more about this model
Pros Powerful engine; engaging driving performance; roomy front row.
Cons Not as high-tech as segment leaders; tiny navigation screen.
It's easy to get lost in the middle. Overlooked and struggling to get attention just like the usual middle child, the 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V knows a thing or two about being cast adrift in nebulous middle ground. This high-performance variant of the 2010 Nissan Sentra is neither a leader nor a laggard, falling in midpack when measured against its segment rivals.
If you're shopping the Spec V, you place a premium on athletic handling. This front-wheel-drive Nissan is crisp and engaging compared to the other Sentra variants, but little has been done to develop it as more attention-getting cars have appeared in the marketplace, among them the Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and Subaru Impreza WRX.
That's not to say the Spec V doesn't have its strengths. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine has impressive power, while the cabin measures out as among the most spacious in the segment.
In the end, the Spec V makes its bid for respectability based on price and its Nissan brand, as its performance simply doesn't prove compelling enough to compete against cars that have a higher profile in the marketplace. If you want a Nissan sport sedan, then this is the one to have; but if you don't have brand loyalty, the 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V is likely to be overlooked.
Performance At the heart of the 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V is a 2.5-liter inline-4 engine good for an impressive 200 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. In the horsepower race, this Nissan is ahead of choices like the Civic Si, Toyota Corolla XRS and Lancer GTS (197 hp, 158 hp and 168 hp, respectively), but behind the mega-brawny and turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 and Subaru Impreza WRX (263 hp and 268 hp, respectively). Around town, the Nissan is agile and energetic. There's always enough urgent power underfoot to inspire confidence, whether you're merging into traffic from that freeway on-ramp or looking to make something happen in a corner.
Track testing yielded a time of 6.7 seconds on the sprint to 60 mph. This is quick — the Spec V's time is quicker than those logged by the Civic Si (7.0 seconds) and the Lancer GTS (7.7 seconds), although a few ticks short of the segment leaders, the turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 (6.4 seconds) and Subaru Impreza WRX (6.1 seconds). The car's six-speed manual transmission has short throws, but the action is notchy and imprecise.
Under braking the Spec V feels stable and responsive, with a firm pedal feel. At the track, the Spec V stopped from 60 mph in 121 feet. This performance is better than the Corolla XRS (132 feet) and the Civic Si (123 feet), but less impressive than the Mazdaspeed 3 (113 feet), the Subaru WRX (113 feet) and the Lancer GTS (115 feet).
Despite its relatively tall body, the front-wheel-drive Spec V did well on the slalom course, delivering well-controlled handling. It weaved through the cones at a speed of 67.2 mph, making it faster than the Corolla (64.8 mph) but slower than the all-wheel-drive Subaru WRX (69.3 mph) and all-wheel-drive Mazdaspeed 3 (72.4 mph). In the real world, the Spec V delivers on its promises on winding roads, responding to steering inputs with real agility even as the suspension soaks up the broken pavement out in places where the driving gets fun.
With EPA ratings of 21 city/28 highway mpg and 24 mpg combined, the 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V's fuel economy is about average for the segment: a little on the thirsty side, but better than the turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 and Subaru Impreza WRX. We managed 19 mpg in mostly stop-and-go city driving. Premium fuel is required.
Comfort Ride quality is on the firm side, much as you'd expect from one of the sporting, high-performance cars in this niche segment. The front seats get high marks for comfort, though those with longer legs might find the seat cushions to be a bit short. Seat bolstering is also fairly aggressive; this is great for keeping you firmly in place when navigating sinuous turns, but not so great if you're a wide body. There is lots of space in the front of the cabin, as the Sentra's tall body makes the 2010 Nissan Sentra Spec V one of the roomiest choices in its segment as far as its front row is concerned.
Rear headroom and hiproom are decent, but rear legroom is a bit on the tight side (34.5 inches), although this is far from important among these driver-oriented high-performance cars. Long limbs will find the Toyota Corolla XRS (36.3 inches) and the Mazdaspeed 3 (36.2) to be more accommodating. Seats in back are flat and rather firm.
There isn't much road noise, but there's noticeable wind noise within the cabin. Overall, the Spec V's cabin is quieter than the cacophonous Civic Si, but noisier than that of the Corolla XRS.
Function The layout of the gauges is familiar and easy to understand. Climate settings are controlled by a three-knob setup that allows you to adjust mode, temperature and fan speed settings. We wouldn't have minded an extra knob with the audio controls. There is one for volume adjustment, but station tuning is managed via a pair of buttons — not the quickest and most efficient way to accomplish that task. Still, the audio system's control layout wins praise for its relatively large buttons with sizable letters. Our 2010 Nissan Sentra test car was equipped with an optional navigation system. At just 5 inches, the nav screen is pretty tiny.
The shift lever sits relatively high on the center console, where it's within easy reach. There's a smallish bin under the center armrest and cramped bins on the doors. Outward visibility is decent from most angles, while door openings are on the small size.
