2016 Nissan Sentra

The 2016 model year Nissan Sentra starts at $18,625, offering an impressive equipment list and a good deal of usability. The Nissan Sentra faces stiff competition from rivals such as the Hyundai Elantra and the Toyota Corolla. In this review of the 2016 Nissan Sentra, we walk you through the good and the bad, and help you decide whether you should take one home. 

Nissan offers the 2016 model year Sentra in four different trims, in varying features and equipment list. The base Sentra S starts at an affordable $18,625, and can go all the way up to $23,035 for the Sentra SL trim. Nissan also offers a wide range of trims and features with the Sentra, and one can pick a few based on requirement and utility. The following table highlights the key trims and features offered with the 2016 Nissan Sentra. 

We Recommend

Since the 2016 Nissan Sentra is a budget sedan, our recommendation certainly considers not going over the budget. That being said, we recommend going for the Sentra SR trim, which packs a whole bunch of comfort and tech features, along with a long equipment list- all for just $2,500 over the base Sentra S. If you’re planning on getting a 2016 Sentra, do go for the SR trim.

Nissan offers the 2016 model year Sentra with a standard 1.8L Inline-4 engine, mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. The naturally aspirated engine makes a healthy 130 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque, which might not seem like much, but feels sufficient for comfortable city drives and fairly powerful highway trips. 

The gearbox, however, feels extremely well-gated and fun to play with. Gear ratios are well positioned, which allows for plenty of time for changing gears. The top gear feels tall enough for comfortable highway drives. We do however feel that Nissan should have allowed for the option of upgrading to a CVT on the base trim, which would have added a great degree of comfort to daily driving. 

Comparing the competition, the Hyundai Elantra offers the most power and torque. On the other hand, the Nissan Sentra and the Toyota Corolla end up on the slightly lower side. The Elantra also manages to be the quickest in terms of 0 to 60 and quarter-mile times. Unsurprisingly enough, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra also offers the highest top speed among the three cars in the lot. 

The 2016 model year Nissan Sentra offers pretty decent fuel economy for its class, and stands at par with some of the best-performing rivals in this regard. The 2016 Nissan Sentra returns 27 MPG in the city, and 36 MPG on highways, for an impressive combined EPA rating of 30 MPG. Additionally, the 2016 model year NIssan Sentra comes with a sizable 13.2-gallon fuel tank, which enables it a range of up to 475 miles on the highway. 

Comparing the competition, the 2016 Nissan Sentra fares pretty well in the fuel economy department. The best in the lot is the Toyota Corolla, which manages slightly higher city and highway fuel efficiency numbers. The Toyota Corolla also manages to offer higher driving range, thanks to the equally-sized fuel tank as that of the Nissan Sentra. 

The 2016 Nissan Sentra offers a plain and functional cabin, with little luxuries on offer. However, the Sentra’s cabin feels sufficiently comfortable and highly utilitarian. The overall design is simple, elegant and highly inviting. On the lower trims, you get high quality cloth seating surfaces, while fancier trims get you leather seats with power adjustment. 

The cabin is highly ergonomic and utilitarian, with all the buttons and controls comfortably within the reach of the driver. The center console is installed at a height, which makes accessing buttons and controls easier. There’s also a good amount of practicality in terms of cup holders, a large glove compartment and a folding central armrest. 

Comparing the competition, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra offers the most headroom, shoulder space as well as the most legroom at the front row. At the back, the Toyota Corolla offers as much headroom and shoulder space as the Elantra, but offers significantly more legroom. However, the overall winner in the passenger room category goes to the 2016 Hyundai Elantra. The Nissan Sentra, however, offers the highest cargo space. Some key interior features offered with the 2016 Nissan Sentra include:

• Dual-Zone Climate Control. 
• Cloth/Leather Upholstery. 
• Power-Adjustable Seats. 
• Front Cup Holders. 
• Locking Glove Box. 
• Hybrid Gauge Cluster. 

2016 Nissan Sentra Infotainment System

The 2016 Nissan Sentra gets a fresh set of infotainment features after the update. The 2016 model year Sentra features a 5.8-inch infotainment screen, which hosts a wide variety of apps and features to browse. There’s a fairly basic but efficient 6-Speaker sound system on offer, and you get to play your favorite playlists via Bluetooth Audio Streaming. The Nissan Sentra also supports USB and Aux inputs, which gives you a good deal of flexibility. Nissan also offers you additional features such as Siri Hands Free support and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Some highlight infotainment features offered with the 2016 Nissan Sentra include:

• 5.8-inch Infotainment Screen. 
• 6-Speaker Sound System.
• Siri Eyes Free Voice Recognition.
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio. 
• Real-Time Traffic Display and Navigation.
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming.
• NissanConnect Internet Service.

The Nissan Sentra has received a significant update for the 2016 model year, which includes a freshened-up exterior. The front fascia now features a more modern design, with angular headlamps showcasing intricate LED arrangements. The chrome used in the front grille remains untouched, which has lately been Nissan’s favourite design element on their products. 

The rear of the sedan also sees an aesthetic update, now featuring sharper folds and bends, along with redesigned tail lights. The overall appearance has a much sportier and sleek design now, as opposed to the rather ungainly and puffy aesthetic the previous model year showcased. 

All the three sedans in the competition weigh nearly the same, with the Hyundai Elantra boasting the least weight. The 2016 Toyota Corolla measures the longest, while sharing the spot with the Hyundai Elantra in terms of width. The Nissan Sentra stands the tallest among the competition, while also offering the most ground clearance. All three sedans come with the same wheelbase, measuring 106.3 inches. Some key exterior features offered with the 2016 Nissan Sentra include:

•  Chrome Grille Surrounds. 
• 17-inch Machined Alloy Wheels. 
• Integrated Fog Lights.
• Chrome Door Handles. 
• Panoramic Sunroof. 
• All-Weather Tires.
• Side Mirror Indicators.

There’s no doubt that Nissan makes extremely safe vehicles for daily usage, and the 2016 Nissan Sentra is certainly no exception. While the NHTSA hasn’t officially crash tested the 2016 model year Sentra, the IIHS has acknowledged it with an impressive “Good” score under most categories. The 2016 Nissan Sentra comes packed with a wide range of active and passive safety features, which play an important role in enhancing the sedan’s occupant protection merit. Som key safety features offered with the 2016 Nissan Sentra include:

• ABS and ESP. 
• Traction Control. 
• Dual-Stage Airbags. 
• Blind Spot Monitoring. 
• Back-Up Camera. 
• Tire Pressure Monitoring. 
• LATCH Anchors. 
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. 

The 2016 Nissan Sentra offers a compelling package of practicality and comfort. With a low starting price, the Nissan Sentra offers a good deal of tech and convenience features to get you going for all your daily grinds. The 1.8L engine is no performer, but gets the job done with astounding reliability. There’s a lot of cargo space and plenty of interior functionality. Fuel efficiency is a no-complainer. The 2016 Nissan Sentra offers everything you’d need from a daily driver, with minimum things to complain about at a pocket-friendly budget.