The Nissan Sentra is a compact car made by automaker Nissan Motors and is generally a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny. The name “Sentra” is not used in Japan, where it is currently known as Bluebird Sylphy.

In the United States, the Nissan Sentra currently serves as Nissan’s compact car and the prices range from $15,000 for a base model to $21,000 for a loaded top-of-the-line Sentra. While previous Sentras were subcompact cars, the Sentra has grown over the years, and now the Nissan Versa has replaced the Sentra in the entry-level area, although it is rated by the US EPA as a mid-size car due to its interior volume.

2008 Scion tC

Scion tC is a compact car introduced by Japanese automaker Toyota in 2004 as a concept car under its recently introduced Scion brand name. Toyota later debuted the production tC at the 2004 NAIAS with sales beginning in June 2004 as a 2005 model year. The Scion tC is generally considered Toyota’s successor to the Celica whose production ended with the 2006 model year. The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA, xB, and xD, because the name xC has already been taken by Volvo for its XC60, XC70 and XC90 models. According to Scion, tC stands for “Touring Coupe.”

The Scion tC was designed to appeal to the Generation Y market. Toyota hoped to do so by making standard features numerous and optional features extremely easy to add. The Scion tC shares its chassis with the Avensis which is sold in the European market, with the Camry’s 2.4 L 2AZ-FE I4 engine. Its low price (base MSRP of US$17,000 for the 2008 model) is a major feature, as well as the pure pricing marketing style that Toyota has adopted.

Major standard equipment included a power windows, cruise control, air conditioning, keyless entry, mirror-mounted turn signal lights, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, a 160-watt Pioneer sound system with CD player, 17″ alloy wheels and a panoramic moonroof.

VW Golf Mk6

Volkswagen based the latest Golf Mk6 on the existing PQ35 platform from the Golf Mk5. This vehicle was debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

The Mk6 Golf was designed by Volkswagen’s chief designer Walter de’Silva, with design cues inspired from the previous generations of the Golf, particularly of that from the Mk1 and the Mk4. The design is said to be more aerodynamic, helping fuel efficiency, and is quieter than its predecessor. Following criticism of the downgraded interior trim quality of the Mk5 Golf in comparison to the Mk4, Volkswagen opted to overhaul the interior to match the quality with the Mk4 Golf, while maintaining the same user friendliness from the Mk5. The car will also be cheaper to build than its predecessor; Volkswagen claims that it will be able to pass on these savings to the customer as a result.

Turbocharged Direct Injection diesel engines which use the common rail direct injection will replace the longstanding Pumpe Düse (PD) Unit Injector system. New on the Golf, is the optional Volkswagen Adaptive Chassis Control, which will allow the driver to select between ‘normal’, ‘comfort’ and ‘sports’ modes, which will vary the suspension, steering and accelerator behaviour accordingly.

The Mk6 Golf was introduced for sale in Europe in January 2009.

VW Golf Mk5

In Germany, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 was succeeded by the Golf Mk5 in 2003 in Europe. This model did not reach the North American markets until model year 2006, where it was marketed as the Rabbit. The North American base model is powered by a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine. A GTI version is powered by a turbocharged version of the 2.0 FSI engine, producing 200PS.

Volkswagen also introduced the “Fast”, a marketing ploy for the North American market, dedicated to the “fast” that lives inside every driver. Drivers who purchase new GTI MKVs from a dealership are shipped a model of said Fast, which employs GTI-like features, and appears as a small animal. The GTI version is the only one on sale in Mexico.

The saloon/sedan version, again called Volkswagen Jetta in most markets and built exclusively in Mexico (In Mexico this car is named Bora, in Europe it is now again named Jetta, as well), followed in 2004, a new Golf Variant in 2006. The Jetta however, is not the only variant, as the notchback version of the GTI can also be had in the GLI version. The front ends of the car are the same, with the only difference being that the GLI is a sedan, while the GTI is a “hot hatch”.

In a comparison test conducted by Car and Driver Magazine, the Volkswagen Rabbit S was named the winner among eight small cars. While it was praised for its excellent driving position, fine instruments, and strong engine, it was criticized for having high levels of road noise, uncomfortable seats, and poor fuel economy. Though, the final verdict stated, “This one is all about driving pleasure, so it wins.” The Rabbit also placed first in their last comparison in December 2006.

The 5-door hatchback Tiida and 4-door sedan Tiida Latio have been enhanced with some key changes including new exterior features and interior designs, retuned power steering, powertrain enhancements and a new Plus navi HDD package.

2007 Nissan Latio 1.8 Hatchback

The exterior features a new grille, front bumper, headlamps, taillights, rear bumper and new wheel covers. The interior sports a more modern look as well as better visibility and usability, new instrument cluster design and metallic-finish dash panels.

