- Nissan’s popular compact sedan continues to stand out with “class-above” style, premium design qualities and enhanced driving experience
- New Sentra SR Turbo added to lineup for 2017 model year
The Nissan Sentra, the company’s third best-selling vehicle behind Altima and Rogue, has been a mainstay in the compact sedan segment for 35 years and seven generations. Following a consistent stream of product enhancements year after year – along with steadily increasing sales – Sentra extends its sporty SR model in 2017 with the addition of a new SR Turbo. The expansion of the lineup for 2017 follows revisions for the 2016 model year to the Sentra exterior and interior, and the addition of an expanded suite of available safety and driving aid technologies.
The new SR Turbo features an advanced 1.6-liter Direct Injection Gasoline (DIGTM) Turbo 16-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy inline 4-cylinder engine rated at 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. It is available with both 6-speed manual and uniquely tuned Xtronic transmissions. The SR Turbo also offers upgraded suspension, steering and front brakes. Full information on the 2017 Sentra SR Turbo is available at NissanNews.com.
Along with the new SR Turbo, the 2017 Sentra is offered in five models: S 6MT, S Xtronic, SV, SR and SL grades. Enhancements to all 2017 Sentra grades include improved interior quietness due to increased front and rear window glass thickness, and nearly double the storage capacity in the front center console.
A Nissan “Family” Exterior
The 2017 Sentra continues the extensive exterior redesign from one year ago, bringing its appearance closer in look and feel to its more upscale showroom siblings. All three Nissan sedans – Maxima, Altima and Sentra – reflect Nissan’s new design language first introduced on the dramatic Nissan Murano crossover. The Sentra exterior combines a sense of sportiness with its refined style and proportions.
Key features of the Sentra exterior include a bold front fascia, grille, fenders, hood and signature boomerang-shaped headlights. LED low-beam headlights with LED signature accents are offered on Sentra SR and Sentra SL grades. In the rear, the boomerang-shaped taillights add a more premium appearance.
The Sentra exterior design is elegant, modern and refined, reflecting a “professional” character targeted at upwardly bound buyers who aspire to drive something more upscale than other designs in the segment. Exterior features include chrome door handles and chrome window accents, and available heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals. The coefficient of drag is 0.29 for S, SV and SR grades and 0.30 for the SL trim level.
The Sentra SR offers a sportier appearance, with unique design 17-inch forked 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels, lower body side sill extensions, rear spoiler with integrated LED brake light, fog lights and chrome exhaust tip finisher.
Nine colors are available – Red Alert, Brilliant Silver, Super Black, Aspen White (premium charge), Gun Metallic, Graphite Blue, Cayenne Red, Deep Blue Pearl and Fresh Powder.
A Roomy, Refined Interior Environment
Inside, the 2017 Sentra features one of the largest interiors in class, with 111.0 cubic feet of total interior volume. Helping make this possible is the long wheelbase (106.3 inches), which helps provide both ample rear seat legroom of 37.4 inches and large trunk capacity of 15.1 cubic feet. The rear seat is a standard 60/40-split fold-down design, adding versatility to the large trunk space.
The intuitive interior layout emphasizes driver control and exceptional seat comfort for all occupants. The high-quality interior design features materials not usually found in compact vehicles, including soft-touch instrument panel and door armrests and available leather-appointed seating.
Standard features include a 6-way manual driver’s seat, 4-way manual front passenger’s seat, front and rear door pockets, front center console with padded armrest and cupholders, rear seat armrest with cupholders, air conditioning with in-cabin microfilter and available Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) system.
Other features include tilt and telescopic steering column, power windows with driver’s one-touch auto up/down with auto reverse, power door locks with auto-locking feature, remote keyless entry, Nissan Intelligent Key® keyless entry and push button ignition system and RearView Monitor.
The standard Sentra audio system is an AM/FM/CD system with four speakers and USB connection for iPod® and other compatible devices. Other available audio systems include a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD system with 5.0-inch color display and a Bose® Premium audio system with eight speakers. Also available is SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), while Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System is standard on all grades.
Sentra SV, SR and SL grades include a 5.0-inch Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display (ADAD) located between the tachometer and speedometer. These grades also include Siri Eyes Free® Voice Recognition as standard equipment.
Advanced Connectivity and Safety Shield Technologies
The 2017 Sentra offers advanced technology features that help owners stay connected. Standard on Sentra SL and available on SV and SR grades is NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps, featuring a 5.8-inch color touch-screen, NissanConnect Mobile Apps, SiriusXM® Traffic, SiriusXM® Travel Link™ with fuel prices, weather, movie listing, sports scores and stock prices (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), and Nissan Voice Recognition for audio and navigation.
