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Nissan Sentra 2013

12 messages,  Last post on Nov 03, 2012 at 8:10 PM

You are in the Nissan Sentra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Nissan Sentra, Future Vehicle, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 2

#1 of 12 Nissan Sentra 2013 by backy

Jun 23, 2012 (1:36 pm)

The next Sentra has been unveiled, both in China as the new Sylphy, and in spy photos of the actual Sentra to be sold in the U.S. By photos and accounts it appears to be a down-sized Altima--not a bad thing! It loses the "edginess" of the current Sentra but I think has a more upscale appearance, more Infiniti-like. Looks like interior and trunk room have been improved also.
 
The key questions for me are, how will it drive and what will the FE be? With a rumored 1.8L GDI engine and improved CVT, I expect the 2013 Sentra to break the 40 mpg barrier as have most of its competitors. The new Altima is rated EPA 27/38, so the Sentra should do better.
 
Apparently the 2013 Sentra will be available in the U.S. sometime this year. That means I'll be able to consider it for my next car, which I'll be buying next year. The lease on my 2010 Sentra is up a year from now, but I'll probably take the buyout and hand it down to my daughter. It's been a good car--zero problems in 2+ years, better-than-expected FE, and a comfortable car on the highway or in town. The main thing I'd like to see Nissan address in the new Sentra, besides better FE, is more steering feel. The electric steering on my Sentra is pretty vague, although I've gotten used to it.
 
Link to undisguised photos of the 2013 Sentra:
 
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2013-nissan-sentra-caught-completely-uncovere- d/
 
Link to story and press release on new Nissan Sylphy (China's Sentra):
 
http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2013-nissan-sentra-caught-completely-uncovere- d/
 
Link to Nissan Future Vehicles site - has teaser video on the 2013 Sentra:
 
http://www.nissanusa.com/future-and-concept-vehicles/future-vehicles.html

#2 of 12 '13 Sentra Released Today in US by lohra

Oct 16, 2012 (6:32 pm)

That being said, has anyone at least gotten the opportunity to test-drive one? Impression afterwards?

#3 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [lohra] by backy

Oct 16, 2012 (8:47 pm)

Replying to: lohra (Oct 16, 2012 6:32 pm)
Gee, it's been out for a day, give us time, huh?
 
I see that a 2.0S with 6-speed is only $16,770... not a bad price. But doesn't have some equipment I'd like such as cruise. But if the stick shifts well, might be worth a look... assuming there's any of those actually built!
 
Maybe my local Nissan dealer will offer me a great deal to turn in my leased 2010 2.0S. But that was a great deal itself... $179/mo, only first payment up front.
 
The main strike on the Sentra for me is, no hatch available (ala Mazda3, Elantra, Focus). I'd like a hatch for my next car.

#4 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [lohra] by dodgeman07

Oct 31, 2012 (5:30 pm)

Replying to: lohra (Oct 16, 2012 6:32 pm)
Ditto. Any personal driving opinions yet? Reviews are mostly positive and the car looks far better than the out-going model.
 
In other news; We just replaced the original tires on my mother's 2003 Sentra! Only had 51,000 miles on them and still had some tread remaining but the rubber on the sidewalls was starting to break-down. It's a great car for her to buzz around town in and has had minimal maintenance/problems in the 8 years she's driven it.

#5 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [dodgeman07] by chsitko

Oct 31, 2012 (6:20 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Oct 31, 2012 5:30 pm)
I've driven the new sentra twice and have mixed feelings about the car. The performance of the car was really lacking. I wasn't expecting much, but it was worse than i had anticipated. I was comparing the car to the 13 altima, 13 accord & 13 impreza. I was extremely impressed with the amount of room in the car. My only complaint with the interior room would be in regards to the shoulder room, while only slightly smaller than the altima & accord, it was definitely noticeable. The overall drive of the car (minus acceleration) was good and i thought it was quieter than the altima cvt. The accords cvt was the quietest of them all. I would like quicker pickup, but lets face it, the speed isn't the selling point for this car. It seems i can get the new accord for slightly over invoice, but i dont expect to many deals on the sentra since they just came out. I do prefer the in dash disaply of the nissan over the accord. The big screen upper dash on the accord is actually a negative in my mind, for a non nav car i dont see the need of such a large distracting display (and i consider myself a tech junkie!).

