2007 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S
The Nissan Sentra is all-new for 2007. The Sentra is aimed at Echo Boomers, those kids of Baby Boomers. So if the Sentra is the second car they've owned in their lifetime, it might be a step up in size. Nissan believes that these buyers virtually live in their cars, so in designing the new Sentra, they've tried to create a "mobile backpack." One thing, for example, is a locking glovebox deep enough to hold a laptop computer. There's also an integrated removable CD holder on the headliner above the driver's sun visor; cupholders that are adjustable for 20-ounce bottles, 32-ounce mega cups, or cellphones and DVDs; and pockets with see-through netting on the backs of the front seats for passengers' cellphones and iPods. The Sentra I test drove was the 2.0 S ($19,615) which adds 16-inch steel wheels, six-way manual driver's seat, power mirrors, remote entry, a six-speaker sound system, illuminated steering wheel audio controls, and vehicle information display. The 2007 Sentra is 4 inches higher and 3.2 inches wider than before, and has a wheelbase 5.9 inches longer while only increasing the overall length by 2.3 inches, so there's a lot less of the body hanging over the wheels. This means better balance on the road. I was impressed at how well the new Sentra handled on the windy roads near Morrison. The Sentra is front wheel drive and did well in the snow until I got to the top of Floyd Hill during our latest snowstorm. It had all-season radials and would have done much better with mud & snow rated tires.
The new engine brings the 2007 Nissan Sentra into the world of high-tech inline fours, with its aluminum block and head, continuously variable valve timing, and electronic fuel injection. It makes 140 horsepower (same as the '06 Honda Civic, 14 hp more than the Toyota Corolla and 10 hp less than the Mazda3), but it's been designed to produce strong torque; with 147 pound-feet, it beats those others. In fact, 132 pound-feet are available at 2400 rpm, down low where you want it. Torque is important because it's needed for acceleration at lower rpm. The Sentra 2.0 S zoomed up I-70 toward Evergreen, and I was able to stay in the fast lane all the way up. The engine wasn't loud and didn't feel strained at that pace. The Sentra is EPA rated at 29 city and 36 highway miles per gallon, with the new CVT transmission, as in my test model. This is the third generation of that transmission, and the technology improves in leaps. The main benefit with a CVT is less internal friction, for better gas mileage. With only two ranges, high and low, it's smoother because there's less shifting, although the sound is odd, like the car is winding up. And the surge when you floor it is pretty aggressive.
The 2007 Sentra feels big for a small car and is the perfect car for someone wanting economy, sophistication, and comfort.
Denis and his wife Jeanie live in Evergreen and own the Mountain Man Nut & Fruit store in Bergen Park.