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NISSAN Sentra Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Generations: 8
First production year: 2000
Engines: Gasoline
NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

The 2024 Nissan Sentra is a refreshed and updated version of the 2019 eighth-generation Sentra. As a facelift, it brings visual changes and new technologies to adapt the model to the constantly changing market.

From its inception in 1982 until 1999, the Sentra was considered a subcompact car, but with the fifth generation, it became a compact-sized car. Throughout its history, the model had a lot of other names, depending on the market. The Japanese automaker sells the same vehicle in its domestic market under the name Sylphy.

Three grades are available for the new model: S, SV, and SR. The available options are meant to offer a vehicle that suits better various customers' needs.

The new Sentra is propelled by a fuel-efficient 2.0-liter inline-four engine inherited from the previous generation. A new addition is represented by the Xtronic CVT transmission, which reduces fuel consumption and offers a smoother driving experience.

Whether for cost-reduction purposes or a better feel of the car, the 2024 Sentra also comes equipped with a standard six-speed manual transmission for the standard S grade and the performance-oriented SR grade.

The new model is marked by a redesigned front end with a reshaped grille and a chrome trim accentuating the premium look. For a contrasting appearance, the headlights have a darker aspect.

New 16-inch alloy wheels are available for the SV and SR grades. The SR grade also includes a redesigned back end of the car that seems wider and lower and introduces a dark chrome interpretation of the front grille.

Also specific for the SR grade is the two-tone exterior that comes in various colors and is accompanied by a grade's unique interior stitching in a red-orange variant.

The interior has many upgrades from the previous generation to increase comfort and provide a modern look. The main change is represented by the D-shaped steering wheel as well as the Nissan Z-inspired round air vents.

From a technological standpoint, the 2024 Sentra presents an upgrade as it is standard equipped with a 7-inch infotainment system paired with a 4-speaker sound system but can be upgraded to an 8-inch screen and a 6-speaker audio system for the SV and SR grades.

Technology becomes a part of the driving experience for a safer ride as the new Nissan Sentra has a standard feature called Nissan Safety Shield 360. It encapsulates six interconnected systems that act as a safety net for the driver, such as Pedestrian Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and class-exclusive Intelligent Forward Collision Warning.

In conclusion, the 2024 Nissan Sentra has many features which show that building on an existing structure may be the best option when trying to extend a model's life in the market without increasing the cost of production too much.

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NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

The Nissan Sentra was first produced in 1982. After almost 40 years, throughout its evolution, Nissan Sentra has overcome many obstacles and the 2019 iteration differentiates itself from its predecessor with a more powerful and a more efficient engine.

The Nissan Sentra is built on a new platform that provides greatly improved proportions and stance and the look of the car combines a sense of sportiness with its refined style. What is new in Nissan Sentra 2019 is the SV Special Edition Package, which features 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, rear disc brakes, Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), power sliding glass moonroof with tilt feature, center room dim lamp (LED), dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors and Special Edition badge.

All 2019 Nissan Sentra models (except SR Turbo and Sentra NISMO) use a fuel-efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and is rated at 124 horsepower (130 horsepower S 6MT). Fuel economy2 is rated at 29 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on highway and 32 mpg combined with the Xtronic transmission.

The exterior of the car is modern and elegant, with chrome door handles and window accents reflecting a more refined look for this segment.

With all these things in mind, the new Nissan Sentra is a good choice for this segment.

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NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

Over its seven generations on the market, Nissan Sentra achieved over 30 million sales units and became the third best-selling vehicle from the Japanese carmaker.

The Sentra became famous, especially after the third generation, with the SE-R Coupe version that set the sub-compact class's performance standards. Later on, the sub-compact sedan size was increased and, in 1999, entered into the compact-segment. The seventh-generation was built on the same platform as the European Nissan Pulsar. It was unveiled in 2012 as a 2013 model and refreshed it in 2015 as a 2016 model year.

