1998 Nissan Sentra More sports appeal for Nissan's economy sedan. By Mitch McCullough, Editor-in-Chief, New Car Test Drive .com

There's nothing like adding cubic centimeters to improve performance. Nissan has expanded its Sentra lineup this year with a sporty new SE model that comes with a 2.0-liter engine borrowed from the company's 200SX SE-R sport coupe.

The other four models in the Sentra line are powered by a fuel-efficient 1.6-liter engine. These are affordable sedans that are reliable and economical to operate. They boast roomy, attractive and well-appointed interiors. They are quiet and deliver a nice, smooth ride quality. They are fun to drive with better-than-average handling, decent acceleration and good braking performance. In short, the Nissan Sentra does everything well.

To this happy picture, the 1998 Nissan Sentra SE adds the more powerful engine, 15-inch wheels and tires, rear disc brakes, a front anti-roll bar, a stylish body-color front air dam and rear spoiler, lower body side sill extensions, fog lamps and Nissan's signature white-on-black tachometer and speedometer. All of this hardware makes the Sentra SE even more fun to drive.