For 2016, its competitors are rolling out all-new next generation compact sedans, will the 2016 Nissan Sentra SL be able to put up a fight against the offerings of Honda, Hyundai and others? The time-tested Nissan Sentra has been around since 1982, and now on the third year of its seventh generation.
Can the 2016 Nissan Sentra Compete Well With its Rivals?
Released in 2013, the original 7th-generation Sentra had a rather boring styling; it’s reassuring to see that for 2016, the 2016 Nissan Sentra SL is getting the same aggressive aesthetics as its bigger “siblings”. Retaining the upright greenhouse but now featuring a new hood, front fenders and a new grill which complements the C pillars; this newer Sentra is bland no more. Under the bonnet is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder mated to a front-wheel drive CVT.
Stepping inside the cabin and it’s like one of those old cartoons where you see a small Indian tepee but step inside and it’s like a mansion. That’s how it’s like with the 2016 Sentra; it’s classified as compact sedan but with the volume of a midsize. The updated cockpit has a driver-oriented position reminiscent of Nissan’s sporting heritage. The SL being the top of the line model features 4 wheel discs, dual zone climate control, navigation, backup camera, a Bose sound system, and NissanConnect infotainment system. These features are already common in most compact sedans for years and Nissan just recently stepped up their interior offerings. Surprisingly, Nissan is one of the first manufacturers to offer intelligent cruise control, collision-mitigation auto braking, and a blind spot monitor for a compact sedan as these features are more common in higher class vehicles.
Meant as a practical car, the Nissan Sentra SL does not disappoint. The engine while taking 10 seconds to reach 60mph on the CVT has excellent fuel economy at 40mpg. The cabin offers unmatched headroom versus the competitor’s vehicles. Not only is headroom excellent, the back seat also offers generous legroom which is very uncommon on compacts. Not only that, but trunk space is also spacious for cargo.
There’s not much to complain about the bad points of the Sentra. CVT, economy, and fast absolutely do not belong to the same sentence. The only bad thing about the 2016 Sentra is that Nissan is one step behind the tech offerings of the competition while this may not be a deal breaker given how practical the car is, it may sway some buyers looking for a vehicle with better tech packages.
With Nissan knowing their priorities, the 2016 Sentra SL is a vehicle above its class in terms of its primary use, as a family car. While competitors may offer better tech on the inside, the Sentra can truly excel in practicality as a daily driver.