2013 Nissan Sentra road test

Cloning seems to be the newest trend in the automotive industry. Audi started it with its model line up and Lexus followed. Well, sort of.  Now, Nissan seems to have jumped in to the game too. First, came the 2013 Nissan Altima that can easily be mistaken for a Nissan Maxima. Next on the cards is the 2013 Nissan Sentra a.k.a. a scaled down photocopy of the Nissan Altima. Designers will have us believe that the justification for similarities is to maintain a 'family look' and we’d buy that. I can see the benefits of this to a Nissan Sentra buyer when his car looks like the more expensive Altima and Maxima, but I don’t see this flowing in the other direction well. Surprisingly though, the press kit claims that this car has more room than some luxury sedans! We at AutoMiddleEast stepped in to validate this crazy claim!While Nissan has been selling the Sentra globally for a few years now, the region got only its poorer cousin the Sunny for long many years, followed by the TIIDA. The formidable Toyota Corolla ruled the segment in the region. Realization set in and so did a sense of urgency to do something about it. Nissan finally decided to launch the brand new 2013 Sentra in the Middle East. The 2013 Nissan Sentra is introduced as a replacement for the TIIDA sedan. If you’ve already been in a TIIDA sedan and were expecting something similar from the 2013 Nissan Sentra, you are in for a pleasant surprise!The 2013 Nissan Sentra comes with a choice of two engines - a 1.6L and a 1.8L. Our test car was an SL premium trim (full options) with the 1.8L engine producing a meager 130hp and 174Nm of torque. Combine this with a straight from hell CVT and the drivetrain is as much fun as watching paint dry. What seems to be a practical joke is the sport button on the gear lever. Press it and you instantly hear the difference. You are greeted with an annoying drone that makes a wailing 5 year old sound like music to your ears.CVT’s are possibly the worst invention since the Segway. And this is no different. However, I must admit, while stepping on the gas pedal is annoying due to the constant revving, the CVT does make the most out of the available 130 horses which would have been a lot harder with a traditional auto box. Acceleration isn’t the best with a 0-100 time of 9.9 seconds. But then again, you don’t buy a Nissan Sentra for its drag racing abilities. Nissan claims judicious usage of the accelerator will give you a fuel consumption of 6.7L/100km. Highly questionable in the real world as you really need to give it some stick for the feeble engine to get the car moving.The skinny tires do not appreciate being pushed and will quickly break traction if driven even with mild enthusiasm. While the car feels comfortable at low speeds, the confused suspension makes for a bouncy ride while cruising down Sheikh Zayed Road at highway speeds. Not your weapon of choice for the Abu Dhabi – Dubai commute then. The low seating position can take a little time getting used to and may even be uncomfortable for shorter folk while they struggle to look out of the car. You’ll be fine if you aren’t short.What the Sentra lacks in brawn it makes up in brain. With all the options checked, you get keyless go with push button ignition, dual zone air-conditioning, rear view camera, navigation, steering controls, cruise control, sunroof, Bluetooth,  and iPod/aux inputs. A Leather wrapped steering wheel with faux wooden trim and leather seats makes for a pretty luxurious interior for a car this size. The 5.8' optional touch screen worked brilliantly while the LED map lamps add light to the interior with a bit of style. LED accent lamps integrated into the headlamps add a nice touch and are standard on all trims except the base model. from: arabia msn