Archives for October 2013
Review: 2013 Nissan Sentra
Wow, for a moment I thought Nissan forgot they built a Sentra. The last Sentra hung around for a staggering six years, which is virtually unheard of in the hotly contested compact car market. The outgoing car, with its Lego-like styling and crude interior was hopelessly outdated. So, it was with great relief Nissan finally put the old girl out of its misery and delivered a completely redesigned Sentra. The car deserves that much, as it basically carried Nissan through the 1980’s alongside the completely forgettable Stanza.
To say that Nissan has taken the Sentra’s styling in a new direction does not even come close. The upright, tight edges of the outgoing car are gone, and will not be missed. Instead, we have a car with flowing, organic curves, not a harsh edge to be found. Our test car, fitted with attractive 17″ alloys and finished in Amethyst Gray and a ‘just right’ amount of chrome trim give the Sentra an upscale air that belies its price. Nissan aired a TV commercial where a junior executive is mistaken for someone far more important in a similar Sentra, and after seeing the car in person, I can believe it. No, it does not stand out, nor will it turn heads, but for the price of admission, you simply will not find another car that exudes this level of class and sophistication.
The austere cabin of the 2012 Nissan Sentra The Garage tested is also a distant memory. Nissan carried the Junior Executive theme inside, with features available only on high-end luxury cars ten years ago present and accounted for, and then some. Leather, and a pleasing mix of silver trim, chrome, and wood tone trim conspire to provide one of the most opulent cabins in its class. The contrasting beige and grey dashboard also add to the sense this is no ordinary compact. The quality of materials, fit and finish are excellent. Our feature-laden Sentra had easy to read gauges, and intuitive controls. As opulent our Sentra was, even more impressive was the amount of interior room. Front and rear, passengers had a surprising amount of room. The Sentra also boasts an enormous trunk.
In the engine room, all Sentras share the same engine, in this case a 1.8L four rated at 130hp, which is actually down on power from last year’s car. While that sounds like a step backward, it is Nissan’s attempt to bring the Sentra closer in line with the competition’s fuel economy ratings. In this case, the EPA rates the Sentra at a frugal 30/39 MPG city/highway. The base model Sentra can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, but all other models come standard with a Continuously Variable Transmission, a hallmark of Nissan passenger cars. Nissan makes the best in the business, but the mission of the CVT is to deliver optimum fuel economy, not driving pleasure. The new Sentra is no exception. Around town, the car gets around fine, but on highway on ramps, acceleration is lazy, and under full throttle, the inevitable motor boating effect is present. As elegant as the exterior and interior design are, under full throttle the Sentra is not. The ride is comfortable, and at cruising speeds, the Sentra is quiet and composed. The Sentra makes no promises of being a fun or engaging car to drive, just an easy car to live with. Driving enthusiasts, look elsewhere.
The Sentra is available in several trim levels to suit taste and budget. Our test car was the top-spec SL, with a starting price of $$19,760USD. For that, standard equipment includes dual zone auto climate control, push button start, six speaker audio with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, LED tail lamps, LED headlight accents, LED lighting on side mirrors and fog lights. Our test car added the Premium Package, which includes a power moonroof, auto dimming rearview mirror and an eight speaker Bose audio system. The Navigation Package adds, well, Navigation with NavWeather and NavTraffic, a rearview camera, and hands-free text messaging assistant. Finally, the Leather package adds, um, leather seats, front heated seats, and oddly, rear disc brakes. Including destination, our Sentra rings in at a very respectable $23,655.
Will it set your heart afire? No. That’s the job of the Sentra SE-R, and we are waiting to see if such a car will return. Long neglected by Nissan, the Sentra is back, and this is easily the best looking one yet, with a slick interior to match. In terms of style, comfort and features, the Sentra is tough to beat. Add an exceptionally roomy cabin and generous trunk space, and you have a winner. Most buyers won’t care that it is a bit on the slow side, or a bit soft in cornering. Nissan knows its buyer, and on that front has exceeded all expectations. It is simply the best Sentra of all time.
