After assessing 11 compact sedans equipped with six key features and factoring in five years of fuel costs, the Sentra sits atop the Cars.com list with $730 separating it from the next most affordable car on the list.

According to the editors at Cars.com, the Sentra bested its closest competitors thanks to its segment-leading fuel costs.

Each vehicle included in the comparison was evaluated with the following features sought by consumers: automatic transmission, cruise control, USB input, remote entry, tilt steering, and steering-wheel audio controls.

To get this combination in the 2013 Sentra, Cars.com tested the SV trim level, with the addition of the Driver Package.

“Pairing value and best-in-class fuel efficiency with style and comfort, the all-new Nissan Sentra truly stepped up its compact car game in 2013,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. “Sentra is a solid offering in Nissan’s most innovative, highest-quality, highest-value sedan lineup ever, and we are excited to see it on top of this year’s Cars.com ‘Most Affordable Compact Sedan’ list.”

The Sentra can count on several changes contributing to the increased fuel savings. The 2013 Sentra is 150 pounds lighter than the outgoing model, yet has slightly larger overall dimensions and more interior room.

The lighter and more aerodynamic Sentra also uses a more fuel-efficient 1.8-liter engine, which along with its second generation Xtronic CVT with sub-planetary gear helps deliver a 13 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy (over the prior model year).

Fuel economy is rated at 30 miles per gallon city, 39 miles per gallon highway and 34 miles per gallon combined with the CVT.

All Sentra models come with standard Xtronic CVT, except the base Sentra S which is available with a choice of 6-speed manual or CVT.

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Nissan Sentra sales jumped 127.8 percent and was the strongest seller in Nissan’s line-up with 1,433 units sold.

Meanwhile, sales of the Nissan LEAF EV totaled 48 units, up 28.0 percent over last April.

Nissan also did well on the commercial side with the arrival of the NV200.

Nissan NV sales finished April at 141 units, the best month ever for the line-up as the NV200 compact commercial van begins to arrive in dealerships. 50 units of the NV200 were sold in its first month of availability.

“Nissan’s core volume models continue to perform well in a very competitive market and with the all-new Sentra and Pathfinder posting incredibly strong year-over-year sales increases, we expect this trend to continue,” said Christian Meunier, President of Nissan Canada Inc. “Our line-up continues to grow with the addition of the NV200 compact van leading to our best-ever commercial vehicle sales in Canada, and in a few months the all-new Versa Note arrives in showrooms.”

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Canadian Nissan Leaf sales totaled 82 deliveries, up 310 percent and the nameplate’s best month since launch. This brings the year-to-date total to 156 units sold, up 129.4 percent over the same period last year.

The Leaf had sold 20 units in March last year and totaled 68 units by the end of March 2012.

Meanwhile, the all-new 2013 Sentra sedan recorded a year-over-year increase of 48.9 percent, for 1485 units sold. The small Rogue CUV is the most popular vehicle in the Nissan line-up in March with sales of 1,584 units.

Nissan’s Leaf also did well in the U.S. with 2,236 units sold, its best month since launching in December 2010.

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Nissan’s green PR is all about the electric LEAF. But at half the sticker price and 34 mpg on the highway, the Sentra deserves a look from the ultra-pragmatist.

The 2011 Sentra is the grandchild of the Datsun 510, a small Nissan car introduced in 1968 that, in its day, was often referred to as the “poor man’s BMW.” The first Sentra arrived on U.S. shores in 1982. Since then there have been six iterations of the little car, the latest of which is represented by the current model. And, like nearly all small cars, the Sentra has grown in size. Originally a subcompact, it crossed over to the compact class in 2000, and today, even though exterior dimensions remain compact in size, the Sentra’s interior is classified by the EPA as a mid-size car.

Outside and inside, the 2011 Sentra is a repeat of the 2010 edition. But kudos to Nissan for equipping all 2011 Sentras standard with anti-lock brakes along with stability control and traction control systems.

While some rivals offer a hatchback or coupe body style in addition to a sedan, the Sentra is only available in a four-door sedan with an unusually broad range of models. The six-tier lineup starts with the entry-level 2.0 model and climbs through mainstream 2.0 S and 2.0 SL models. It ascends to the sporty-looking 2.0 SR and tops off with the raucous SE-R and SE-R Spec V models.

Sentra 2.0 models come with one engine, a 2.0-liter four cylinder, and two transmission options, a six-speed manual and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The fuel-miser of the group is the CVT, and yes, today’s automatic transmissions often deliver better fuel economy than their manual cousins. With this combination, the Sentra achieves an EPA estimate of 27 city/34 highway and a combined 30 mpg. With the six-speed manual, the 2.0-liter engine dispenses 24 city/31 highway and 27 mpg combined.

SE variants and fuel economy is an oxymoron—they are sport compacts with larger 2.5-liter fours that target enthusiast drivers. Connected to the CVT (the sole transmission available), the SE-R is EPA rated at 24 /30 and 26 mpg combined. A step up to the hot rod SE-R Spec V sees fuel economy numbers of 21/28/24—decent numbers for a 200 horsepower engine and a manual gearbox.

