2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL Road Test Review
Sentra Photos
The 2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL surprised me. I expected another boring four-door, front-wheel-drive commuter with barely enough amenities to please a pauper, but this compact sedan is far more sophisticated than that, and it had everything I needed to make it through a week in South Florida, time that included cold, wet and, yes, even sunshine-filled experiences.
There was a time with the Sentra was Nissan’s smallest offering, but that has changed. It is now midway through the manufacturer’s lineup, with Versa below it and the new Cube even smaller than that.
Nissan has a new tagline for the Sentra: “Powerful Enough to Keep Up with your Life”. That tag holds true, as the 2.0-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine produces 140 horsepower at 5,100 rpm and 147 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm, thanks to direct-injection technology and variable valve timing.
Nissan was an early adopter of the CVT (continuously variable transmission), and has helped make this product better over time with its smooth Xtronic unit, which does not offer manual shifting but has sufficiently economical gearing to give 2,500 rpm at 80 mph from a tachometer that redlines at 6,500. There is plenty of pep to pull away easily from stoplights and merge onto highways from this combination. It is a bit on the noisy side under hard acceleration, but the engine and transmission do give quiet running at highway speeds.
As it has progressed, the Nissan Sentra SL, top of the line save the SE-R sport models, has gained a reputation for its stylish exterior, one that features large, rectangular waterfall headlamps separated by the brightly rimmed egg crate grille holding Nissan’s logo. Elegant strakes adorn the hood, which is mounted by post, but not excessively heavy. The engine is shrouded and all fill-marks are easy to see. At the elevated rear deck are lamps that bear resemblance to the larger Altima sedan, adding familial cognition. Bodyline strakes add a muscular tone to the overall look.
The Sentra SL has a sportily compliant ride thanks to its generous 105.7-inch wheelbase, which resides on a platform of 179.8 inches in length, 70.5 inches in width and reaches 59.5 inches in height. This allows an excellent passenger volume of 97.7 cubic feet. The Sentra’s weight of 2,984 pounds helps it gain a lithe feel.
The good ride is due to a front strut and rear torsion beam suspension setup with stabilizer bars all around and ripple-control shocks that soak up road imperfections. The SL version of the Sentra has 16-inch 7-spoke alloys, an upgrade from the standard 15-inch versions, riding on Bridgestone’s compliant Turanza P205/55R rubber.
Nissan’s electric power-assisted steering and its all-wheel antilock braking system with electronic brake force distribution from the front disc/rear drum brakes are confidence inspiring. Their effect is virtually unnoticeable unless in a panic situation, a nice trait. The surprising quality of the steering is impressive too, and very precise. Quick response allows a good 35.4-foot turning circle.
The Arctic Blue exterior of our Sentra SL tester has complementary charcoal leather perforated seats that are comfortable and supportive, offering manual height adjustment and excellent bolstering for lumbar and lateral adhesion. There is a tilt feature for the leather-wrapped steering wheel with lighted audio controls on the left and a toggle-driven cruise control system – very easy to work – on the right side.
The shift lever mounts rally-style up from the floor, and lies at the base of a center stack that contains the audio system with vents on either side, while wheeled heating, air conditioning and ventilation knobs lie just above the shifter. One of two 12V plugs sits below the shifter within a small open cubby. Nissan fits adjustable cup and/or bottle holders between front seats and places the [optional] seat heater controls behind them.
Showing its move up-market, the 2009 Nissan Sentra SL has keyless start/stop, a system that requires the driver to turn a knob that would normally hold the key to the steering column. In front of the driver lies a hooded pod with black gauges that have orange numbers and red pointers. Between the tachometer and speedometer is an LED circle that houses the fuel and temperature gauges and odometer/trip odometer. All are easily visible in any light.
The driver’s window features one-touch operation in both directions with pinch control; power door locks have auto-locking at low speeds. All four doors unlock with the shifter placed in Park. Nissan includes a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, also on the steering wheel.
The cabin of the 2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL abounds in safety features, including advanced front airbags, side impact bags and roof-mounted curtain airbags front and rear. The steering column is energy absorbing and there is a tire pressure monitoring system aboard. Nissan achieved five-star frontal crash ratings for both driver and passenger; it garnered five stars for the front seat occupants in a side crash and four stars for the rear. Rollover rating is four stars.
Rear seats split 60/40 to accommodate long items from the trunk and, while Spartan can seat three friendly adults. The generous 13.1-cubic-foot trunk has an optional “Divide-N-Hide” feature with a removable vertical carpeted divider that can remain on the floor or can be raised to reveal a hidden compartment about 12-inches deep to the full height of the cabin. It is a very clever addition.
The latest Nissan Sentra SL achieves city/highway fuel ratings of 25/33 mpg from the 14.5-gallon tank and regular fuel is fine to use. During my time in the car, mostly around town, I drove a bit over 160 miles and the trip computer, contained in the easily visible audio display, said there was still 250 miles to empty, so it should be easy to gain in excess of 400 miles on a tank-load over the road.
This particular vehicle has a list price of $20,355, including destination. Nissan fit a few options that increased the cost to $22,360. There are splashguards for $140, an 8-speaker Rockford Fosgate audio package that includes a 6-CD changer with MP3/WMA and CD playback capabilities for $700. The standard SL audio system includes XM satellite radio with three bands for XM. There are two for FM and a single AM band. Audio volume increases with road speed.
Floor mats require another $165 and Nissan charges $150 for the delightful Divide-N-Hide trunk system with its cargo net and hooks. Finally, there is a 2.0SL premium plus package of a one-touch tilt/slide moonroof, dual illuminated vanity mirrors and heated two-position driver’s and passenger’s seats for $850.
During our time together I was most impressed with the new Sentra’s road manners and its peppy demeanor. With high seating positions, visibility is excellent. As an upright conveyance, the Sentra SL does have a tendency to wander in heavy winds, but it still has the overall feel of a much more expensive, near-luxury vehicle.
Built extremely well, the Sentra is a very stylish compact sedan and its versatility is excellent. Nissan has grown its reputation for building well-constructed cars and the 2009 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SL continues that reputation.
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