By Jeff Glucker
Nissan is in a tough spot at the moment. The automaker is working to right the ship, but the plan involves lots of cost-cutting measures. That’s a good move, of course. But how it will affect the product lineup will be interesting. Nissan needs to start moving cars in volume. That’s why a vehicle like the new Sentra is essential for the brand.
Flashy sports cars, big trucks, and overpriced SUVs grab attention. But affordable options may be the path to actually grabbing consumer dollars. I’m sure you’ve heard many times over that the average new-car transaction price sits at or just above $50,000. That’s why it’s refreshing to see more affordable vehicles enter the market.
Now, the new Sentra isn’t exciting, at least from a performance standpoint. What it is, however, is a well-built car, and all four trims start under $30,000.
If we want Nissan to return as a strong player in the global automotive market, the Sentra has to do well. Thankfully, I’m here to say Nissan has built a quality car with this one. It’s far quieter inside than I expected. The zero-gravity seats, standard on all trims, are quite comfortable. And the CVT isn’t a totally hateful “gearbox.” The tuning only attempts to mimic a true automatic in a subtle way, and that toned-down approach allows it to disappear into the background. There’s no tortured droning.
I know that we here in the Hooniverse understand that you don’t need to buy a new car. Plenty of amazing options exist in the used market. Some terrible ones, too, which is usually where we are drawn. But if you have a friend or family member who wants a new car for safety, warranty, or modern features, but has a tighter budget, a vehicle like this new Sentra is a great option.
Like I said, there’s nothing exciting about a sub-150-hp sedan with a CVT driving the front wheels. But if we want to see Nissan improve, it needs to sell stuff like this. Then we can get a better version of the Z, a new GT-R, and even perhaps a sportier Sentra SE-R.