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2009 Nissan Sentra Quality Review

February 18, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Competent compact sedan with a number of upscale features
ConsumerGuide

The Sentra stands taller than conventional compacts
Cars.com

very spacious seating front and rear
Edmunds



The 2009 Nissan Sentra may not be a sportscar, but it certainly delivers on interior roominess.

ConsumerGuide says the 2009 Nissan Sentra is a “competent compact sedan with a number of upscale features." Cars.com likes that "the Sentra stands taller than conventional compacts" and notes that this is "a trend that improves forward visibility as well as entry and exit by increasing the minimum seat height."

Not all reviewer comments are positive, however. ConsumerGuide critiques the Sentra, saying Nissan’s "cabin makes good use of textured surfaces, but most plastics throughout the cabin are hard and unyielding." Further, "the few padded surfaces are either wafer thin or too hard to be comfortable for extended periods of time." MyRide agrees: "The interior [is] comfortable and quiet but not excellent or very innovative."

ConsumerGuide sums it up by saying of the 2009 Nissan Sentra, "Its cramped rear seat, budget-grade interior materials, and in 2.0 models, lackluster acceleration and handling, make Sentra less appealing than the Honda Civic or Nissan's own Versa."

Edmunds praises the seats in the Nissan; 2009 Sentras have "very spacious seating front and rear, [and the] straightforward control layout" and goes on to say, "all the controls are exactly where you'd expect them to be and storage areas are abundant in number and variety." Cars.com concurs, observing the "dashboard seems low and far forward, which gives the cabin an open, roomy feel."

Ride comfort is something that reviewers seem to differ on, although most point out the Sentra's soft ride. Cars.com likes “ride quality that's more comfortable than most compact cars'.” ConsumerGuide warns that "large bumps and rippled pavement bring about sloppy wheel patter and other unwanted motions." But MyRide says the ride is “soft and boring."

Conclusion

The 2009 Nissan Sentra excels in space utilization, but the use of materials inside is a bit disappointing.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Competent compact sedan with a number of upscale featuresConsumerGuideThe Sentra stands taller than conventional compactsCars.comvery spacious seating front and rearEdmunds The 2009 Nissan Sentra may not be a sportscar, but it certainly delivers on interior roominess. ConsumerGuide says the 2009 Nissan Sentra is a “competent compact sedan with a number of upscale features." Cars.com likes that "the Sentra stands taller than conventional compacts" and notes that this is "a trend that improves forward visibility as well as entry and exit by increasing the minimum seat height." Not all reviewer comments are positive, however. ConsumerGuide critiques the Sentra, saying Nissan’s "cabin makes good use of textured surfaces, but most plastics throughout the cabin are hard and unyielding." Further, "the few padded surfaces are either wafer thin or too hard to be comfortable for extended periods of time." MyRide agrees: "The interior [is] comfortable and quiet but not excellent or very innovative." ConsumerGuide sums it up by saying of the 2009 Nissan Sentra, "Its cramped rear seat, budget-grade interior materials, and in 2.0 models, lackluster acceleration and handling, make Sentra less appealing than the Honda Civic or Nissan's own Versa." Edmunds praises the seats in the Nissan; 2009 Sentras have "very spacious seating front and rear, [and the] straightforward control layout" and goes on to say, "all the controls are exactly where you'd expect them to be and storage areas are abundant in number and variety." Cars.com concurs, observing the "dashboard seems low and far forward, which gives the cabin an open, roomy feel." Ride comfort is something that reviewers seem to differ on, although most point out the Sentra's soft ride. Cars.com likes “ride quality that's more comfortable than most compact cars'.” ConsumerGuide warns that "large bumps and rippled pavement bring about sloppy wheel patter and other unwanted motions." But MyRide says the ride is “soft and boring." ConclusionThe 2009 Nissan Sentra excels in space utilization, but the use of materials inside is a bit disappointing. 2009 NISSAN SENTRA STYLING | [7 out of 10] Cars.com: "The Sentra is a nice-looking car—young but not especially daring" Edmunds: "functional interior" MyRide: "The Sentra looks too much like the Maxima and the Altima " The 2009 Nissan Sentra has a very conventional sedan layout ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Nissan Sentra stands in the middle of a fiercely competitive class with many excellent offerings. The 2010 Mazda3 launches in early 2009 and offers features not found on any other competitors; it’s also an enthusiast favorite. The 2009 Honda Civic matches the variety, including coupe and sedan body styles and multiple powertrains—even hybrid and natural gas—and it has more interior style than most others in this class. The 2009 Toyota Corolla has been recently redesigned, and its LE trim level is very attractive. The Ford Focus puts forth a coupe alongside the sedan, plus Ford’s unique SYNC hands-free system and great fuel economy, but it can’t compete with the Sentra on looks. The 2009 Hyundai Elantra and Dodge Caliber lag this pack in overall refinement and style.

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See the Nissan Sentra in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

Comments (2 total)

  1. By Brett #1, Posted: 4/29/2009

    '07 Sentra

    We've had our standard 2.0 Sentra (2007) for a year or so and I can confidently say that it was a great purchase. We paid $16,400 CAD all taxes in and for the money it has more pep than a base line Corolla and a better ride than a Civic. We also drove from Calgary to Kamloops (700km+) on one tank. Over all, what is there to complain about... it's comfortable, looks good and is economical.

  2. By  Kelsey V. #2, Posted: 7/24/2009

    I have had my Nissan Sentra sine 2007. At first I really liked it, but I rushed into it because I was in desperate need for a car. It was affordable and cute, I only paid 16,000 for it.
    Throughout the last few years I have slowly started to see things falling apart. The paint above the c.d player started to chip, and the parts just started to pop apart. Next week I will have to bring it to the shop to get it worked on because what is holding the engine in the car is deteriorating. Wonderful huh?
    Yeah, I still love my car.. but I think it is time to trade it in.

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