Dynamic drivability

The days of buying a compact sedan just because it’s affordable are over.

From its bold lines to its forward profile, the 2013 Nissan Sentra proves to be as solid as a rock, combining economy, drivability and comfort.

At first glimpse, beneath the gleaming rays of the sun, the red exterior of the car looked the part with its snarl face, stubby wide nose, wraparound headlights, small floating grille and a short trunk lid.

However, the slightly bigger than usual frame, with a rounded front end of the car and high bulging beltline, moves the car more towards a mid-sized vehicle, making it seem larger than any other compact car out there.

Many may argue that it may not be the most stylish car but it’s definitely agile, fun and funky.

Under the bonnet is a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine. It delivers 130 horsepower through a continuously variable automatic transmission, which multiplies the engine’s power seamlessly, without shift points.

It has great fuel economy, it’s comfortable and it’s a confident ride. Photographer Ryan usually accompanies me on my trips with his massive backpack and thankfully the Sentra has done a good job increasing the interior space of the new car, especially the back section giving more room to fit essential extras, including Ryan’s Mary Poppins kit bag.

The interior is concise and well-built. The car has all the standard interior features including a 6-way manual driver’s seat, 4-way manual front passenger’s seat, front and rear door pockets, padded armrest and cup holders.

The Sentra also features a dual zone automatic temperature control system, allowing the driver and front passenger to select his or her own individual temperature settings. The standard audio system is an AM/FM/CD system with four speakers. The car also comes with safety features including multiple air bags and tyre pressure monitoring system.

There are three driving modes: normal, eco and sport. However, when I switched to sport mode, the ride wasn’t as smooth, so I quickly clicked the button on the side of the gear stick back to normal for a silky drive.

But, I did stumble on a quibble on more than one occasion. At times when I would shift gear from ‘Park’ to ‘Drive’, I would accidentally move it to one step lower to an option titled ‘L’ (low gear), and it was only after a couple of jolts that I realised and pushed it back into ‘D’.

Having said this, the driving experience was excellent. The noise and vibration is at a minimum making it passable as a larger and more expensive vehicle.

The 2013 Sentra is exciting to sit in … but most importantly, for the price, it beats its rivals when it comes to the driving experience.

The 2013 Nissan Sentra’s starting price is BD6,295.

For further details, contact YK Almoayyed on 17732732 or call into the Sitra showroom.