Exterior and Interior

Sentra’s exterior styling bears a strong family resemblance to the larger Altima and Maxima sedans. Up front, twin creases cut into a simply curved hood while Nissan’s signature rectangular stacked headlights frame a chrome-trimmed grille. The profile emphasizes the long wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, and a character line on each side rises toward the rear, accentuating a sporty wedge shape. It is the most like the Altima, logically as that’s the next step up in the Nissan line. But if the shapes are vaguely similar, the Sentra’s proportions are very different, even a little awkward.

Both SE-Rs spiff up their look with different nose and tail treatments, driving lights, subtle lower-body skirting and a rear spoiler.

Despite its exterior dimensions, the Sentra’s cabin feels spacious and airy, courtesy of the arched roof and a 105.7-inch wheelbase that’s among the longest in the compact-car class. Wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles and helps determine how much space a vehicle can devote to the passenger compartment.

Sentra’s dashboard doesn’t have visual flair but it is orderly and functional. The instrument cluster features a crisply lit speedometer and tachometer that are easy to read. A round digital information center between the meters provides data like fuel efficiency, engine temperature and fuel level. Radio and climate controls are well laid out in the center stack. The large HVAC dials are easily adjusted, even when wearing winter gloves.

Front seats are a nice balance between comfort and support with a wide range of adjustability, albeit manually. All models have a tilt steering column, however, the base 2.0 lacks a height-adjustable driver’s seat that’s standard on up level offerings. Front head-and legroom is the envy of other carmakers.

As in front, rear seat passengers have generous space with room for two larger-than-average adults. Rear seats are split 60/40, and the rear-seat bottom cushions lift and flip forward against the front seat backs. This allows the seat backs to drop flat, expanding the already generous 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space to an enormous cargo hold in the cabin. If child car or booster seats reside in the back, the Latch anchors are difficult to dig out of the stiff seat cushions. Once this is accomplished, the rest is easy.

Nissan should be given an award for clever and thoughtful places to store all the things we find necessary to bring into the car. For starters, open the glove box and a small space in the lid can hold a map or pair of gloves. Lower the lid and there’s enough room for a small laptop or a woman’s purse. Left of the steering wheel is a small covered compartment for coins. Cupholders in the center console adjust from small to large cups, and behind them is a cell phone holder. Add to this, a deep stowage bin under the center armrest.

Quality of plastic materials is on par for the compact class, with soft, low-gloss surfaces. There are a few faux metal trim pieces, but there are also plenty that look like the real thing as well.

On The Road

In the compact car class, good fuel economy is a must. Featuring variable valve timing, the Sentra’s 2.0-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine has an output of 140 horsepower and 147 ponds-feet of torque. Connected to Nissan’s CVT the Sentra’s fuel economy ratings are 27 city/34 highway and a combined 30 mpg. Not unlike other small cars we have driven, our recorded fuel mileage varied, just as the EPA says. And, like other small cars, the variance was on the plus side. Our week with the Sentra totaled 266 miles—160 miles Interstate, 49 miles two-lane highways, 57 miles in town—netted 36 miles per gallon.

Acceleration is plentiful, and though it takes time to adjust to the CVT’s distinctive power delivery, it works smoothly and is of particular benefit to highway-speed passing response. With a foot heavy on the go pedal, there is noticeable, but not obnoxious, engine noise. Settled in at speed, the cabin becomes close to luxury car quiet.

An independent strut front and a semi-independent torsion beam axle rear suspension are typical of cars in the compact class. Nissan has tuned it in the European fashion, with soft spring rates and matching shock rates for good comfort and control. The setup absorbs the bumps and potholes of everyday driving well. It’s also up to the task of negotiating curvy roads and sudden panic swerves, albeit with noticeable body roll.

Since HybridCars.com is about vehicles that deliver good to great fuel economy, we aren’t going to write about the Sentra SE-R and SE-R Spec-V except to say, if a pocket rocket is more your style, take a test drive.

Economics

The Sentra’s base 2.0 sticker price of $15,840 is competitive with class sales leaders Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Hyundai Elantra. But, it comes standard with the manual transmission, not the CVT with the 27 city/34 highway fuel economy. The CVT is a $1,180 option, bringing the total to $17,020. Granted, that does include air conditioning, power windows and power door locks. However, for an additional $750, the 2.0S adds cruise control, remote keyless entry, manual height adjustable driver’s seat and an upgraded audio system with redundant steering wheel controls.

The 2011 Sentra has competitive prices, is roomy, provides lots of nifty interior features, possess competent road manners and, with the CVT, delivers good fuel economy at a time when gasoline prices are at the $4.00 per gallon mark and heading upwards. These attributes make the Sentra a good choice for singles and small families. But, the Sentra faces several strong contenders in this extremely competitive class of vehicles, so shop before you buy.

Prices are Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) at time of publication and do not include destination charges, taxes or licensing.

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