Nissan debuts the all-new 2016 Sentra at the LA Auto Show

By Andrew Hard Published November 18, 2015

Nissan’s sedan lineup has undergone some major changes this year, with both the Altima and Maxima receiving either a significant redesign or a whole new generation for 2016. At the 2015 LA Auto Show, it was the Sentra’s turn.

The all-new 2016 model was revealed at the event, and right off the bat, you can see that the car has been given a thorough makeover. Sporting a bolder V-Motion front end and an “Energetic Flow” aesthetic philosophy in line with the Altima and Maxima, the Sentra now looks noticeably more distinct and athletic than it did before.

Underneath the new skin lies a host of new features, including a technology package that brings forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic alert to the Sentra for the first time. Also new for 2016 is Siri Eyes Free voice recognition and NissanConnect Services, which offers emergency preparedness, remote access, customizable alerts, and various convenience services including NissanConnect apps. Add in the available 5.8-inch touchscreen, and you have the most tech-packed Sentra ever.

“The 2016 Sentra brings a new level of available advanced Safety Shield Technologies and driving technologies to our high-value Sentra,” said Pierre Loing, Vice President of Nissan Product Planning. “This is also the most connected Sentra ever offered, including its new NissanConnect Services telematics system.”

In addition to the exterior, the interior of the 2016 Sentra has been revamped with a 370Z-inspired steering wheel, an optional six-way power driver’s seat, and a new LCD flat panel display on the instrument panel. The seat fabrics and center console have been upgraded as well.

The 2016 Sentra lineup only offers one engine choice: a 1.8-liter, 130-horsepower four-cylinder that is mated to an Xtronic CVT on all examples save for the S model, which offers a six-speed manual. The 2016 Altima will start at $16,780 when it hits dealerships this December.

Former Staff Writer

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

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Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles.
Buckle up, folks — this week we’re taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let’s bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities.
Even if you’re mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we’re talking about this week’s public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about the driver-assist system's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow.
When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla.
It didn’t help that the Trump administration followed Musk’s recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis.
The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk’s companies, it’s unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it.
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Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology.
For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it’s the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators.
Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon’s upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech.
For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception.
Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo, or compete effectively with Zoox?
We’ll have to wait and see.
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The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights.
While the $300,000 price tag won’t fit everyone’s budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don’t have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.