LET’S play a word association game on compact cars and see if the first words or phrases that enter your mind are anywhere close to these I got from some friends.
Toyota Corolla Altis: reliable.
Honda Civic: powerful.
Mazda3: curvaceous.
Chevrolet Cruze: Ryan Agoncillo.
Ford Focus: Tuason Racing School.
Mitsubishi Lancer: Evolution.
Nissan Sentra: umm…powerful air con?
While most of these cars conjure up images of excitement, value, performance, or motorsports, the Nissan Sentra brings to many people’s minds cold, invisible air. Sure, having a strong air con is definitely a big bonus, but such a connection is not the kind that sells cars. Perhaps, this dispassionate association is the reason I was not expecting much from the 2011 Nissan Sentra 200 the first time I got to drive it. Little did I know that I was in for some surprises.
Compared to the staid-looking previous-generation Sentra, the new Sentra 200 is way sportier and has more distinctive looks. Upfront, the headlights and grill are reminiscent of the 200’s athletic and chic cousins from the Infiniti stable. Squint hard enough and you might see those nice-looking 16-inch wheels’ resemblance to the wheels on the bad-ass Nissan GT-R.
The stubby trunk creates an illusion of tight exterior and interior dimensions but in reality, the Sentra’s interior volume has grown big enough for the car to be classified as a midsize sedan in the US, thanks in large part to its tall roofline.
Indoors, there is a spattering of cheap plastics, most notably on the handbrake lever and steering wheel. A driver’s hands are in contact with the steering wheel 99 percent of the time so it is quite a letdown when a car’s steering wheel feels like it has been the victim of cost-cutting.
The center stack’s polished aluminum finish provides an elegant backdrop to the large air-conditioning knobs and the gear selector, giving the interior a touch of sophistication. The center stack is laid out in a tidy manner and this no-frills treatment is carried over to the instrument panel. Speedometer readings are in both metric and English units since this Mexico-assembled car is also sold in North America.
A unique feature of the Sentra 200 is the hidden storage compartment between the folding rear seatbacks and the luggage compartment—perfect for hiding those expensive electronic gadgets like our high-tech rain-sensing umbrella from China.
Besides a driver with a good sense of humor, in-car entertainment comes in the form of a 2-DIN audio head unit with CD, MP3 compatibility, and iPod connectivity. The head unit’s buttons are large and intuitive, although the steering wheel also has separate audio controls. Six speakers do a decent job of filling the cabin with sharp, loud and clear sounds.
The seats are comfortable and the driver’s lofty perch sometimes made me think I was in a crossover. Overall, the Sentra 200’s interior is put together well, making it a nice place to spend leisurely drives in.
Twisting the key brings to life a 2.0-liter gas engine that is so silent and silky that you may have to glance at the instrument cluster to check whether the engine is indeed running. Transmitting power to the front wheels is an equally smooth continuously variable transmission or Xtronic CVT in Nissan-speak. The Sentra 200 is also available with a six-speed manual that costs P100,000 less than our Xtronic CVT-equipped tester’s P1.15-million suggested retail price.
The engine develops 142 hp and 199 Nm of torque at lofty 5,100 rpm and 4,800 rpm, respectively, but the car accelerates briskly even at low rpms.
For this Sentra 200, the Xtronic CVT is its trump card for achieving fuel efficiency. In conventional transmissions, gas pedal input (such as when accelerating) results in an increase in engine rpm. A CVT, on the other hand, can keep engine rpm constant or within a narrow range even during moderate acceleration, thus resulting in lower fuel consumption. In the case of the Sentra 200, the engine’s sweet spot is at around 1,800 rpm, which the CVT maintains for most driving conditions. During moderate acceleration, the rpm would rise to about 2,200 then would ease back to 1,800 rpm even though the car may already be cruising at a higher speed.
Although the Sentra 200 comes with disc brakes in front but only drum brakes at the rear, the Sentra 200 sheds off speed very well. The brake system comes with ABS and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD).
My only major complaint with the test unit was a leaking washer fluid tank but otherwise, the car surpassed all my expectations.
The 200’s chassis feels very solid, keeping its composure even during encounters with typical road imperfections. Its suspension soaks up bumps in a reassuring manner and they feel like they can take a lot of punishment.
If you would like to break away from the herd and drive something different, the Sentra 200 would make a decent daily driver—it is relatively frugal, comfortable, and feels solidly built. It’s about time Pinoy motorists realized that the Sentra’s interior is not the only thing cool about the car.
IN PHOTO -- On your mark... The Sentra 200 can run with the best in its segment.
