2009 Nissan Sentra - Quality Review

See more photos

Shopping for a new Nissan Sentra?

SEE LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS

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."