Nissan’s 1987 Sentra SE: Looks Fast, Drives Slow

There’s a stampede happening in the small-sedan market. With rebates, price cuts, and low interest rates now flooding entry-level cars, it’s a crowded and cutthroat race. For enthusiasts, the spectacle might seem academic, who cares about another hundred thousand 50-horsepower economy boxes clogging the off-ramps?

But those humble models make the sporty versions possible. Without the base Mirage, there’d be no Turbo. Without the econobox, no GTI or Corolla GT-S.

Enter the 1987 Nissan Sentra SE, a three-door fastback meant to be the performance flagship of the Sentra line. It shares nearly everything with its siblings except the swoopy sheetmetal: a sloping hood, beveled nose, and fastback rear. Inside, a well-bolstered driver’s seat and a thick four-spoke wheel try to sell the sporty image.

But under the skin, the story is mixed. The wheelbase grew slightly, the front anti-roll bar got bigger, and a new rear suspension with struts and transverse links is stiffer, 24 percent in front, 26 percent in back. The SE rides on 185/60HR-14 tires, either Toyo or Bridgestone.

The engine, though, is the letdown. 6-liter four-cylinder from last year still manages just 70 horsepower, even with throttle-body fuel injection. Nissan says the injection was for better drivability and starting, not power. 2 seconds at 70 mph, and a top speed of 98 mph. 76 g of grip, with understeer and sloppy behavior when pushed.

The shifter is slick, the pedals well placed, and the cockpit spacious, but the car’s econobox roots are impossible to ignore.

At $9,699 for the fully loaded SE, the Sentra faces stiff competition. The VW GTI lists for $9,630, the Corolla GT-S for $9,898, and the Mirage Turbo for $8,209, all with more horsepower and sharper handling. The Sentra SE looks the part of a sport coupe, but it doesn’t deliver.

It needs another 40 horsepower and suspension tweaks to earn the name. As it stands, it’s a handsome economy car that’s pleasant to look at but disappointing to drive. Shoppers looking for real thrills should keep looking.