Far too often, compact sedans need the snot revved out of them to get any power; this 2.0-liter powerplant has surprising torque, yet with the aid of roller-rockers, impressive top-end power and refinement. Though one of the softer-sprung vehicles in the group this year, the B15 chassis, both wider and longer than in years past, offers the same neutrality and good-natured tossability we have come to expect from SR20-powered vehicles. Four-wheel disc brakes sourced from the Altima provide a fairly large margin for abuse; I felt no fade despite an hour of non-stop flogging by staffers.
With four doors, attractive pricing, conservative styling, good safety ratings and Escort-esque insurance rates, I can't imagine a car a 16 -year old would have an easier time selling their parents on. Gone are the days when a quick check on the options box could get you a 376 hp 3-Deuce 421 in the family's new Pontiac wagon. When encouraging the purchase of the SE, make the case for the 2.0, citing passing and merging safety, making sure to mention the excellent gas mileage and zero California evaporative emissions. Walk around the quintessentially Jerry Hershberg exterior, pointing out the mini-Maxima/Altima styling, but noting the big Maxima feel. Comment on the intuitive and attractive interior design. Then act surprised when you see the $15K sticker.
With a nearly boundless aftermarket and enthusiast support group, the Sentra SE will make both enthusiasts leaving the car stock or those turbocharging the snot out of the mod-friendly powerplant happy. Like those SR20-powered vehicles of the past, you are not going to find better bang for your economically minded buck. --Jared Holstein
Nissan's Sentra SE is a great ride when ordered with the optional SE Performance Package. It offers good acceleration performance, excellent handling, impressive braking, surprising refinement, acres of headroom, comfortable seating for four and smooth, attractive styling.
Flying down a winding road in the SE is a blast. It feels more substantial than a Civic, leans less in corners than a Ford Focus and rides smoother than other cars in this price range. Rough corners don't upset its well-damped suspension, which absorbs big bumps with competence. On straighter, more open stretches, the Sentra is smooth and stable at high speeds.
Nissan's 145-hp 2.0-liter engine delivers good, crisp throttle response. The Sentra SE is quicker than a Focus and can match a Neon R/T in the standing quarter-mile. The engine is quiet, even when revved hard, and doesn't strain like some of the other cars in this class. Wind and tire noise are also low. Indeed, this car is so quiet that it's easy to speed, so you'll have to mind the speedometer to avoid tickets. The five-speed gearbox shifts fluidly, while a viscous limited-slip front differential helps put the power to the pavement under hard acceleration. Stopping performance is excellent, a benefit of its rear disc brakes, well-damped suspension and 55-series tires.
Priced at $14,899, the SE comes with the twin-cam 2.0-liter engine and four-wheel disc brakes. You must get the optional SE Performance Package ($899), which adds the viscous limited-slip, 16-inch wheels with P195/55R16 tires, rear spoiler and color-keyed side sills. The package also includes a 180-watt stereo, sport cloth upholstery and a security system. Anti-lock brakes and side-impact air bags are a $699 option. Get that stuff and you'll drive a car that feels like a European sports sedan, with payments that feel more like a compact. It remains the working man's Bimmer.--Mitch McCullough
Nissan has a long history of making cars that appear perfectly ordinary to the public at large, cars that pack surprising performance for those in the know. The Sentra SE continues that tradition.
The venerable SR20DE 2.0-liter engine is a sleeping giant, offering respectable performance in stock form, but more importantly, the potential for so much more. With only external work, the Sentra's powerplant is capable of making far more power than the front wheels can harness.
The latest iteration of the SR20 features new roller rockers and a new ECU that limit the crossover to older SR20 models, but we've already seen camshafts in the works for the new engine, and we've seen retrofits to the older system, so all the performance options still seem to be available.
Beyond the simple fact that it comes with the SR20, the Sentra offers all the subtleties that make hard driving fun. The steering wheel is meaty and well weighted, the pedals are well placed for heel-toe downshifting, and the brake pedal offers immediate response, thanks to brakes shared with the larger Altima.
The suspension is well balanced and confidence-inspiring in its firmness. Look closely during hard maneuvers and you'll even see it lift an inside rear wheel--a strange habit common to many high-performance front-drivers. A viscous limited-slip differential comes only with the performance package; we consider that package to be an absolute must. Even if you plan future power upgrades that will require something like a Quaife limited slip in the future, only the transaxles with the factory LSD have room for the Quaife unit. When in doubt, get all the performance goodies from the factory.
Even with the new SE-R on the way, the vast base of experience with the SE's SR20 makes it a viable alternative and a great starting point for a serious Q-ship.--Dave Coleman
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