Nissan Sentra SV (2016)

Test Drive Notes Library

Pros
For 2016, Nissan realized the Sentra was not looking that good or driving that well compared to the Mazda 3, the Toyota Corolla, or the newly remade Honda Civic, so they improved the looks, the interior noise level, the interior quality, the transmission drone, and the suspension.  The result is a perfectly acceptable small car for a lot of people.
This is the very definition of a good automotive appliance.  If you’re someone for whom a car is something to get you from point A to point B, and you want it to do so reliably and unobtrusively, the Sentra will do those things.
At a price point around $20,000 the Sentra SV (there are trim levels from about 18K to 23K) comes with a lot of what you need, including blind spot monitoring, push button start and door unlock with key sensor, rear camera, navigation, heated seats, and more.
The mileage is excellent, and comparable to the competition.  We got north of 28 mpg combined.  
Rear seat room is very good for a small car.  Trunk is huge.  
Interior has been upgraded.  They’re now using higher quality materials for the steering wheel and other parts you see and touch.  Interior is clean, uncluttered and up-to-date, with Bluetooth, USB connectivity, and a decent, if small touch screen.
The Sentra is easy to drive.  It’s a reasonably sized car that maneuvers well in city traffic and rides comfortably on the highway.  
Power is adequate from the 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine.  The CVT (continuously variables transmission) works well around town, mostly going unnoticed.  On hard acceleration, like most CVTs, it gets temporarily whiny and then settles down.

Cons
The steering is pretty numb.  If you’re just looking to get from one place to another, it won’t bother you a bit.  But during our time with the Sentra, we also happened to take a ride in a Kia Forte, whose steering seemed downright sporty in comparison.  Nissan is not going for the sporty crowd with the Sentra.  If that’s you, opt for the Mazda 3 or Honda Civic.
Visibility, like most cars these days, suffers a bit out back and to the back-sides.