 I really used to like Nissans, simply based on appearance and interior design/comfort, up until I rented one for what was supposed to be 2 weeks. A few days into my rental, I experienced what I believe to be a CVT Transmission failure. The car lost 50% of its (already limited) power, and the engine light and traction control light came on. This was preceded by the car lurching at slow speeds (<20mph) for a couple days prior. I limped back to the rental office, struggling to maintain 40mph, and switched it out. All they had was another Sentra, so I accepted it. It drove normally for a few days, but then it too started to lurch at low speeds. Luckily I was able to switch it out with a different brand altogether - no way was I risking that happening again. Both cars had less than 26,000 miles. Aside from that, I still like the interior of the Sentra. Proximity key and push button start are nice to have, and the stereo is quite good for the class. Rear seat room is excellent, as is trunk space. It's also very quiet at highway speeds, and I averaged 35mpg. However, driving dynamics are underwhelming. Lots of body roll around corners, weak acceleration, artificial steering, and a fairly unsettled ride. I've driven several other cars in this class, and the Sentra is by far the least enjoyable to drive. The car seems to struggle when merging onto any road with a speed limit of more than 40mph, and the CVT makes the whine/noise even worse. The engine is even loud while going up moderate hills at city speeds.  Slow/loud acceleration is common with any car in this class, but the Sentra is definitely the most noticeable, annoying, and SLOW. It's not like I'm used to excess power, either...I drive a 4-cylinder Honda. Between the uncomfortable ride and the reliability issues, and I would never even consider purchasing a Sentra. It seems CVT issues are prevalent in nearly all newer Nissan models, so I would steer clear altogether. If you're looking for a reliable commuter car, I would suggest something more along the lines of Hyundai Elantra, Mazda3, or Toyota Corolla.