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Among the fabulously wealthy, it is said, are many who strive to hide their
good fortune. Stashed in the garage beside the Mercedes, the Lexus, or the
Porsche, typically, is an anonymous car for taking jaunts without raising
eyebrows. For the inconspicuous rich, I suggest one of the most anonymous
vehicles I've ever driven--a Nissan Sentra GXE.
Competent? Yes. The smallish four-door sedan moves about traffic without
inspiration or offense, turning no heads in the process. Driver controls are
within easy reach and intuitive to use, like a good rental car's. The styling
suggests Civic, Escort, and Elantra, without making a statement of its own.
Beneath its squarish rear end is a sizeable trunk. The Sentra boasts an
excellent repair record.
Comfortable? Sufficiently. I found the driver's seat equally unoffensive, but
lacking the strapped-in, race-car feel I got from a Mazda MX-6 which I'd driven
a week earlier. Head and leg room are ample at all four corners. But the rear
seat is an oddity. It split-folds in proportions of about 70/30. But behind it
is a plastic molding that greatly reduces the amount of trunk access. The
smaller half could accommodate perhaps only two pairs of skis.
Exciting? No. The 1.6 liter four-cylinder seems tuned for tameness. Even with
the five-speed stick, I found the car lacking in spunk. Switch on the air
conditioning (which saps power), and the Sentra becomes nearly somnambulant.
One of the most appealing things about the Sentra has always been its fuel
economy--currently 30 miles per gallon in the city, 40 highway. Those EPA
numbers on the price sticker accurately reflect the mileage I enjoyed in a week
of mixed driving. Less appealing, however, was the top line of the price column,
as well as the bottom. The GXE lists for $14,459, with another $800 for an
automatic, and $999 for antilock brakes. What the Sentra needs is a good
customer rebate--and a swift kick in its squarish rear end.
1996 Nissan Sentra GXE
Engines 1.6 liter 4-cyl., 115 hp
Transmission 5-speed stick, 4-speed auto
Drive System: FWD
Wheelbase: 100.0 inches
Weight: 2,400 pounds
EPA economy: 30 MPG city, 40 highway
Price: $14,459
Copyright © 1996 Snow Country Magazine. All rights reserved.
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