11-10-2006 2007 Nissan Sentra by Dave Stall

2007 Nissan Sentra is totally designed for drive and comfort Nissan has hit the ground running with its newly redesigned Sentra. It's 2.3 inches longer, 3.2 inches wider and 4 inches taller. Nissan also installed an innovative trunk divider that separates the trunk for easier hauling of goods and also secures them. I got this blue onyx-colored jewel at Mossy Nissan in the Escondido Auto Park. It came with the all-new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and 147 pound per foot of torque. It accelerates like a street racer even with the Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT). You can get a six-speed manual if automatic transmissions are not your cup of tea. But I must say that the CVT does a good job of putting the horsepower to the ground. A CVT transmission only has one gear, like a golf cart but a lot more sophisticated. So don't bother to listen for gear changes, as there aren't any. The interior has also had a makeover and it looks great - simple but functional. The seats are very comfortable, manually adjust four ways for the driver and are covered in a durable suede cloth trim. The backseat is comfortable as well and for added storage, it splits 60/40 to open to a large trunk area that handles up to 13.1-cubic feet of goods. Plus, the rear seating also comes with a center armrest complete with two cup holders The dash is pretty basic but comes with a unique an orange-lit gauge in the center that holds the fuel and temperature gauge and as a bonus, the outside temperature. The sound system is exceptional with an AM/FM/CD player and only four speakers, which seems plenty, plus an auxiliary audio input jack. Climate controls are easy to operate and well positioned in the center of the dash. Below that is a center console with storage, adjustable cup holder and an armrest with storage. Air conditioning comes standard but the Sentra also includes an in-cabin micro filter, power windows with driver side one-touch down feature, power door locks, tilt steering and storage in the driver and passenger doors. Check out the light in the glove box - when was the last time you saw that? Another unheard of feature in a base line car is a vanity mirror in the passenger visor. The exterior has the look of Sentra's big sister, the Maxima, with body-colored bumper and door handles, halogen lighting, a roof mounted mast antenna and 15-inch steel wheels with wheel covers, all mounted on 205/60HR15 all season tires. The fuel mileage is truly to my liking, with 29 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the open road. The emission standards are close to zero, so why we would want a Hybrid vehicle, except to get away from foreign oil? Safety features are abundant on the 2007 Nissan Sentra, with airbags up front for the driver and passenger, driver and passenger side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental airbags, crumple zones surrounding the occupants, energy absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases and safety stops to keep the hood in place during a frontal impact. There are also three-point seat belts at all five seating positions, child safety rear door locks and anchors for kids seats in the rear (upper and lower), a tire pressure monitoring system (normally found on much more expensive vehicles), front seat active head restraints and pipe-style steel side door guards for side impacts. Most everything on this car is standard equipment and it still rolls out the door at $16,315, plus tax and license. Without the two options, the floor mats and a trunk mat, it runs $15,550. Talk about getting your money's worth! Nissan really wants your business and if it has to give you the kitchen sink to get it, it will. I really liked the '07 Sentra. It rides well, is very comfortable and handles the back roads of Alpine with ease. Out of all the cars I've tested in this category, the 2007 Nissan Sentra is No. 1. Stop by Mossy Nissan in the Escondido Auto Park to check out my test vehicle, stock No. 350154. Take it for a spin and see if you agree with me that Sentra has moved up a notch in basic transportation. Next week, I'll review a Lexus from Lexus Carlsbad.