Styling

The Sentra's tall stance and short hood and trunklid make the car look a bit stubby in profile. It's not nearly as sleek as the Civic, which is still futuristic looking even though it's been around in its current form since the 2006 model year — an incredible feat. I like the Sentra's design more than the Corolla's, which is about as bland and nondescript a car as you'll find these days. For a side-by-side comparison of the Sentra, Civic and Corolla, click here.

Not everything's right with the Sentra's design. A couple of our editors, myself included, weren't fond of the car's clear-lens taillights. This design cue was a fad a few years ago, and it's time for Nissan to ditch the look.

The Sentra comes standard with steel wheels, but our 2.0 SL had 16-inch alloy wheels with an eight-spoke design. Alloy wheels always dress up a car's exterior, and 2.0 S and 2.0 SL models get chrome door and trunklid accents that serve the same purpose.

    See also:

    Installing the spare tire
    The spare tire is designed for emergency use. (See specific instructions under the heading “Wheels and tires” in the “8. Maintenance and do-it-yourself” section.) 1. Clean any mud or d ...

    Meters and gauges
    1. Tachometer 2. Fuel gauge/odometer/transmission position indicator/engine coolant temperature gauge/Instrument brightness level/ trip computer (if so equipped) 3. Speedometer 4. Inst ...

    Child safety
    ● If dirt builds up in the shoulder belt guide of the seat belt anchors, the seat belts may retract slowly. Wipe the shoulder belt guide with a clean, dry cloth. ● Periodically check t ...