Under the hood sits a 1.5 liter 4-cylinder or 1.8 liter engine, of which the larger can be coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. There are also two optional dealer packages available, namely the new Nismo S-tune Aero Package and Nismo Performance Package which really put some ‘umph’ into the hatch or sedan

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 (US)

Introduced in 2009 model year in sedan form, it uses a smaller, 1.6-liter engine. Base transmission is a 5-speed manual; a 4-speed automatic is optional. The Versa 1.6 can be distinguished from 1.8 models by its use of some gray instead of body-colored trim.

When it was introduced in fall 2008, the Versa’s base price of $9,900 USD made it the least expensive new car available in the United States, but a price cut to the Hyundai Accent usurped that distinction. The Versa 1.6′s $12,498 Canadian base price also undercut its competitors at launch.

The 1.6 sedan replaced the 1.8 sedan in Canadian market, but both versions are still offered in the United States. In the U.S., 1.6 can be distinguished from 1.8 models by its use of some gray instead of body-colored trim.

Nissan Tiida

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Versa (United States & Canada) Nissan Latio (Singapore, Indonesia & Malaysia) Nissan Tiida (Japan, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Central America, China, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Russia & Thailand) Nissan Tiida Latio (Japan) Dodge Trazo
Production	2004–present
Assembly	Oppama, Japan Aguascalientes, Mexico Civac, Mexico Serendah, Malaysia Guangzhou, China
Predecessor	Nissan Pulsar Nissan Sunny Nissan Almera
Class	compact car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Nissan B platform
Engine(s)	1.8 L I4 gasoline 1.6 L I4 gasoline 1.5 L I4 gasoline 1.5 L I4 diesel
Transmission(s)	6-speed manual 4-speed automatic CVT
Wheelbase	2,600 mm (102.4 in)
Length	Hatchback: 4,295 mm (169.1 in) Sedan: 4,470 mm (176.0 in)
Width	1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height	1,535 mm (60.4 in)
Curb weight	1,125–1,182 kg (2,480–2,610 lb)
Related	Dacia Sandero Nissan Almera Nissan Cube Nissan Micra Renault Clio Nissan Note Renault Modus Renault Twingo

The Nissan Tiida is a compact car and midsize car according to United States Environmental Protection Agency, because of its large interior space. It is classified by Japanese automaker Nissan –as well as most buyers and sellers worldwide –as a Subcompact Car because of exterior size. The Tiida replaces both the long-running Pulsar and the Sunny models by September 30, 2004. Available as the Tiida in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Ireland, Japan, Middle East, Mauritius, Mexico, Panama, South Africa, former eastern bloc countries, China and Sri Lanka, it is also known in export markets as the Nissan Versa (United States and Canada) and Nissan Latio (Southeast Asia). The Tiida is based on the new global Nissan B platform with the wheelbase stretched. It is available in hatchback and sedan form.

The Tiida’s styling was previewed with the Nissan C-Note show car a year before its launch. The models are characterized by being quite tall, a trend that resurfaced in the late 1990s. The range consists of a five-door hatchback and a four-door sedan called the Nissan Tiida Latio. The Tiida became available in key eastern European markets from June 2007 and in Germany in January 2008, but Ireland was the first country in western Europe to receive the car, due to the previous popularity there of the earlier Almera sedan, and greater general popularity in Ireland of smaller sedans compared to some other European markets.

Volkswagen Golf

Manufacturer	Volkswagen, Karmann (for convertibles)
Also called	Rabbit, Caribe
Production	1974–present
Predecessor	Volkswagen Beetle
Class	Small family car Subcompact (1974-1984) Compact (1985-present)
Platform	Volkswagen Group A platform series
Related	Volkswagen Jetta, VW Scirocco

The Volkswagen Golf is a compact car / small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates — prominently as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1).

The front-wheel drive Golf was Volkswagen’s first successful replacement for the air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle. Historically, it is Volkswagen’s best-selling model and the world’s third best-selling model, with more than 25 million built by 2007.

Most production of the Golf was initially in the 3-door hatchback style. Other variants include a 5-door hatchback, estate/wagon (Variant, from 1993), convertible (Cabriolet and Cabrio, 1979-2002), and a Golf-derived notchback saloon/sedan, variously called Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Vento or Volkswagen Bora (from 1979). The cars have filled many market segments, from basic personal cars, to high-performance hot hatches.

The G11 Bluebird Sylphy uses Nissan’s FF-S platform. This car was launched at the Tokyo Motor Show 2005.

The Nissan Bluebird Sylphy uses the same engine as the Nissan Tiida/Versa/Latio, which is the HR15DE 1.5 L engine and a whole new MR20DE 2.0 L engine. The 2.0 L version of Nissan Bluebird Sylphy uses Nissan’s X-Continuously Variable Transmission (X-CVT). This combination results in smooth and powerful acceleration combined with the fuel economy of a 1.8 L engine.

The Sylphy has the most spacious interior space and the biggest boot (504 L) in its class. The rear legroom is almost as big as the Nissan Teana and Toyota Camry.

Starting from 2008, the Bluebird Sylphy is also available for the export market, as the Nissan Sylphy. The Sylphy is sold in China, and some South East Asian countries.