Curbside Find: 1989 Nissan Sentra – Tolerable, Basic and Well-Preserved

When Consumer Guide reviewed the late 1980s Nissan Sentra for its annual auto guides, terms like “basic transportation,” “middle-of-the-pack,” “adequate” and “tolerable” were scattered throughout the reviews.  Not quite a staggering endorsement, but enough to make this car a justifiable purchase for the Point-A-to-Point-B crowd.  When I saw these photos that a friend of mine had taken recently, my enthusiasm for this well-preserved but otherwise unexceptional Nissan probably exceeded all such excitement the car had generated in its first three decades.  Finding a car such as this in showroom-like condition is almost unimaginable; it’s worth a closer look.

The 1980s were a satisfying decade for Nissan’s North American operations.  Introducing conservatively-styled cars like the Maxima, Stanza, and its value-leader, the Sentra, Nissan shed its 1970s image of odd-looking designs and became more of a mainstream, family-type choice.  With a name intended to conjure up terms like central and sentry, Sentra became a significant – though bland – player in the small sedan market.  Within a few years of its 1983 introduction, Sentra accounted for over a third of total Nissan sales.  Nissan’s US president rightly called Sentra “our bread-and-butter car.”

A second-generation Sentra was introduced to North America in the spring of 1986, as an ’87 model.  Though billed as a crisp, modern design aimed at a younger clientele, the car looked about as generic as possible, particularly in lower trim levels.  Upon its introduction, a Nissan executive said, blandly, said that the Sentra “continues to offer durable and reliable basic transportation to buyers of average income.”

Minnie Pearl and Nissan USA Chief Executive Marvin Runyon introducing the first US-made Sentra in August 1987.

While the initial second-generation US-market Sentras were built in Japan, Nissan retooled its Smyrna, Tennessee factory in order to produce these cars domestically.  The first Tennessee-built Sentra was driven off the production line in August, 1987 by Grand Ole Opry star Minnie Pearl.  To illustrate how much people’s perceptions of imports vs. domestics changed over a short period, who in 1980 would have believed that before the decade’s end, an old-time Country musician would introduce a Japanese car built in the Mid-South among a hastily constructed farmyard scene?

Nissan ads during the late 1980s parallelled the Americana theme.  The Built for the Human Race ad concept may have seemed a bit contrived at the time, but it undoubtedly helped make inroads into previously import-resistant markets.  Plus, these ads make for some good people-spotting from a modern vantage point.

Sentras sold well.  Among its multiple body styles, Nissan USA sold about 250,000 units annually over this generation’s four model years.  Our featured Sentra is from 1989, though it takes a dedicated fan of subcompact Nissans to spot the differences.  New grille and tail lamp designs were the major visible changes for ’89 – if one can call that major.  The biggest improvement, however, was not visible.  Power from the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine increased from a measly 69hp to a respectable 90, thanks to a new cylinder head with three valves per cylinder.  With that extra power, the previously glacial Sentras became somewhat enjoyable to drive.

Design-wise, this was a decent-looking, though generic car for its day.  The airy greenhouse, thin pillars and chiseled lines blended in with other contemporary cars.  Those huge black bumpers look eye-poppingly brutal today, but in the 1980s, no one gave them a second glance.

Our featured car is a Sentra E – the middle of three trim levels for two-door Sentras.  The E added power steering, dual mirrors, tinted glass, and bodyside moldings.  And while base ’89 Sentras came only with a 4-speed manual transmission, the E upgraded that to a 5-speed, and also made a 3-speed automatic available.  A glance at the interior reveals a no-frills but pleasant environment.  These cars generally had a reputation of being well made and comfortable for the small-car class.

Sentra prices started at $6,849 in 1989 – and this particular example likely listed for about $9,000 ($23,500 today).

Sentras were good values as used cars as well.  Like most affordable small cars, Sentras tended to be run into the ground, with a low survival rate.  The last late-’80s Sentra I spotted was a rare wagon variant two years ago.  Its condition was more reflective of the few of these cars that still ply the roads.

Our featured car is much different, looking like it just left the showroom floor.  The lack of license plates, combined with what appears to be temporary registration documents on the windshield, suggest that someone recently purchased this car, perhaps from a longtime owner.  Even little details here suggest a car that’s seen only light use.  The license plate frame is from Easton Nissan – a dealership that hasn’t existed since 1990.

Even more interesting are the tires.  13-inch whitewall tires aren’t commonly seen anymore, and it doesn’t appear that “Patriot Assurance A/S” tires have been sold in over 25 years.

My friend stopped by the same location a few weeks later, and saw the Sentra parked in the same lot, but this time with new license plates.  In all likelihood, someone bought this car for daily transportation.  If so, given the car’s simplicity and durability, the new owner will probably be able to enjoy tolerable 1980s basic transportation well into the future.

Photographed in Chantilly, Virginia in August 2024.