2002 Nissan Sentra Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Nissan completely redesigned its Sentra for the 2000 model year and the result was a bigger car than the previous generation: a lot longer, a little wider and a bit taller. The current Sentra was designed by Nissan's California styling studio, the same group that did the exciting Xterra sport-utility and the aggressive Frontier compact pickup truck. Their goal was to eliminate entry-level" thinking, to design a car with its own character that happens to be in the right price range for a lot of people. It's robust, rounded and just a little sassy.

Nissan learned that refined and nimble little economy cars don't sell too well if they're homely. It learned this from its 1995-1999 Sentra. There's a lot of competition for economy cars coming from bigger used cars, which are now off-lease and selling at attractive discounts. But some folks, particularly smart female shoppers, prefer new, reasonably priced sedans with warranties to used cars.

This newest-generation Sentra is an attractive car. The term compact is relative, as all these cars seem to grow over time. The new Sentra pushes the boundaries of its sub-compact industry classification. It is longer than other four-door compact sedans. And it looks it: The stretched body isn't tucked underneath the bumpers at the ends of the car, making it look even longer."

Interior Features

At first glance the Sentra's front seats look like normal economy car perches, but once you're in them they feel much roomier and are adjustable. The seats in the SE-R are supportive with big side bolsters. They hold you firmly, but comfortably, in place. One knob on the side adjusts the front half of the seat bottom; another knob adjusts the rear half.

The Sentra interior is roomy, both for people and cargo. The rear seats are able to accommodate grownups, and all seating positions provide good breathing room. All three seating positions in the rear have three-point belts, though three back there is a crowd. The four outboard belts are equipped with automatic tensioners, an important safety feature for an economy car. This is equipment that many bigger sedans didn't have just five years ago.

The trunk is big, with 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space. An available 60/40 split folding rear seatback can be unlatched from the trunk (difficult to figure out without help), making the Sentra a versatile cargo hauler. The available Fosgate subwoofer looks like it could get in the way here, however.

The red markings on black gauges are difficult to read on bright days with sunglasses on (there's a surprise), but they look cool at night. Stereo controls are positioned high on the center console, making them easy to adjust, and the metallic trim of the faceplate matches the latest in European Continental design found on the trendy Ford Focus. Other controls are straightforward and easy to use. A compartment on top of the dash is useful for storing a wallet or sunglasses. The cup holders work well for standard size cans and cups.