Also available is NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM®. It offers emergency preparedness, remote access, customizable alerts and convenience services (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately). The system allows the driver to set customized alerts for family and friends – such as speed, curfew and boundary notifications. It is available on Sentra SR and SL grades as part of the Premium Technology Packages.
A number of Nissan’s advanced Safety Shield Technologies are available for the 2017 model year – Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA).
In addition, Sentra’s list of standard safety and security features include the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors; front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags; roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection; 3-point front and rear seatbelts, front seat belts with pre-tensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors; and LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren).
Sentra also offers child safety rear door locks; Zone Body construction featuring front and rear crumple zones and occupant zone; Nissan Immobilizer system and anti-theft alarm system; and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with position monitoring and available Easy Fill Tire Alert system.
Fuel-Efficient 1.8-liter Engine and Advanced Xtronic Transmission
All 2017 Sentra models (except SR Turbo) utilize a fuel-efficient 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an advanced Xtronic transmission with sub-planetary gear. A 6-speed manual transmission is also available with the Sentra S grade.
The engine offers a longer stroke than typical engines in its class, resulting in improved combustion speed and efficiency. It is equipped with a twin Continuously Variable Timing Control (CVTC) system that modulates both the intake and exhaust valve opening time (similar to that used on the flagship Nissan Maxima). In addition, the valve springs are shaped similar to a beehive, with a smaller diameter towards the top – reducing inertial weight, improving valvetrain efficiency and smoothing engine operation. The engine is rated at 124 horsepower (130 horsepower S 6MT) and 125 lb-ft of torque (128 lb-ft S 6MT).
The Xtronic transmission offers a wide gear ratio range of 7.3:1 through use of a sub-planetary gear and smaller pulleys, resulting in high-speed fuel efficiency and responsive acceleration. The Xtronic’s acceleration feel is enhanced with a D-mode step shift program that simulates shifts, giving a more natural acceleration feeling without holding a high rpm constant, letting rpms build as speed builds. The D-Step Logic Control helps provide enhanced drivability with a stable, natural and crisp shift feel.
Fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city, 37 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined with the Xtronic transmission. The Sentra S with 6-speed manual transmission is rated at 27 mpg city, 35 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined.
The 2017 Sentra also delivers responsive handling through an independent strut front suspension with stabilizer bar and torsion beam rear suspension with integrated stabilizer bar. The suspension also utilizes high frequency-response shock absorbers.
Sentra also features standard Active Understeer Control system (not available on S 6MT), similar to that utilized on Altima. The AUC system utilizes intelligent control logic and high-response brake actuators to lightly brake the inside front wheels during cornering (as required) to increase yaw-moment. Using the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)/Traction Control System (TCS) as its base, Active Understeer Control is almost undetectable when it operates.
Vehicle speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS) and power-assisted vented front disc/rear drum braking system are standard, with 4-wheel disc brakes available on SR and SL grades.
Available wheels and tire combinations include 16-inch steel wheels with full covers or 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 205/55R16 size all-season tires for S and SV grades, along with 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 205/50R17 all-season tires for SR and SL.
A Range of Well-Equipped Models
The 2017 Nissan Sentra is offered in five models: S 6MT, S Xtronic, SV, SR and SL. Along with the high-value list of standard equipment on Sentra S, the popular SV grade content features standard Siri Eyes Free®, meter display with chrome accents and Advanced Drive-Assist™ Display (ADAD) with 5.0-inch display.
Sentra SV also includes Nissan Intelligent Key®, RearView Monitor, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (SiriusXM® subscription required, sold separately), sliding front armrest, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth®, Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and Easy-Fill Tire Alert.
The sporty Sentra SR adds LED low beam projector headlights with LED accents, lower body side sill extensions, rear spoiler with integrated LED brake light, fog lights, chrome exhaust finisher, unique design 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 205/50R17 all-season tires, rear disc brakes, sport interior trim, premium sport cloth seats, driver’s seatback pocket, heated front seats, heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals and SR badge.
The top-of-the-line Sentra SL adds standard leather-appointed seats, 6-way power driver’s seat with 2-way power lumbar support, heated front seats, driver’s seatback pocket, Piano Black door/console trim, auto-dimming mirror with HomeLink® Universal Transceiver and Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control.
Additional Sentra SL equipment includes NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps, Blind Spot Warning (BSW), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), heated outside mirrors with LED turn signals, LED low beam projector headlights with LED accents, fog lights, disc brakes, 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 205/50R17 all-season tires and SL badge.
A number of option packages are available, including a new Premium Technology Package for SR and SL grades. Other available packages are the Style Package (S and SV), Driver’s Assist Package (SV and SR) and All Weather Package (SV).
The 2017 Sentra is assembled in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
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