The Spec V's flat rear seats facilitate child-seat installation. There was enough room for a rear-facing child seat, even with the front seat adjusted for a driver over 6 feet tall. With 12 cubic feet, this Nissan's trunk offered an average amount of space for the segment; it easily swallowed golf clubs and a standard-size suitcase. (If you need a bigger trunk, check out the Mazdaspeed 3, which offers 17 cubic feet of cargo room.) Unlike other Sentra trims, the Spec V comes with a reinforcement brace behind the backseats. As a result, folding rear seats aren't available.
Design/Fit and Finish The Spec V's sheet metal doesn't exactly scream "sporty." Its towering body calls to mind a midsize family sedan with style overtones of its distant Renault siblings, and its rounded lines are more cute than aggressive. This is really an ordinary passenger car dressed up with wings and snappy paint. It's not unattractive, but if you're looking for a car with a look that really expresses performance, you'll likely be happier with a choice like the Civic Si or Mazdaspeed 3.
It doesn't get much plainer than our test car's unadorned, mostly black cabin. Nissan maintains that black is synonymous with performance, yet virtually all of the other picks in this segment offer more visual excitement in this area. Fit and finish in our test car was spotty.
Who should consider this vehicle The 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V is a car for fast driving, and its virtues as a passenger car are clearly secondary. Nevertheless, the Sentra's utility gives it a practicality that many of its competitors lack. At the same time, the Sentra SE-R Spec V's inability to find a loyal group of enthusiasts comes from this mixed message. Compared to its competition, it's relatively fast and affordable, but it doesn't have the big personality that makes the Mazdaspeed 3 and Subaru Impreza WRX the commanding models in this category of small sport sedans.
Others To Consider
Honda Civic Si, Mazdaspeed 3, Mitsubishi Lancer GTS, Subaru Impreza WRX.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Used 2010 Nissan Sentra listings and inventory:
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Save up to $192.4 on one of 19 used 2010 Nissan Sentras for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $2600 as of Apr 25, 2018, based on data from 18 dealers and 2 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2010 Nissan Sentra trim styles:
The used 2010 Nissan Sentra SE-R is priced around $8695 with average odometer reading of 90426 miles.
The used 2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S is priced around $5839 with average odometer reading of 111759 miles.
The used 2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0 SR is priced around $6889 with average odometer reading of 78494 miles.
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What options are available on the 2010 Nissan Sentra?
Available Nissan Sentra 2010 Submodel Types: Sedan, NISMO, SE-R Spec V, SE-R
Available Nissan Sentra 2010 Trims: SV, S, SR, SL, SR TURBO, 1.8 S, NISMO, FE+ S, GXE, 1.8, 2.0 SR, 2.0 S, FE+ SV, SE-R Spec V, FE+ 2.0, FE+ 2.0 S, SE, 2.0, 2.0 SL, FE+ 2.0 SR, SE-R, XE
Exterior Colors: Gun Metallic, Brilliant Silver, Aspen White, Fresh Powder, Deep Blue Pearl, Red Alert, Graphite Blue, Magnetic Gray, Amethyst Gray, Red Brick, Scarlet Ember, Titanium, Cayenne Red, Metallic Blue, Blackout, Blue Onyx, Brilliant Aluminum Metallic, Cloud White, Radium Metallic, Brilliant Silver Metallic, Code Red, Aspen White Pearl, Inferno, Metallic Blue Metallic, Polished Granite, Red Alert Metallic, Sandstone, Vibrant Blue, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Molten Silver, Out Of The Blue, Radium, Super Black, Anodized Orange Metallic, Arctic Blue Metallic, Avalanche, Blue Onyx Metallic, Bronze Shimmer, Espresso Black, Granite, Jaded, Lava Red, Polished Granite Metallic, Sapphire Blue Metallic, Sonoma Sunset, Sunburst
Interior Colors: Charcoal premium cloth, Charcoal leather, Marble Gray premium cloth, Marble Gray cloth, NISMO Charcoal alcantara/cloth, Charcoal/Steel cloth, Beige cloth, Charcoal cloth, Sage, Charcoal, Stone, Marble Gray leather, Midnight , Sage cloth, Taupe, Beige leather, Black, SE-R Charcoal premium cloth, Saddle leather, Sand
Popular Features: Keyless Entry/Start, Pre-collision safety system, Auto Climate Control, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Upgraded Headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Power Driver Seat, Post-collision safety system, Aux Audio Inputs, Rear Bench Seats, Tire Pressure Warning, USB Inputs, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Trip Computer, Bluetooth, Automatic Emergency Braking, Stability Control, Sunroof/Moonroof, Back-up camera, Heated seats, Leather Seats, Navigation, Upgraded Engine, Upgraded Stereo
Engine/Mechanics: 4 cylinders
Transmission: MANUAL, AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (recommended), regular unleaded
Drivetrains: front wheel drive
Used 2010 Nissan Sentra Overview
The used 2010 Nissan Sentra is offered in the following submodels: SE-R Spec V, Sedan. Available styles include 2.0 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT), 2.0 SR 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT), and 2.0 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl CVT). Pre-owned Sentra models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2010 Sentra comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic.