It was hard to tell that the 2016 Sentra featured an original design since the front fascia resembled the Lexus IS series. Key features of the 2016 Sentra exterior included a new front fascia, grille, fenders, hood, and signature boomerang-shaped headlights. A new LED low-beam headlights with LED accents were offered on the Sentra SR and Sentra SL grades. In the rear, a new fascia with redesigned boomerang-shaped taillights added a more premium appearance.

Inside, the 2016 Sentra designers took their inspiration from the 370Z. The driver benefited from a new, 6-way adjustable power seat and a TFT screen placed between the tachometer and speedometer. Due to the long wheelbase, the 2016 Sentra offered ample legroom for the rear passengers.

Nissan installed two engine options under the hood, with power ranged between 124 hp and 188 hp paired to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT.

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NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

During the world financial crisis, Nissan understood that fuel economy was essential for customers, and it transformed the Sentra lineup, offering it as a great commuter car.

The days when the Sentra, especially the SE-R version, was a highly appreciated tuners' car were gone. Those who were teenagers in those times were already grown-ups, driving their kids to schools and themselves to their jobs. So, they needed a fuel-efficient vehicle, and the Sentra was just the nameplate they recalled from their college years. While it didn't provide the same thrills as before, it was a friendlier, family-oriented vehicle.

Nissan's design department used the same V-platform from the Tiida/Versa lineup and reshaped the bodywork. Its front fascia featured a chromed grille at the front and angular headlights with a curved upper side. Its front bumper featured an A-shaped lower grille flanked by two scoops for the fog lamps. It didn't look menacing at all. Its profile was rather bland due to its proportions. Surprisingly, the rear was the most daring-looking part of the vehicle, with the taillights spread between the rear quarter panels and the trunk, with a chromed slat between them.

The cabin offered room for up to five passengers, with two bucket seats at the front separated by a tall center console, while the rear bench featured three headrests. The center tunnel obstructed the middle passenger's legroom, but there was some decent room for the outboard passengers. Nissan tried to create a complete dashboard, with two dials and an LCD for the onboard computer in the instrument cluster, while the center stack hosted the infotainment system offered as an option.

Under the hood, the 2013 Sentra got a 1.8-liter powerplant paired with a six-speed manual or a CVT and sent the power to the front wheels only.

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NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

The sixth generation of the Sentra nameplate appeared on the market in 2006 at the North American International Auto Show.

By 2006, Nissan's products were already affected by Renault's decisions, which happened with the Sentra as well. While the fifth generation was a blast to drive and a sporty compact sedan that was also budget-friendly, the sixth generation was more of an econobox. It shared its platform with the European Renault Megane sedan, which was not great, apart from the production costs.

In terms of size, it was marginally longer than a compact-sized vehicle. Still, the EPA considered it a mid-size vehicle due to its interior space. That was achieved due to the higher, rounded roofline arched and stretched to the short trunk lid. At the front, the swept-back, vertical headlights looked like there was a battle between the team that made the grille and those who penned the lamps, and the latter lost. The clear taillights resembled the tuning-inspired trend at the back but without the same sporty look.

Inside, the dashboard was designed using Nissan details, but the overall layout was also common to its European sibling. That was neither good nor bad since it was penned for practicality and, of course, for lower production costs. These ideas somehow helped the Japanese brand survive during the world's financial crisis that started in 2007. But there was no longer that sporty feeling and high-bolstered bucket seats. Just a pair of regular, cheaper ones. At the back, the flat bench was good enough for three passengers.

Under the hood, the Sentra came with a choice of two engines, with an enhanced 2.5-liter version over its predecessor, but it was also heavier.

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NISSAN Sentra SE-R photo gallery

Nissan started introduced the Sentra SE-R in 1990, and it was so successful that it continued it on the following versions, and the sixth generation of the model made no exception.

