2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R

After we bade farewell to our long-term pocket-rocket, the 2006 Honda Civic Si, our fleet needed a fresh sport-compact. Enter Nissan's fourth-generation Sentra SE-R. All new from the ground up and available in base or Spec-V trim, the SE-R, with its high-output four-cylinder and sport chassis, seemed a fitting replacement to the Adrenaline-fueled Si.

Rather than go for the racier, manual-only Spec-V, which gets an additional 23 horsepower and a taller axle ratio (4.43 versus 5.41), we opted for the standard SE-R, which comes exclusively with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission paired with a 177-horse, 2.5-liter DOHC engine. The CVT, using cones and a belt instead of gears to keep the revs in the engine's sweet spot, is meant to increase fuel economy by as much as 20 percent over a standard manual or automatic.

While the CVT can be left to "shift" on its own, our SE-R also allows drivers to run through ratios via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which must first be activated by a center-console-mounted button near the shifter. Despite the slight inconvenience of having to engage the manual mode, we're impressed by the transmission's reaction time with the paddles. "They're quicker than I thought they'd be," notes photog Brian Vance, adding that, "they almost have you fooled into thinking this might be some sort of sequential-manual or dual-clutch tranny." The CVT's consistent revs also hint that the SE-R is more sluggish than it really is. At the track, however, the SE-R zipped from 0 to 60 in a respectable 7.4 seconds.

At a base price of $20,025, our Sapphire Blue SE-R came equipped with four-wheel vented disc brakes, 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 Continentals, and a sport-tuned strut front/torsion-beam rear suspension. From the options list, we added a $750 power-sliding sunroof with tilt feature, a $250 intelligent key system (keyless entry/ignition), a $750 Rockford-Fosgate 340-watt audio system with six-CD changer, $300 XM Satellite Radio, and a $165 floor- and trunk-mat set. Final tally: $22,240.

While this little Nissan has so far proven an excellent commuter, we've yet to see just how much sport resides in this sport-compact. We're eager to better familiarize ourselves with the CVT and test the SE-R's track-inspired chassis -- not just to and from the office, but through a few canyons as well. Stay tuned.