#6 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [chsitko] by backy

Oct 31, 2012 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: chsitko (Oct 31, 2012 6:20 pm)
A Sentra vs. an Accord or Altima isn't really a fair fight, is it? Sentra vs. Impreza, sure, they are in the same car class.
 
The new Sentra might have the lowest power (130 hp) of any car in its class. Kind of an odd direction to take, IMO. And it doesn't get better FE than cars in its class with significantly more power, e.g. Mazda3, Focus, Elantra. Plus the CVT probably saps some oomph.
 
Looks nice enough, but so do several other small cars. I am taking my 2010 Sentra in for an oil change on Saturday and will see if I can grab a new Sentra for a drive. But I don't have high expectations. Plus no hatchback, unlike several competitors including the Impreza.

#7 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [backy] by dodgeman07

Nov 01, 2012 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: backy (Oct 31, 2012 8:02 pm)
I stopped by my local Nissan dealer last night; they were just closing but I was able to sit in a loaded 2013 Sentra SL. The sticker price nearly gave me a coronary (pushed $24k) but it was a loaded model with leather, nav, premium pkg, etc.
 
The exterior size of the car is clearly mid-size. In fact I checked online and the new Sentra is larger than the 1993-1997 Altima! I didn't notice the cabin being narrow but no one was sitting next to me and it is classified as a compact. Interior looked very sharp and I like the exterior design as well.
 
I don't have a problem with the 130hp engine. It would be fine for me and my driving habits. The real world MPG is what matters more. It's rated at 34 MPG combined and that's top of the class. If this car can average 34 MPG? I'm interested.

#8 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [dodgeman07] by backy

Nov 01, 2012 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Nov 01, 2012 12:47 pm)
The Sentra is mid-size... for the mid-1990s. Now it's about the same size as most other compact sedans. And mid-sized cars are more like the full-sized cars of yesterday.
 
CR just reported on the 2013 Altima and they averaged 31 mpg overall and 44 mpg on the highway--excellent for such a big car. If Nissan used the same tricks on the Sentra, it should be able to average 34 mpg or even more. At least, it had better do that, with 50+ fewer horses and a lot less weight than the Altima.

#9 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [backy] by dodgeman07

Nov 01, 2012 (8:59 pm)

Replying to: backy (Nov 01, 2012 4:21 pm)
Yep, the new Sentra is up there with the VW Jetta and Dodge Dart as very large compacts. Funny thing is the Civic and Corolla still look like compacts and the Focus/Cruze only slightly larger. The Dart seems "stubby" even though it is dimensionally similar to the Jetta and Sentra.
 
The Jetta and Sentra have the road presence or curb appeal or whatever of a larger class of vehicle. Maybe that will pull in more buyers in the land of super-size me.

#10 of 12 Re: '13 Sentra Released Today in US [dodgeman07] by backy

Nov 02, 2012 (9:20 am)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Nov 01, 2012 8:59 pm)
Likely it will be the larger interior (esp. back seat) and upscale interior bits that will pull people in.
 
Probably won't be the ride/drive. C/D savaged that in their review. Praised the interior trim (compared it to an Infiniti) but complained about steering feel, ride, acceleration etc. They even said the new car felt less solid than the old one. And FE was poor (24 mpg average) but they noted they trash cars. Still, 24 mpg is not a good omen.
 
We'll probably see a LOT of these on rental car lots. Which is fine with me, will probably make a decent rental. I already get Sentra rentals a lot. Not something I'd want to own, based on what I know now.

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