While in the '90s was a light sub-compact car, available as a coupe, by 2006, the Sentra grew up to the mid-size segment. It wasn't that agile anymore. It was considerably larger than its predecessor, but the SE-R package remained, sending the car into the sport-sedan class. Worth mentioning that it wasn't available as a two-door version.

With its aggressive front styling, the Sentra SE-R looked like it would kill all the cars in front of it. The bumper sported a wide center grille flanked by two air-scoops on the sides as the driver needed them to cool the brakes on a track day. The main black grille featured the Nissan badge in the middle while its headlights were extended over the hood.

Inside, the SE-R showed unique features such as a G-meter on the center stack, which showed the lateral acceleration. The bucket seats were considerably sportier and did a better job holding the front occupants in place during high-speed cornering maneuvers than the standard seats in the regular Sentra. But since it was built as a daily driver, Nissan installed a standard CVT on the car with the gear selector on the center stack.

The SE-R's most important part was under the bodywork. First of all, it featured disc-brakes in all corners and standard ABS. The regular SE-R got a 180 hp engine paired as standard to a CVT with an option for manual changes with seven pre-selected gear ratios. But the most thought-after version was the SE-R Spec V, which provided 200 hp from the same 2.5-liter four-banger, and it was paired to a six-speed manual.

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NISSAN Sentra SE-R photo gallery

Designed as a sporty sedan, the Sentra SE-R was a proper sleeper vehicle that offered room for four and three-digits-speeds.

While the Sentra was still a simple sedan, the mad engineers from Nissan's sports department decided to use the same platform and create a quick vehicle. They also left some room for improvement and built a four-door sedan that was an excellent tuning platform.

Compared to the 2002 model-year, the 04 SE-R lost its GT-R-inspired front grille and adopted a more subtle front fascia, with the Nissan's badge placed on a wide vertical slat in the middle of the grille. The carmaker offered two versions for the SE-R, the standard and the Spec-V. The latter sported 17" alloys. At the back, a wing-spoiler made the version less unnoticed than the rest of the Sentra range.

Inside, both versions featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel, titanium-colored plastic trims, and titanium-colored gauges with orange lettering. The carmaker installed high bolstered bucket-seats with good side support for the front occupants for the Spec-V model. In the rear, both vehicles offered adequate room for two passengers.

Under the hood, Nissan dropped a 2.5-liter inline-four fed through a variable camshaft timing system that allowed faster exhaust and less loss. Thus, the mid-range torque was better while the peak power was on the last part of the tachometer. The six-speed manual for the Spec-V allowed the car to get an under seven-second time for a zero to 60 (0-97 kph) run, while its top speed was limited to 110 mph (177 kph).

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NISSAN Sentra photo gallery

Nissan introduced the fifth generation of the Sentra in 1999 as a 2000 model year and was a clear upgrade into the compact segment.

With the Altima moved into the mid-size segment, Nissan was left uncovered on the compact-sized sedans, a spot which it filled with the revised and upgraded Sentra. As a result, it was not only a bigger vehicle but also a sportier one, with the SE-R version becoming one of the best hot sedans on the market, beating Honda Civic in terms of performance and features.

The new design dropped the slim headlights at the front, favoring taller headlamps flanked the grille. Thus, the entire front fascia became more prominent. In addition, the overall design was formed by curved panels, dropping the sharp and straight lines of the previous Sentra. At the back, the short straight deck amplified the sensation of a sporty vehicle.

Inside, Nissan introduced a new design language, with rounded shapes and a distinct look for the center console, which was a tad taller than its predecessor. The center stack sported a contrasting color to the rest of the dashboard. Since it tried to keep the car's price low, the standard upholstery was not from a top-quality fabric.

Under the hood, Nissan installed the 1.8-liter powerplant and dropped the 1.6-liter version for good. A punchier version was the 2.5-liter inline-four that provided 162 hp (165 PS), and it was installed on the SE-R version.

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