Nissan Sentra When Too Much Becomes Too Little

When reviewing the Nissan Sentra a question begins to formulate. It tickles at the edges of the brain until it materializes into a solid thought and opinion, and once evidence is applied to this thought it becomes rather obvious. In the case of the Nissan Sentra too much really does become too little.

Since 1982 Nissan has been producing the Sentra with mixed results. On the one hand, Nissan makes incredibly reliable cars so structurally and mechanically it is hard to find fault with any year of Sentra. On the other hand, the Sentra competes in one of the most populated classes of cars, the economy small sedan class. Competition is stiff as car makers battle for the dollar-conscious consumer and especially with the Japanese imports reliability is a non-factor since all Japanese car makers produce quality products that last for decades.

Nissan further complicated the situation by making so many trim levels and variants for the Sentra that only the most dedicated of shoppers can rise from this knowledge-overload to make an intelligent decision. Currently Nissan offers six main trims for the Sentra: four variations of the 2.0-liter engine (base, SR and SL) and two variations of the high-performance versions (SE-R and SE-R Spec V). Confused yet? Some have the 2.0-liter engine, some the 2.5-liter, some capable of 140 horsepower while others can hit 177 horsepower. Oh, but it doesn’t stop there. A six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission are also options. And because we have a limited amount of space for this article we won’t even discuss the options for the interior.

So what to do if you have your heart set on a used Nissan Sentra? As you thumb through the used car sales section of your newspaper, what should you look for? Easily the best of this model came in the fifth-generation which was produced from 2000-2006. There was very little to complain about with this model; generally the tightness of the backseat and rather boring style are the only negatives you will hear about this Sentra.

So what can we say about the Nissan Sentra? The good news is that no matter what year you may purchase you are purchasing the Nissan name and that stands for reliability and quality. For a used car it is hard to go wrong with the Sentra. If you are looking for a dependable second car, or a car for the college-bound child, and you aren’t particular about trims or options, then by all means look at a used Sentra.

But if you are one of those shoppers who looks at options, studies details, and weighs variables, then it is suggested that you get some extra-strength aspirin before going out to look at the Sentra