It’s a special time in every teenager’s life: that moment when the state recognizes their skills as a driver and awards them that sacred and revered piece of laminated plastic known as a driver’s license. While this has long been a symbol of freedom and independence for those navigating the troubled waters of adolescence, parents look at this transition with a mixture of pride and worry. They hope their child will adhere to the driving habits that have been instilled in them, but they also won’t be there to ensure they do.
Any new driver’s first car should be safe, not too fast, and relatively simple to navigate. The Nissan Sentra is one of the best options for young drivers. Relatively inexpensive to own, cheap to insure, and an excellent place to begin the journey of an experienced driver, the Sentra has long been an ideal choice for parents and teens alike. Sure, your teenager might ask for the Corvette or a full-sized SUV to show off their newfound abilities, but that isn’t always the best choice. If you want your teen to have the best first vehicle, you should look for a Nissan Sentra for sale near you. This vehicle has a history of being a safe and reliable choice that you can feel comfortable sending your newly licensed driver into the world in.
A Brief History of the Sentra
The Nissan Sentra was first introduced in the U.S. market for the 1982 model year under the name Datsun 510. The vehicle came as a two-door, four-door, or five-door wagon. This continued until the 1985 model year when the newly named Nissan Sentra came to replace the B210. It was built at the Nissan factory in Smyrna, TN, and was the first version of the Sentra we know today.
With so many years of development and refinement, it’s no wonder why the Sentra is the perfect vehicle for today’s beginning drivers. Always keen on technological innovation, Nissan has never lost sight of its ultimate goal of providing consumers with the best. Even today, they continue to provide affordable options and exemplify complete excellence.
The “Goldilocks” Method of a Perfect Powertrain
Let’s be realistic for a few moments––teenagers are known for their impulsive nature. Their interests and obsessions can change at the drop of a hat. Look no further than Bella from the Twilight films to see an exaggerated version of this idea. She became obsessed with an interesting student at her school and ended up changing the course of her life for him. While you probably don’t need to worry about your daughter running off with a vampire or werewolf, teens love excitement and occasionally act out to defy authority. Therefore, a car with a sizable engine might be the perfect temptation for your teen driver to break the speed limit.
You don’t want your child driving too fast, and they don’t want to drive too slow. Therefore, much like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you’ll need a compromise that’s “just right.” Luckily, the Sentra has that ideal “bowl of porridge” that takes the form of its powertrain. A 2.0L four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower will allow your kids to reach school or the mall on time and hinder the temptation to qualify for the Indy 500. The Sentra’s engine is equipped with Nissan’s CVT (continuously variable transmission), which has been widely regarded by many as an effective way to conserve fuel.
If your teenager wants to drive all over the state, you can rest easy knowing that the trips to the pump will be few and far between. The Sentra has long been known for its conservative fuel consumption, and the 2022 model is no different. With the Sentra, you will see about 29 MPG in the city and 39 MPG on the highway. This means that your teen won’t be bugging you for gas money as often.
Safe and Secure
Looking after the well-being of your children is the obligation of any parent. When it comes to your teenager being safe on the road, it can really make your heart race when you think about the “what ifs.” What if they don’t stop in time and hit something? What if they veer out of their lane and run off the road? While it can’t completely remove the factors that go into keeping your teen safe on the road, Nissan has always been improving the safety and driver assist features in its vehicles.
The 2022 Nissan Sentra received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. These are results that are generated by third-party companies and cover all aspects of the vehicle’s operation and how it handles a crash. This information is available to all consumers and is regulated to determine which cars are the safest on the road. With the Sentra receiving high marks from both organizations, you can feel confident your teen will be safer if an accident does occur.
The 2022 Nissan Sentra comes with a variety of driver-assist features that are put in place to keep you and your teen driver safe while they’re on the road. The standard features on the 2022 Nissan Sentra include:
- Rear Automatic Braking
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Blind Spot Warning
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Departure Warning
These features may not be able to stop your teen from getting into trouble completely, but they can help aid in preventing or minimizing a potential collision. High Beam Assist is also standard so that your teen doesn’t accidentally blind drivers because they forgot to turn the high beams off. These features can help your new driver on their commute and provide you with a peace of mind that the Sentra’s competitors simply can’t.
Kid Friendly & Cost-Effective
With a new driver in the household comes a mountain of stress, and that’s not the worry that comes from your teenager possibly staying out too late. There’s the initial cost of a new vehicle, increased insurance premiums, and routine service. Not to worry, purchasing a Sentra won’t break the bank. With a starting MSRP of only around $19,950, the Sentra is more affordable than similar offerings from Honda, Mazda, Volkswagen, and even Hyundai.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a used Sentra to save money on the initial cost and insurance premiums, or you just don’t want your driver who is still learning to start with a brand new vehicle, you’ll appreciate the Sentra’s reliability. According to Caredge.com, it costs approximately $1,431 for repairs and maintenance over a period of five years. This speaks to the impressive track record that Nissan has when it comes to manufacturing vehicles that go the extra mile for their drivers. Having such a reliable vehicle will undoubtedly show your teenager the importance of practicality over style, and they’ll be happy they won’t have to shell out a ton of money for repairs on their vehicle.
]The Road Ahead Is Ready for Your New Driver
When the baby bird finally leaves the nest, there’s naturally going to be some apprehension in wondering if you’ve taught them properly and given them the right tools to survive on their own. With the Nissan Sentra, you can rest assured that they’re driving a vehicle that’s inexpensive to insure, won’t tempt them to go past the speed limit, and above all, help keep them safe and sound on the road ahead. Today’s teenage driver is tomorrow’s responsible and defensive motorist. The experience they receive in these formative driving years makes all the difference in the world later on. With your guidance and the Nissan Sentra, your new driver will be ready to see where the road takes them, even if you might not be ready to let them go yet.
