2016 Sentra: Why Do We Keep Talking About Driving Pleasure?

For those who regularly read automotive related content, you’ll notice that authors frequently talk about driving pleasure and the dynamic qualities of a car.

Many consider these factors irrelevant. Want proof? Each year, hundreds and hundreds of “boring” cars are bought by the general public! When we discuss about soporific CVT automatics around the water cooler, the conclusion is always the same: people just don’t care.

So why did I make a big deal about that fact that the new Sentra is more interesting to drive than the previous version, if ultimately it’s a factor that most people don’t really care about?

The answer is rather simple. Cars are like food. While we could settle for bland, but vitamin-packed food, such as vegetables, we prefer more elaborate, more refined meals.

Cars can be appreciated like a fine meal. If we can’t be happy with a boring car, we’ll be more than enthusiastic about slipping behind the wheel of one that’s more dynamic, that’s not really more expensive, even if we keep shopping in the same market segment.

If some people admit having difficulty appreciating the “difference,” I’ll answer that it’s a taste that can developed, just like wine.

But there’s something else

However, know that driving pleasure isn’t purely futile.

It’s hard to measure something that’s felt in our minds, but an enjoyable car is the result of a well-conceived car, that benefits from a great design, that’s precise and well calibrated.

This driving and suspension adjustment precision can also make a difference in an emergency manoeuvre. In such a situation, a stiffer suspension setting and a heavier steering feel will provide better control, and a greater chance of avoiding an accident.

Praising driving pleasure is not futile, since it means praising precision and refinement, things every car buyer has a right to enjoy.

• Read about our first drive of the 2016 Nissan Sentra
• Are you looking for a pre-owned Nissan Sentra instead?