Nissan Sentra | Anonymous, but (still) affordable

The Sentra, the eighth of its name, is one of those cars that you pass by without really noticing. A sedan that you easily forget about because its rivals seem more fun, more beautiful or more diverse. “And often more expensive too,” retort these consumers who know how to count.

The Nissan Sentra belongs to the midsize car category, in every sense of the word. The car of Mr. and Mrs. Average. Neither too small nor too big. Neither ugly nor beautiful. Like Toyota's Corolla. The difference is that the latter has emancipated itself over time by multiplying its shapes and engines. Not the Sentra, which was made with scrupulous attention to consensus. And with limited means. We can understand why. When this model was designed, Nissan was going through a dark period. And to complicate things, its commercial launch took place at the height of the health crisis.

The 2020 redesign didn't give the Sentra much new life. Its reworked front end is more dynamic, and the profile and rear end are starting to date. The interior, on the other hand, hasn't aged too much, as long as you opt for the most expensive trims. Buyers, marketing experts kept repeating, are “financially constrained” families whose purchase is less driven by a crush than by the search for very down-to-earth features. Consequences: no need to add to the exterior style or the originality of the architecture.

Three pedals

Engine-wise, the latest Sentra isn't exactly a wash. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivers more than adequate performance. It's also quite economical when paired with the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The latter has improved considerably over the years, but some competitors do better, including Honda. The only thing left is the manual gearbox, a rarity in this segment. It's quite annoying in more ways than one. The shift is catchy, and the six-speed gear ratio isn't well-suited to gasoline engines, which require constant downshifting to fill low-rev gaps. It also increases fuel consumption (see our charts) and may potentially find few buyers when it's time to resell.

Larger than its compact appearance suggests, the Sentra does not lose in interior volume. The rear seats are spacious (for the category, that is) and only large people will quibble about the headroom. The trunk capacity rivals the best in its segment. Easy to load due to its low threshold, the trunk also benefits from a wide opening. The build quality is very good average and the presence of lightly padded materials helps improve the perceived quality. However, the emergency brake pedal betrays the impression of modernism that this Nissan seeks to give off. On the other hand, it does not skimp on safety equipment, and this is true across the entire range.

Quiet, with efficient braking, responsive suspension and relatively precise steering, the Sentra does not suffer from any major weak points.

Unlike the current model, which is perfectly transparent, the next generation, which will be marketed by 2026, will want to be noticed (see our boxes) and chosen. It remains to be seen, however, whether this car, which is currently intended for the average person, will then always remain within their reach.