Nov 28, 2018, 00:00 AM by Paul Immediato

The Nissan Sentra was launched in 1982 as a subcompact and was enlarged to a compact in 2000. In North America, Sentra serves as Nissan's compact car despite being rated as a mid-size by the EPA. The Sentra brand was created to “help consumers to understand that it was quite safe even though it was small, and the word Sentra is supposed to sound like central as well as sentry, which, according to Nissan, “evokes images of safety.”

For 2018, the Sentra adds automatic emergency braking as standard equipment. The Sentra S gains a rearview monitor and 5-inch color touchscreen, while the SV grade gets new 16-in aluminum wheels and dual-zone automatic climate control. Intelligent Cruise Control is standard on SR 1.8 and SL models, and the previous NISMO and SL Tech packages are made standard on those trims.

Outside, Sentra has a more sporty and refined demeanor than most people expect from a compact, and its exterior design reflects Nissan's design language, a look shared with the current generations of Maxima and Altima, featuring bold front and rear fascias, grille, fenders, hood and signature boomerang-shaped headlights and taillights. Sentra SR and SL grades offer LED low-beam headlights with LED signature accents.

Once Sentra was a sub-compact, but it is firmly entrenched as a midsize now, weighing in with a curb weight of 2880 lbs. and measuring 182.1 inches in length, 69.3 inches in width and 58.9 inches in height on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, with a minimum ground clearance of 6.4 inches.

The 2018 Sentra's fuel efficiency and power comes from an advanced 1.8-liter cast aluminum inline-four cylinder engine that puts out 124hp and 125 lbs.-ft. of torque. With sequential multi-point fuel injection coupled with either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission as with my test Sentra, the system is EPA rated at 29mpg/city and 37mpg/highway and my week of mixed-use driving achieved an average of 33.9 mpg.

Sentra performs economically, with slow, steady acceleration that make uphill grades and passing at speed a challenge. On the track, a sprint from zero to 60mph took a lackluster 9.6 seconds, and a quarter-mile lasted 17.6 seconds. Handling was predictable, with vague steering and some body-waver during tight cornering at speed, but the independent strut front suspension with stabilizer bar works well with the torsion beam rear suspension with integrated stabilizer bar for a smooth, compliant ride.

Inside, the 2018 Sentra features ample roominess, and the intuitive interior layout emphasizes driver control and upscale seat comfort for all occupants. The high-quality interior design features materials not usually found in compact vehicles, including soft-touch instrument panel and door armrests, and available leather-appointed seating.

Standard interior features include a 6-way manual driver's seat, 4-way manual front passenger's seat, front center console with padded armrest and cupholders, rear seat armrest with cupholders, air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter, tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows with driver's one-touch auto up/down with auto reverse, power door locks with auto-locking feature, remote keyless entry and remote trunk and fuel-filler door releases.

With seating for five, Sentra offers a roomy 42.5 inches of front legroom and a comfortable 37.4 inches or rear legroom. Headroom is average up front at 39.4 inches and tight in the rear at 36.7 inches. Shoulder room exceeds niche expectations at 54.7 in row one and 53.9 for row two.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2018 Nissan Sentra a “Top Safety Pick” vehicle safety rating, scoring it “Good” in all five of the “Top Safety Pick” categories. Sentra comes equipped with such inclusions as Nissan's Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags equipped with seat belt sensors and an occupant classification sensor. Above, standard roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags help protect front and rear passengers.

The 2018 Sentra starts at $16,990 for the base S trim model with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Sentra S with Xtronic CVT® trans starts at $18,275 and the S Midnight with spoiler and cosmetics starts at $18,770. My test SV trim Sentra based at $19,085, and added the Xtronic CVT® transmission, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition, dual-zone automatic temperature control and Premium cloth seats. The SR trim comers in four variations ranging at bases of $20,500 to $22,985 for the Midnight Turbo edition. And Sentra offers an SL and two Nismo editions, maxing out at a base of $25,790.

My test SV, in Brilliant Silver over Charcoal premium cloth, added the SV Premium Package with the Nissan Navigation System, NissanConnect® Mobile Apps, SiriusXM® Traffic and Travel Link,Power sliding glass moonroof with tilt feature and sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors and extension, for $990. The All-Weather Package, for $300, added heated front seats and dual power heated outside mirrors, and a Rear Decklid Spoiler added $340. Fog lights added $315; four splash guards added $190; and a $500 Electronics Package added colorful interior accent lighting, improved night-time visibility, and an Auto-dimming Rearview Mirror with HomeLink® and Compass that reduces glare from following vehicles and helps drivers find their way with its built-in compass. Carpeted trunk and floormats added $200 and a trunk net added $70. With destination and handling charges of $885, my 2018 Nissan Sentra SV stickered at $22,875.

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Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.