as two cupholders that are adjustable for 20-ounce bottles or 32-ounce mega cups. Pockets with see-through netting are provided on the backs of the front seats for passengers' cell phones and iPods.

New Sentra Trim Levels

The Sentra 2.0 comes with cloth seats, air conditioning, interior air filter, tilt steering wheel, remote manual mirrors, four-way adjustable manual front seats, 60/40-split fold-down rear seats, power windows, power door locks, electric power steering, AM/FM/CD stereo with four speakers, auxiliary audio input jack, vehicle immobilizer, and P205/60HR15 tires on steel wheels with wheel covers. The CVT version also sports an SE-R style rear spoiler.

Sentra 2.0 S adds a height adjustment for the driver's seat, power exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, cruise control, illuminated steering wheel audio controls, a six-speaker sound system with RDS and MP3 capability plus iPod interface, vehicle information display, upgraded security system, and P205/55HR16 tires.

Sentra 2.0 SR is equipped identically to the 2.0 S, but has a sportier appearance borrowed from the performance-oriented SE-R, with a mesh grille, unique front and rear fascia treatments, side sill spoilers, smoked headlights and taillights, driving lights, exhaust tip, SR badging on the rear deck, and aluminum alloy wheels.

Sentra 2.0 SL returns to a more conservative appearance and makes the total contents of the Convenience and package standard, plus an upgraded stereo with USB port and color display screen, XM Satellite Radio, and its own unique alloy wheels.

Sentra SE-R features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 177 hp and 172 pound-feet of torque and it is mated to a CVT. The SE-R comes with a sports suspension, four-wheel-disc brakes, and P225/45VR17 all-season tires.

Sentra SE-R Spec V comes with the 2.5-liter engine tuned to produce 200 hp and 180 pound-feet of torque, and a six-speed manual gearbox. The SE-R Spec V has a lowered performance suspension, larger disc brakes, some structural reinforcement (which deletes the folding rear seat), and W-rated P225/45R17 tires.

Conclusions 

The 2012 Nissan Sentra represents a solid value. It's roomy inside, the engine is modern and competitive, and the chassis provides good handling and a comfortable ride. All told, if you're in the market for a compact sedan that offers a lot of value in a lot of areas, the Sentra deserves your attention. Safety equipment includes dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, active front-seat headrests, and a tire-pressure monitor. Antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), and traction control are standard on all models as well. For more on this model, visit the official Nissan Sentra website!