Taking a Sylphy

In Japan, the Nissan Sentra is called the Sylphy. I’m not sure if it’s actually pronounced like a selfie, but I like to think it is. The Sentra has just undergone a refresh, and it might be at just the right time.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter inline-four engine making 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. An Xtronic CVT sends power to the front wheels. That transmission, according to Nissan, has been returned for better performance.

Somewhat unique in the compact car segment, the Sentra returns with a multi-link rear suspension, instead of a cheaper (and more packaging efficient) torsion beam. There are four wheels on a car; it makes sense to treat them independently. What a concept!

There are some new upgrades to the technology stack, including a new infotainment setup with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus on certain trims, you can spec the first-generation ProPilot Assist hands-on driver assistance technology.

You can see from some of the photos in this post that the car sports a new look. In profile and rear, I’m a fan of the new lighting elements and design cues. The biggest change is up front, and in photos, I’m not sure I jive with it. I’ll have to see it in person.

But what’s the most important part about this vehicle will be the price. Now, of course, Nissan hasn’t talked pricing, but as we are most definitely heading into a recession that might take years (or more) to climb out of, affordable cars are going to be more and more important.

Some will say that consumers want more expensive cars, and when there are cheap cars available, consumers don’t buy them. In some respects, I agree with that. Nobody wants to feel like they are in the “cheap seats,” and nobody likes to admit that they aren’t rich. With financing of seven years or more, you can make monthly payments on expensive vehicles that still fit within your budget.

Less-expensive cars also have less margin, which means the automaker has to sell more of them to make money. Dealers also really don’t like selling cheap cars, because they make less money. Sometimes, automakers won’t even send the cheap trims to dealerships, and where dealerships can order their own inventory, they don’t stock the cheap cars.

So, people don’t want inexpensive cars? I argue that they don’t want to feel like they're in a cheap car, and they don’t want to be reminded they are poor. But modern cars, like the Sentra I last drove, felt pretty solid for something so cheap.

That’s going to be extremely important going forward.

Because, for whatever reason, inexpensive cars don’t sell well now, they’ll be more in style when the world’s economy comes to a screeching halt. Used cars will increase in price, and some are just going to be priced out of transportation altogether.

This wouldn’t be a big deal if we had an effective mass-transit system, but we don’t. As one of the most car-dependent countries on the planet, too many people need a car in order to survive.

That’s why I’m excited about Leaf. At a starting price of around $30,000, it is one of the cheapest new cars on sale, regardless of powertrain. Presumably, the Sentra will also bring some value into the new model year. Tariffs will likely be an issue, as the Sentra is made in Mexico, but the Sentra will join some other great sedans, like the Kia K4 and Toyota Corolla, as a viable alternative to the most expensive new vehicles.

Yes, $30,000 is a lot of money for a lot of people (and more so once the recession really takes hold), but some automakers will be in the right position to capitalize on the economic downturn by offering new vehicles that hopefully people will still be able to afford.