A closer look at the overlooked Sentra 200

Mention the word “Nissan” to anyone and chances are that the Sentra, one of Nissan’s oldest and best-known nameplates, will come to mind. During the Marcos era when the Progressive Car Manufacturing Program limited the number of locally assembled motor vehicles, the Sentra reigned supreme in the compact car segment. But when the market was opened up post-Marcos, the Sentra lost its primacy as other Japanese brands returned to Manila with more advanced features, snazzier styling and more exciting driving dynamics. As a result, many car buyers began to overlook the Sentra.

Now comes the Sentra 200 to regain Nissan’s market share in the compact car segment. You never read about its being launched in Manila because Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) launched the Sentra 200 only via print ads in newspapers instead of hosting a media event to introduce it. Maybe it’s because the 2010 Sentra 200 is a CBU (completely built unit) imported not from Thailand or any other Asean country, but from far-away Mexico. As a result, the Sentra 200 retails at a higher price than other CBU compact cars. The entry-level Sentra 200 6-speed manual transmission (6MT) carries a P1.0 million price tag while the Sentra 200 CVT [Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission] goes for P1,150,000.

Pricey for a compact car, yes, but hey, this particular Sentra was given a Recommended rating by Consumer Reports in its 2011 New Car Buying Guide. Moreover, when you acquire a car that was built for the North American market, you can expect higher standards—solid craftsmanship, excellent fit and finish, a roomy cabin and a capacious trunk.

EXPECTATIONS

The Sentra 200 fulfills these expectations with a monocoque body structure that is larger than the previous model, easy cabin access, adequate head room and legroom to comfortably seat five six-footers including driver, an enormous trunk that can accommodate a mountain bike when the 60/ 40 rear seat is fully folded flat. In the test unit I drove for a week last month, the fit and finish was flawless.

While the exterior design of the Sentra 200 will not turn heads or win awards for aesthetics, the car looks and feels solid and stable, more so than the outgoing model. Nissan has dropped a new 2.0 liter, twin cam, 16-valve, 4-cylinder aluminum powerplant into the engine bay, mating it with a 6-speed MT in the basic variant and an Xtronic CVT in the top-range variant for the Philippine market. The MR20DE engine produces 140 peak horsepower and max torque of 199 Nm/ 4800 rpm.

Given these specs and the Sentra 200’s stolid, outdated looks, I was surprised by its refined driveability and almost sporty performance. You wouldn’t think that a car with a torsion beam rear suspension (McPherson struts with stabilizer up front) could accelerate so friskily and negotiate corners with aplomb, but this Nissan did, thanks partly to the Xtronic CVT smoothly routing power to the front wheels. Fuel economy averaging 11.3 kilometers per liter in combined highway and city driving is claimed for the Sentra 200.

PLEASANT

The driving position is comfortable and makes you want to drive the Sentra 200 on long, out-of-town trips. The suspension system has shock absorbers fore and aft with integral ripple control damper and rebound. The interior is typical Nissan, featuring the traditional orange backlighting, sporty gauges and user-friendly controls. The 3-spoke steering wheel, although non-telescoping, has audio controls and illumination. The 2DIN, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system has radio display, MP3 capability, AUX input and iPod jack.

Safety-wise, in both the 6MT and CVT variants, driver and front passenger airbags, keyless system with trunk remote, high-mount stop lamp and engine immobilizer are standard, but only the CVT Sentra has ABS with EBD and front fog lamps. Amazingly enough, these cars costing a million bucks or more apiece have drum brakes at the rear. And while the CVT variant has 16-inch alloy wheels, the entry-level 6MT has 15-inch steel rims.

Summing up, the Sentra 200 is not a car that would catch your eye on the road or excite car enthusiasts. But it is solidly built, easy to drive, offers adequate power, smooth handling, a pleasant ride quality, fuel economy and outstanding roominess for a compact car. If only it were priced more competitively, the 2010 Nissan Sentra 200, an often overlooked car, would surely get another look from car buyers.

TODAY’S BUMPER STICKER DEFINITION: Diplomat: A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip.

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TAGS: Motoring, New Products, Nissan