2011 Nissan Sentra Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Nissan Sentra overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 Sentra, and includes Nissan Sentra safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Nissan, now getting all sorts of recognition for the Nissan Leaf and its commitment to producing great green cars, still manages to work on improving fuel economy for its more plebian models and as such, the 2011 Nissan Sentra sees slightly improved city gas mileage ratings for the 2.0 models equipped with a continuously variable transmission. Safety has also taken a turn for the better and the 2011 Sentra gets standard antilock brakes (ABS) and stability control across the line.

Depending on budget and priorities, you can choose between six different versions of the 2011 Nissan Sentra – 2.0, 2.0 S, 2.0 SR, 2.0 SL, SE-R and SE-R Spec V.

Leading the charge, the Sentra 2.0 is the least expensive model. Air conditioning, power door locks, power windows, a tilt steering wheel, a stereo with a CD player, and an auxiliary audio input jack are standard. This year, Nissan adds traction control, stability control, and antilock brakes to the standard equipment list, and you’ll know you’re looking at the cheapest Sentra by its 15-inch wheels and plastic wheel covers. A manual transmission is standard, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) optional.

The most popular Sentra is the 2.0 S model. Given the upgrades that come on this car, that’s not surprising at all. First off, it includes a CVT and does away with a clutch pedal. Beyond that, it includes cruise control, power side mirrors, remote keyless entry, a better sound system, an iPod connection, and larger 16-inch wheels. The driver’s seat can be manually raised, and niceties like front map lights, a security system, and visor vanity mirrors are included in the base price. The 2.0 S offers a greater variety of options, too, like Bluetooth, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rockin’ Rockford Fosgate premium sound system, and Nissan’s Intelligent Key keyless access and ignition system.

If you like the way the 2.0 S is packaged but you want a racier exterior look, get the Sentra 2.0 SR. This model includes the same stuff as the 2.0 S, but has 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and a sporty body kit. It is priced exactly the same as the 2.0 S, and is offered with the same options.

For access to optional luxuries like leather seats, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a navigation system, the 2.0 SL is the model to choose. The SL adds Bluetooth, a color stereo display, satellite radio, a USB port, and Nissan Intelligent Key to the standard features list. Alloy wheels, driving lights, a power trunk release, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel are also included in every 2.0 SL model.

If performance is your priority, check out the Sentra SE-R. Equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels and racy styling cues, the SE-R’s appearance definitely underlines the model’s fun-to-drive mandate. But this car isn’t just about looks. A more powerful engine, sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and sport-bolstered front seats make sure the SE-R is more than just a styling exercise. Plus, the SE-R comes with oil pressure and G-force gauges. The only miscue here is the standard CVT.

If you want to change your own gears, get the SE-R Spec V. With even more power, an even firmer and lowered suspension, even larger brakes, and even stickier summer performance tires, the Spec V is the best-performing Sentra available.

Options for the SE-R and SE-R Spec V include a navigation system, a premium Rockford Fosgate sound system, satellite radio, a power moonroof, and a reversing camera. The SE-R is available with Nissan Intelligent Key, while the SE-R Spec V is can be outfitted with a helical limited-slip differential.

When buying a 2011 Nissan Sentra, you have a choice between two engines. Sentras with a 2.0 badge on the trunk have a 140-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The exception to this rule is the base Sentra 2.0, which comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The CVT is optional on this model. Fuel economy ratings with the CVT improve this year, checking in at 27 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. With the manual transmission, you can expect 24-mpg city/31-mpg highway. Seriously. Who buys a Sentra 2.0 with a stick?

For added power at the expense of fuel economy, the SE-R and SE-R Spec V have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. In the SE-R, this engine makes 177 horsepower and is paired solely with a CVT (!). A six-speed manual transmission comes with the high-output SE-R Spec V engine’s healthy 200-horsepower output rating. It goes without saying that the SE-R with the CVT gets better fuel economy: ratings are 24 city/30 highway for the SE-R and 21 city/28 highway for the SE-R Spec V, which also requires more expensive premium fuel.

For years, we’ve been advocating for standard ABS and stability control and are glad that Nissan has finally seen the light. These important safety features are standard on every Sentra for 2011, along with six airbags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made its crash tests more rigorous for 2011 and now includes an overall safety rating for each vehicle. The 2011 Nissan Sentra gets a 4-Star overall safety rating, which is very strange considering that frontal impact and side impact ratings are a middling 3 Stars. Of particular concern to us is the that in the new crash tests, the front passenger protection rating is 3 Stars in a frontal-impact crash, and the rear passenger protection rating is a dismal 2 Stars in a side-impact crash. For rollover resistance, the Sentra continues to get 4 Stars.

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet released its ratings for the 2011 Nissan Sentra as this review was written. However, the Sentra has historically performed well in the offset frontal and side impact tests, and since the car has seen no structural changes for 2011, it is reasonable to expect that the 2011 model will perform in similar fashion.

Consumer Reports predicts that the 2011 Nissan Sentra will provide above average levels of reliability, and calls the Sentra a Recommended buy. J.D. Power and Associates continues to predict that dependability will be average over time.

It’s cool that Nissan is now a paragon of green-ness. The electric Leaf is cool. And the fact that Nissan keeps trying to improve fuel economy on the Sentra is cool. But the 2011 Sentra is not cool. The car is just five years old, but it seems like 10. The past half-decade has been like a drive through Dulllsville and we want more.

Sure, the Sentra’s price represents value, the fuel economy is impressive and the interior is plenty roomy enough. The Sentra is certainly practical. And the Euro-flavored styling remains attractive. But somehow the Sentra was old even when it was new. Clearly, the time has come for a complete redesign, or even a dismissal. Nevertheless, we would at least recommend a test drive if not for those new crash-test results from the NHTSA. Steer clear.

By Courtney Messenbaugh