A fifth treatment of the compact sedan from Nissan came in 2001 with body stretched in length and width to make a larger vehicle with more room in the cabin. In 2002 a sporty model arrived in two versions, SE-R and SE-R Spec V. Power for SE-R Sentras is a raucous twin-cam 2.5-liter four that hits 175 hp for the Spec V performance edition, or 165 hp for SE-R. Spec V looks hot, and it is. It hunkers on 17-inch alloy wheels capped by Z-rated low-profile tires below a wedge-shaped package that tips forward to suggest swift movement, even when parked. Spec V also stocks serious performance hardware, including a six-speed manual shifter, limited-slip differential, four-wheel disc brakes and tighter suspension tuning. A new 2.5 Limited Edition emerges in Sentra's 2003 line. It wears the fascia of Sentra GXE and carries the SE-R 165-hp engine with automatic transmission, ABS and side-impact air bags. That brings the trims up to five, with entry XE, GXE, 2.5 Limited, SE-R and SE-R Spec V. Sentra XE increases content with standard air conditioning and a stereo with four speakers plus CD deck. Then there are the two new exterior colors -- Sunburst, reserved exclusively for SE-R and SE-R Spec V, and Envy, a dark green.
