2013 Nissan Sentra

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is available in a 7 wide array of different trims, each of which is distinguished from the other by the set of features they come with. It falls in a price range that starts from $15,990 for its base variant to $19,590 for its top-of-the-line trim which doesn’t seem very expensive. As standard, it includes features like a 6-way driver seat, 4-speaker sound system, 16” steel wheels, Chrome grille w/silver accents, and a Suede cloth with silver accents door trim.

We Recommend:

We recommend buying the SL trim of the Nissan Sentra. It is not only expensive but also the most heavily equipped variant with additional features like Wood tone accents, 17-inch wheels, Dual-zone climate control, Rear spoiler, 4.3" audio system color display, 6 speakers, Intelligent Key keyless ignition, Daytime illumination, Premium cloth seat trim and Leather-wrapped shift knob w/maple wood-tone surround. On the upside, you can get all these by paying an extra of $3000 from the base version.

The 2013 Nissan Sentra is a decent performer when it comes to engine performance front if not the best. It comes with only one engine option even though it has a large trim range. It houses a 1.8 liter inline 4 engine that churns out 130 hp @ 6000 rpm and a torque of 128 lb-ft. Nissan has chosen fuel economy over performance and compromised a bit when it comes to performance. Furthermore, this engine is coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission which only comes in the base trim. 

You can also opt for a CVT transmission for improved fuel efficiency and fuss-free driving. However, there is no All wheel drive in this car as all the trim comes with only Front-wheel drive. Coming to the performance of the car. The Sentra can boost to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds and does a quarter-mile run in 17.1 seconds which is pretty decent when seen in isolation but not up to the mark when compared to its counterparts. However, it manages to excel in terms of top speed. It maxes out at 127 mph which is one of the highest in its class.

In comparison, all the cars make use of an inline-4 engine and are sold as front-wheel-drive variants only. All these cars make use of a continuously variable transmission as well as a manual transmission. In the acceleration test, Both Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra clock 8.3 seconds to the 60 MPH mark, while the Cruze takes 9.5 seconds to achieve a similar mark. Even in the top speed run, the Honda Civic continues its victory streak with a top speed of 130 mph.

This is where the Nissan Sentra does a great job. It performs really well on the Fuel economy front. The Nissan Sentra manages to return a mileage of 27 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and a combined figure of 30 mpg which is not bad at all. With a mediocre 13.2 gallons, it is capable of traversing a distance of 356 miles in the city and 475 miles while cruising down the highway.

Although all the competitors of Nissan Sentra hit the same ballpark in terms of the fuel economy figures, the Honda Civic has an edge over others with a better mileage but the 13.2 gallon is a disadvantage as it is not the best when it comes to range. The Chevrolet Cruze, with its 15.6 gallons, manages to cover the highest distance of 390 miles in the city and 562 miles on the highway.

The Nissan Sentra greets you with a simple interior and a pretty impressive comfort level. The dashboard also comes with wooden accents in the higher trims to enrich the look of the cabin. The Steering however looks a bit outdated but got you covered with audio and call controls which is appreciable. The AC vents are large and stylish and channel more air into the cabin.

The Nissan Sentra also comes with premium cloth trim as standard. Nevertheless, it offers some fantastic packages to enhance your interior even more. To start with, it offers a leather package where they offer leather-appointed seats and heated front seats for the first-class comfort. If you need a more splendid driving experience, you get a premium package that comes in handy which offers a Power sliding sunroof thereby enhancing the overall experience of the car.

In comparison, All three can easily accommodate 5 passengers with their fairly sized cabin. Both Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic have an almost similar amount of space for front-seat passengers, while the Rear seat passengers will find themselves comfortable in the Chevrolet Cruze. In terms of cargo capacity, the Nissan Sentra beats all the lineup of cars in its competition by a decent margin. Some standout and optional features you can find inside the Nissan Sentra are as follows:

• Premium cloth seat trim
• Maple wood-tone interior door handles
• Leather-wrapped shift knob w/maple wood-tone surround
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel w/illuminated mounted cruise, audio & Bluetooth controls
• Rear window defroster w/timer

How intuitive is the 2013 Nissan Sentra’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the Nissan Sentra is considerably packed with essential features on board. The infotainment screen makes its debut in the SR trim. However, you don’t get it in the base trim. As standard, it gets features like speakers, aux audio input jack, AM/FM audio system, and CD/MP3 player which seems not sufficient. But As the trim goes higher, you get some cool options such as:

• 4.3" audio system color display (optional)
• Bluetooth hands-free phone system(optional)
• SiriusXM satellite radio(optional)
• Navigation (optional)
• Pandora Radio (optional)

The Nissan Sentra gets an immense makeover for 2013 which makes it an absolute looker. It is stylish, smart, and quite appealing. It has that true Nissan DNA and can realize it at first glance. The headlights are sharp and curvy and add to the front fascia of the car. It also gets fog lamps if you go for higher trims. The front grille is surrounded by chrome bits that look flashy.

The Taillights get the same style as the front headlights, it is such a stylish-looking light. It also gets a smooth and aero-efficient body design. Speaking of the wheels, the base version gets 16 inches alloys wheels on offer. Moving on to the dimensions, the Nissan Sentra measures a length of 182 inches which is the longest car in the segment and also the tallest sedan in its competition measuring 59 inches.

In comparison, the 2013 Nissan Sentra smashes its competitors in terms of overall dimensions, while the Nissan Sentra and Honda Civic measure an overall similar length of 69 inches. The Hyundai Elantra on the other hand has the highest ground clearance 5.5 inches However, the Honda Civic occurs to be the lightest car in the segment with a curb weight of 2740 lbs. Some standout exterior features include:

• 17" 7-spoke aluminum wheels
• Multi-reflector halogen headlamps -inc: LED accents, smart auto headlamps
• LED taillights
• Fog lights
• Variable intermittent windshield wipers
• Green tinted glass

The Nissan Sentra comes with a handful of safety features on tap and has a good reputation for safety due to its decent scores in the crash tests conducted by the topmost organizations. It procures an overall five stars from NHTSA making it, perhaps one of the reasonable picks of the lot. Furthermore, it scores Good rating in almost all the areas from IIHS except the Small overlap front: driver side where it scores Poor rating. Some standout safety features include:

• Anti-lock braking system
• electronic brake force distribution 
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Vehicle dynamic control 
• 3-point ELR driver seat belt
• Energy-absorbing steering column
• Zone body construction

The Nissan Sentra is its new generation and it has improved substantially compared to its predecessor. It is more athletic, more comfortable and has got more character than before. Moreover, it gets a decent safety rating and has performed quite remarkably in the crash tests thrown at it. On the whole, it is geared up with some modern features and the exterior design and interior space are what sets it apart from some of the rivals in its competition, and in our opinion, it is an ideal car to buy in the compact sedan segment.