One of the secrets about new cars that's hiding in plain sight is that compact sedans aren't really compact anymore.
They keep growing ... on the inside , at least.
Models like the 2019 Nissan Sentra actually have more room inside than most midsize sedans — including the Sentra's just-updated bigger brother, the 2019 Altima.
Midsize sedans like the new Altima (and the just-updated Toyota Camry and Honda Accord) increasingly emphasize styling and performance.
But that has made them less practical as family cars, and that may explain why crossovers are outselling them. They're more are family-friendly due to their roomier interiors and abundant cargo space.
But crossovers are getting pricey, which is a function of their popularity. For example, Nissan's hot-selling Rogue starts at $24,800 — about the same as the starting price of the new Altima, and about $7,000 more than the starting price of the 2019 Sentra.
That may have gotten your attention, which is precisely Nissan's intention.
What It Is
The Sentra is nominally a compact sedan in terms of its length and wheelbase, but like others in its class — including the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic — it offers a midsize car's interior space and a much more family-friendly acquisition price: $17,790 to start for the base S trim with manual transmission, $23,020 for a loaded SL with an automatic transmission, leather seats, a premium Bose audio system and an upgraded 5.8-inch touch screen.
There are sportier SR Turbo and NISMO Sentras, too — which both come with a more powerful turbocharged engine and other enhancements.
What's New
All trims except the base S trim come standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Most trims except the base S trim also come standard with automated emergency braking.
The previously available FE+ package — which included low rolling resistance tires and more aerodynamic bodywork to boost fuel efficiency — has been dropped.
What's Good
It's big enough on the inside to comfortably carry five. Many midsize sport sedans no longer can.
The huge pass-through from the 15.1-cubic-foot trunk to the cabin area gives almost-crossover cargo-carrying capacity.
It's still available with a manual transmission — and you get a small horsepower bump for going this way.
What's Not So Good
Some of Sentra's newer-design rivals, such as the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic, are even roomier inside.
No more FE+ package means no more 40-plus mpg capability.
Manual transmission is restricted to the base S trim (with the 1.8-liter engine).
Under the Hood
The Sentra standard engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that has 124 or 130 horsepower, depending on which transmission you pick.
Models with the six-speed manual get a slightly peppier 130-horsepower version of this engine, while models equipped with the continuously variable automatic get a 124-horsepower version.
If you want more scoot, Nissan offers a 50 percent horsepower upgrade in the NISMO-themed Sentra and in the more visually subdued but mechanically similar SR Turbo. Both are powered by the same 1.6-liter 188-horsepower turbocharged engine, but you can go manual or automatic in the NISMO while the SR Turbo comes only with the CVT automatic.
On the Road
The 1.8-liter-powered Sentra's not very speedy — let's get that out up front. It takes just over nine seconds to get to 60 mph.
But how much speed do you need? And how much extra do you want to pay for it — in terms of both MSRP — and roominess ?
The new Altima (or Camry or Accord) will walk away from a Sentra at the dragstrip. But does your daily drive include the dragstrip?
If it doesn't, the Sentra's probably got enough speed for your family.
If you go with the optional 1.6 turbo, you'll knock the zero-to-60 time down by three full seconds — and that should be more than speedy enough.
At the Curb
The Sentra looks like a midsize car, too, in part because of the size of its doors. They are longer than most (44 inches for the driver and front passenger door, according to my tape measure), which is about 3 inches longer than the typical compact sedan door.
This visual impression of roominess is confirmed by the actual roominess of the Sentra cabin — in both its rows. It has 42.5 inches of legroom up front and 37.4 inches of legroom in the back versus 43.8 inches up front in the just-redesigned 2019 Altima and just 35.2 inches in the back seat.
The Sentra's 15.1-cubic-foot trunk is also very competitive with larger sedans (such as the Altima, which has a 15.4-cubic-foot trunk) and made very usable via a much-larger-than-usual pass-through.
Instead of the usual toaster-sized hole, you get an opening big enough to extend the usable trunk space to accommodate unwieldy things that you'd never fit inside other small sedans without hanging most of it outside the trunk.
The Rest
If you want to recover some of the mpgs that used to be available with the FE+ package that's been discontinued, just replace the factory tires (when the time comes) with low rolling resistance replacements.
It should be worth 2 to 3 mpg — or enough to get the 1.8-equipped Sentra back over 40 mph on the highway.
The Bottom Line
The Sentra's not as speedy as the new Altima, but it's much more family-friendly and much less pricey than a new Rogue.
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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