Review: 2013 Volvo XC60
Quick! Flash back to the last time you parked at the mall by a high-end department store. What did you see? Lexus RX’s, BMW X3, X5’s. Maybe an Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLK. Without a doubt, the market for premium compact CUV’s has a plethora of options, yet the Volvo XC60 is rarely discussed. Why is this? For one, and I blame Volvo, they simply are not promoting or marketing the car. If you don’t raise product awareness that this car exists, you are not going to get much showroom traffic. The Lexus RX reigns supreme in this segment, and through no fault of their own, it appears image conscious McMansion inhabitants feel better about themselves if they can brag about buying a Lexus than a Volvo.
And that is a shame, because the Volvo XC60 is a fine car that seriously deserves some recognition that car buyers and news media have not been giving. The XC60 is certainly a handsome, even classy CUV, but like any other crossover, it won’t turn heads. Cool and understated, our Volvo wears its Swedish design philosophy proudly. If bling is your thing, this may not be the car for you, but our test car’s optional 19″ wheels were a nice touch.
Let’s face it though-if you’re buying a crossover, you want utility and comfort, so the interior matters. Again, simple, clean elegant design prevails, but the quality of materials were exceptional. Leather, aluminum, soft touch plastics, every tactile feature of the XC60 reeked of excellent quality and workmanship. Volvo has a well earned reputation for constructing exceptionally comfortable seats. Coming from someone who drives a different new car every week, I can honestly say the XC60 has some of the best seats in the business. You actually feel better once you climb into the car. The gauges are clear and easy to read, and most controls are simple enough to understand. While the overall architecture of the interior is gorgeous to touch and look at, a huge grouping of tiny, small and largely inconsequential buttons clutter the center console, which unfortunately ages the otherwise gorgeous interior by about ten years. And while packed with the latest tech features, the navigation/entertainment systems also feel, well, old in comparison to the competition. It’s sort of like whipping out a flip phone at a party when all your friends have Androids and iPhones . Yes, it works, but is it cool?
Volvo XC60 buyers have three engine choices to suit their needs. The base model is equipped with a 3.2L inline six rated at 240hp, with the option of front or all-wheel drive. Our test car was the mid-level T6, which is powered by a 3.0L turbocharged inline six rated at 300hp, and all-wheel drive is standard. At the top of the food chain is the T6 R-Design, which has the same engine but is tuned to 325hp. Our XC60 T6 has EPA fuel economy figures of 17/23 MPG city/highway. Interestingly, Volvo claims the more powerful R-Design will return the same numbers. However, few people in this market are looking for sports car like acceleration, and I found the turbocharged six to have plenty of power. Even with the optional 19″ alloys the Volvo was very comfortable to drive. If Volvo’s mission was to deliver a comfortable, easy to live with CUV, they succeeded. Though not offered in North America, European buyers have the option of a diesel engine, and even the choice of a manual transmission. I know, it hurts me too.
Our Volvo XC60 T6 has a base MSRP of $40, 450USD. As you’d expect, Volvo has thrown in numerous safety features, and boasts a five star rating from IIHS, the best rating you can get. Standard features include a leather interior, 7″ color screen, panoramic sunroof, power seats with memory, push button start, dual zone auto climate control, and Bluetooth. Our test car had the optional Platinum Package, which added navigation, rear park assist, rear view camera, power liftgate and active xenon headlights, the Climate Package which includes heated heated front and rear seats, and heated windshield wiper nozzles. Special paint, optional 19″ alloys and destination charges bring the tally to $46,146. In the premium crossover market, this actually represent a pretty decent value.
The Volvo XC60 is a perfectly competent vehicle for families seeking a premium crossover, and until the V60 wagon arrives, is the true iteration of the Volvo wagon Americans have embraced for decades. Flashy? No. Pretentious? No. But that’s not what Volvo has ever been about. Quietly producing vehicles that offer unprecedented safety, quality, and comfort are the hallmarks of Volvo, and in that respect, Volvo has succeeded with the XC60.