2016 Facelifted Nissan Sentra Makes Official LA Debut, Priced From $16,780

Nissan upgraded its popular Sentra compact sedan for 2016 by giving it a fresh exterior, a revised interior and better safety and connectivity features.

Back in June, Nissan’s US sales & marketing chief Fred Diaz told the press that the 2016 Sentra would be almost a new car and “incredibly freshened”, which does indeed seem to be the case. We’re looking at a sportier exterior, a more modern interior and some impressive tech such as NissanConnect Services, Intelligent Cruise Control and Blind Spot Warning to name just a few.

Scheduled to go on sale in late December, the 2016 Sentra is primed to resume its position as Nissan’s third-best selling vehicle, behind the Altima and the Rogue. Nissan has also pointed out that over 93% of Sentras sold in the past 10 years and still on the road today.

“The new Sentra launches from a position of real strength in the marketplace, especially with a starting price of $16,780,” said Diaz. “And for less than $20,000, customers can purchase a Sentra SV with Driver Assist Package, which includes the innovative active safety features customers highly desire and utilize on a daily basis – such as Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.”

Those are some pretty good prices, especially when taking into account how important it is to have advanced active safety features in today’s automotive world.

The upgraded Sentra seems to be doing very well in the looks department as well. There’s no denying the fact that it looks a bit like the new 2016 Maxima and redesigned Altima, which can only be described as a good thing. Sticking to the exterior, some of the most important features that jump out at us are the new front & rear fascias, grille, fenders, hood, boomerang-shaped headlights and taillights, as well as the 17″ alloys.

Inside, the new steering wheel is the most obvious addition, along with the new center cluster and audio display design, new console and shifter knob. The instrument panel features a new TFT LCD display with higher resolution than older LCD screens – though Sentra SV, SR and SL spec models also come with a 5″ Advanced Drive-Assist display found between the tachometer and speedometer.

Other available features range from Dual Zone air conditioning and a Bose premium audio system (8 speakers), to Nissan’s Intelligent Key keyless entry system and the RearView Monitor system.

In terms of connectivity, the 2016 Sentra is available with Nissan Connect Services powered by SiriusXM. The system comes with emergency preparedness, remote access, customizable alerts and convenience services (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately), and it allows the driver to set customized alerts such as speed, curfew and boundary notifications for family and friends.

On the road, the Sentra now makes use of a re-tuned suspension design featuring a 10% increase in spring and damper rates. Body roll and body control is also kept in check thanks to the increased stiffness.

Engine-wise, we’re looking at a 1.8-liter 4-cylinder unit, working together with an advanced Xtronic transmission (featuring next-gen D-Step Logic Control). Sentra ‘S’ grade models are also available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

The 2016 Nissan Sentra is offered in six models: S 6MT, S Xtronic, FE+ S, SV, SR and SL – though we still have to wait until a later date to learn all about prices and optional packages.