The receptionist at my yoga studio asked me what kind of car she should get.
She doesn?t want to spend a lot, and she?s concerned about the environment. She was wondering about hybrids.
“Go for something simple,” I told her.
I dug around in my brain for something serviceable, unpretentious and not a drain on the pocketbook or the environment (the manufacturing process and considerations such as battery disposal should be part of the equation). “Something like a Nissan Sentra,” I said, naming a car I knew little about but one that seemed benign enough to fit the bill.
Coincidentally, when I arrived home that day, I found a Sentra parked outside. Here was my chance to test my off-the-cuff advice.
Turns out it was much more car than I bargained for.
The Sentra 2.0S that I drove ? with a base price of around $16,000 and a bunch of mostly unessential options that brought it up to about $19,000 ? is a great starter car, with the 2.0 version starting at around $14,000.
This redesigned edition isnothing like the tinny, stripped-down Sentra of old, and it looks and feels much more expensive than its sticker price.
The 2-liter four-cylinder engine delivers about 140 horsepower. The car won?t win any Indies, but it also promises 29 city miles to the gallon (36 highway), and I didn?t notice any sluggishness when it came to making a left-hand turn at a light or passing on the highway.
The interior is elegant, with touches of faux burnished steel, ultrasuede-trimmed seats and door panels, adjustable cup holders, a cell phone slot and a glovebox easily big enough to hold a designer handbag.
The extras come in various packages, and I wish some were available a la carte. Like the CD holder that snaps into the driver?s-side sun visor, part of a $900 convenience package.
I’d also take the “divide-n-hide” trunk, in the same group, which has a removable false back that reveals a hidden storage area. But I don?t do Bluetooth, and I can?t stand the keyless ignition, which I still can?t understand.
One piece of the Alloy Wheel package ? the anti-lock braking system ? can be purchased on its own, and I highly recommend it.
The new Sentra has the feel of a luxury car and is a quiet ride ? I like to call that inner peace.
