The latest SE-R is crisp and fun to drive, despite an upright stance and low-tech suspension design.
Previews
We’re going to come right out and say it: the new Nissan Sentra SE-R (above) does not recall the glory days of the original 1991-1994 SE-R. Actually, it’s unlikely that any Sentra SE-R will top the adulation for the initial version, given the positive taint that years of nostalgia have bestowed upon it. The first SE-R is a lot like your first kiss or your first batch of pancakes, both of which were probably sloppy and not as delicious as you now fondly remember. Since the first generation, the subsequent two generations were met with indifference and disappointment. So maybe the new, fourth-generation SE-R can’t top the original, but it’s vastly better than the previous model, at least when it comes to driving. As before, the hot Sentra comes in two versions: SE-R, and Spec V (next page). The SE-R comes only with a CVT, and the higher-output Spec V engine is mated to a six-speed manual.
Exterior and Interior
We’re still getting used to the upright looks of the Sentra, which shares a platform with the Renault Megane. The SE-R makes an effort to correct the awkward proportions with 17-inch wheels, aggressive front and rear fascias, and a rear spoiler. The effect is a subtle improvement, but it will never, ever be called pretty.
On the inside, there’s an oil pressure gauge and a g-meter to measure acceleration and deceleration. The rest of the interior is mostly unchanged from the Sentra, except for new front seats with red stitching and SE-R logos on the headrests; the Spec V gets the added flair of red seat belts. Despite the sporty looks of the front buckets, the side bolsters don’t do much to hold your upper body in place, and while the seat bottom accommodates cheeseburger-laden waistlines, skinnier posteriors will slide around during hard cornering. The Sentra SE-R has a 13-cubic-foot trunk and rear seats that can hold fully-grown adults. Front, front-side, and head curtain airbags are standard.
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