2011 Nissan Sentra

The 2011 Nissan Sentra is a decent economy sedan, though most reviewers agree that there are better choices that offer more for the same price. Exterior styling and general performance are undistinguished in a sea of newer competitors such as the fuel-sipping and stylish 2011 Hyundai Elantra (Base MSRP: $14,830 to $19,980) and fun-to-drive 2011 Mazda3 (Base MSRP: $15,800 to $23,010). The Sentra carries over in 2011 with few changes; fuel efficiency has been slightly increased, and antilock brakes and electronic stability control are now standard across all trims.

The Sentra's 2-liter, four-cylinder engine returns unremarkable fuel economy with either the manual or CVT automatic transmission. When matched to the six-speed stick, this engine delivers 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway and 27 mpg in mixed driving, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The CVT automatic improves these numbers by about 2 mpg for each measure. For comparison's sake, the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra gets a combined rating of 33 mpg from its standard engine. The performance-themed Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V comes equipped with a more powerful 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that's rated at 24 mpg city/31 mpg highway/29 mpg combined with the automatic and 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway/24 mpg combined with the manual.

The 2011 Nissan Sentra includes front airbags, side airbags, side curtain airbags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control as standard equipment. Crash results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are average; the Sentra gets the highest rating of Good for front- and side-impact protection and a lower rating of Acceptable for rear-impact protection. Many economy cars fare better in IIHS testing. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Sentra a rating of 3 stars out of 5 for front and side protection, and a 4-star rating for rollover resistance.

The 2011 Nissan Sentra's base MSRP ranges from $15,540 for the base Sentra 2.0 to $20,400 for the sportier Sentra SE-R Spec V.