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Pros : - Standard side-impact and side-curtain airbags
- Estimated 29/36 mpg (city/highway)
- Roomier interior than 2006 model
- 4 inches higher than 2006 model
- Optional keyless start
- Standard tire-pressure monitoring Cons : - ABS not standard
- Drum, not disc, rear brakes
- Styling not daring
Review : With strong new entries from Mazda, Honda and Kia ruling the economy sedan segment, Nissan's aged Sentra has fallen behind in performance, comfort and style. But not to worry, this completely revamped, and larger 2007 Nissan Sentra will go on sale in late October 2006, followed by a new SE-R model in early 2007. "I think the 2007 Sentra will change the way people think about Nissan in this segment," John Weiner, director of product planning for Nissan cars, told us. "It has a level of refinement people haven't seen before." Materials quality has improved, and the stage car's tan leather and light faux wood accents had the feel of a Scandinavian furniture store. Features like a keyless startup system, Bluetooth and an MP3 player hookup will be available, and thanks to the car's longish 105.7-inch wheelbase, a 6-inch increase over the current generation, there's finally some legroom for rear-seat passengers. The trunk is large at 13 cubic feet. Unlike the independent rear suspensions used in the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic, Nissan chose to stick with a less sophisticated torsion-beam setup on the '07 Sentra. We think this could be a liability, but VP of Product Planning Jack Collins says, "We can deliver the handling performance we need with this suspension and keep the car more affordable." Braking hardware is a similarly basic front disc/rear drum design, though the discs are vented and both ABS and EBD are available. The steering is electric. More interesting are the drivetrain options. The standard all-aluminum 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder sends an estimated 135 horsepower and 140 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. Nothing remarkable in this segment, but the engine is paired with a standard six-speed manual gearbox, a rare feature on an entry-level economy sedan. Based on positive feedback from Murano SUV owners, Nissan will also offer a continuously variable transmission (CVT) instead of a conventional automatic. With the CVT, Nissan estimates the 2007 Sentra will get 29 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway. Prices will start around $15,000 and side-impact curtain airbags and air conditioning will be standard.
Press Release : Looking for a compact sedan that gets excellent fuel economy?
You're not alone.
Sales of smaller, more fuel-efficient cars are booming as gasoline once again spikes to record high prices.
That's leading some consumers to give up sport utilities, pickups and even larger sedans in favor of lighter vehicles that can wring a few more miles out of a gallon of $3 gas.
With many of the small cars on the market today, you'll have to trade roominess and comfort for that additional fuel economy, something many of us aren't quite ready to do.
But with the newest generation of Nissan's popular Sentra sedan, you'll find midsize-sedan comfort in a small-car package that offers outstanding mileage - EPA ratings of up to 29 miles per gallon in the city and 36 on the highway.
The popular Sentra entered its sixth generation for 2007, and while the car is now bigger and more powerful than ever, Nissan was able to keep it just as economical to operate as before.
It's still marketed as a compact, but the Sentra's cabin is as roomy as some fairly recent versions of best-selling midsize sedans.
And it's not just inexpensive to operate; it's also bargain-priced. The base price is $14,750 (plus $615 freight), which is several thousand dollars less than you would pay for a similarly equipped midsize sedan such as a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord.
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