2010 Nissan Sentra By  ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net Low-priced and sporty?  The 2010 Nissan Sentra was available for a full week’s test drive during the summer.  The heat outside was terrible, but inside, the A/C unit worked well.  It is considered a sporty Compact vehicle and this is a very competitive segment.

      The Nissan Sentra is slightly larger than the little Versa and slightly smaller than the mid-size Altima.  The closest competitors to the Nissan Sentra are the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Kia Forte, and Chevy Cobalt.  The 2010 model has been upgraded somewhat.  All models of the Sentra have new cloth seat trim.  The headlights, taillights, and the front grill have been revised.    The fenders flare slightly upwards and outwards, giving it a slight sporty appearance.

Inside, the Nissan Sentra has quite a few features, such as high-mounted seatback pockets.  Usually, you have to bend over and reach almost to the floor to retrieve items out of those seatback pockets.  The instrument panel has been upgraded for 2010, including chrome accents on the knobs, and a new orange-reddish illumination of the gauges.  Cupholders are convenient, of course, but the Sentra even has cupholders in the rear seat area that can hold 32 oz cups or 20 oz bottles.

The Nissan Sentra is powered by just one available engine – a 140 horsepower, 2.0 liter, four cylinder.  Two transmissions are available – a six speed manual or a continuously variable automatic.  It drives smooth and easy, but certainly not like a large, luxury sedan.  The ride and handling are generally what is expected and there is nothing that stands out, appearing remarkable.

The trunk area is fairly large for such a small car.  We had plenty of room to take home items we found at several garage sales and an auction.  The Nissan PR department calls their trunk space as having a “hidden” compartment.  Actually, there is a partition that can be configured so as to form two compartments, giving the appearance that the trunk area is much smaller than it really is.

Overall, the Nissan Sentra is a terrific small car for the price, which ranges from about $16,000 to about $20,000, depending upon the trim level and the options added.  It is not necessarily considered a “fun” car, but it is competent and dependable.  Mileage ratings by EPA are 24 city and 31 highway.  Check out the new Sentra yourself at a Nissan dealership.