Mark Savage

A couple years back I declared the then newly revamped Subaru Crosstrek Sport to be the ultimate version of the compact crossover, delivering AWD, solid safety gear, and a price tag even a stingy buyer could appreciate. Revision time.

Seems the United States’ 250th anniversary is a perfect time for a throwback car review, not an old car, but a new one with an old name. One that would have slotted into any brand’s lineup for the last 65 years or so, in fact, one that might have been a brand’s top-seller. Nissan’s economical, reliable and family-friendly compact sedan, Sentra, delivers what Nash, Studebaker, and later AMC built their business on.

General Motors has been in the business of rebadging and upgrading cars and trucks to suit its branding needs for the better part of 100 years. Chevrolet was always the entry-level car or truck and if one was willing to pay more there were Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Buicks, and Cadillacs for car buyers and GMC for truck buyers.