New Car Review of the 2005 Nissan Sentra Compact Sedan

Description: Compact Sedan
Base MSRP Range: $12,700 - $17,800
Invoice Price Range: $12,144 - $16,555
Where built: Mexico

Nissan's compact-class sedan is called Sentra and it spins off sport-inspired SE-R special editions. Inside a generous cabin, two race-style bucket seats stand up front with a split-and-fold rear bench.

Models begin with the Sentra 1.8 and extend to the 1.8 S and 2.5 S. Sentra 1.8 and 1.8 S draw from a dual-cam 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine racked to 126-hp with 5-speed manual or optional 4-speed automatic transmission. Sentra 2.5 S gets a 2.5-liter four-pack for 165-hp with an automatic 4-speed.

Sport-tuned SE-R and racy SE-R Spec V Sentras bring even more equipment. A special front fascia, styled after Nissan's exotic and powerful Skyline GTR sports sedan, adds a crisp mesh grille and round foglamps. Body-colored sills stretch toward the pavement along each side, while at the tail a winged spoiler flies off the trunk's flat deck. Power for SE-R Sentras is the twin-cam 2.5-liter four that hits 175-hp for the Spec V performance edition.

Spec V also has serious performance hardware, including a 6-speed manual shifter, limited-slip differential, four-wheel disc brakes and tighter suspension tuning. A Brembo Brake Package for high performance appears on the option list for SE-R Spec V.