Nissan is a renowned Japanese automobile manufacturer. In its journey of around 90 years, the Japanese auto manufacturer produced some iconic SUVs, such as the Patrol and Pathfinder. Alongside, it has a lineup of sedans as well. Among its sedan lineup, the Nissan Sentra is one of the most popular ones.
Nissan Sentra’s history spans eight generations in its journey of four decades. With the first Sentra model launched in 1982, the sedan has come a long way with intriguing features and a modern design.
Let’s rewind the journey of the Nissan Sentra and find out how it evolved over the years.
EVOLUTION OF NISSAN SENTRA
Launched as the successor to Datsun 210, the Nissan Sentra was the first front engine and front-wheel drive by the Japanese auto brand. The sedan has come a long way in its 40-year journey. It has become one of the most popular used Nissan sedans in the UAE due to its sporty look and efficient performance.
Let’s go through the detailed overview of Nissan Sentra generations and the evolution of its design and specs over the years.
FIRST-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (1982-1986)
The first generation Sentra was just the second car under the nameplate of Nissan and not the Datsun. It was introduced in four car body types: two-door coupe, four-door sedan, station wagon and hatchback. Moreover, Nissan Sentra was a successor to the Datsun 210 with more features and specifications.
The first-generation Nissan Sentra models featured a 1.5-litre engine producing 47 horsepower. However, the 1.6-litre engine boasting 69 hp replaced the 1.5-litre one in 1985. The engine was paired with a four or five-speed manual and three-speed automatic transmission. Furthermore, its lightweight improved fuel efficiency.
In the 1985 upgrade, Nissan Sentra received a new front grille design. A new sporty trim, SE, was introduced in Nissan Sentra’s history.
SECOND-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (1987-1990)
Produced on Nissan’s B12 platform, the second-generation Sentra debuted in 1987. Continuing the same car body styles, Nissan added a 3-door hatchback to the lineup. Moreover, the station wagon came equipped with the four-wheel drive option.
This Nissan Sentra generation continued the same 1.6-litre engine paired with five-speed manual transmission generating 69 hp. On the interior and exterior, Nissan made subtle changes. For instance, it featured a refreshed car front grille with a rectangular headlight and the longer wheelbase improved the legroom for rear seat passengers.
THIRD-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (1991-1994)
The third generation of Nissan Sentra was a complete turnaround. It came in five trims: Base, E, XE, SE and GXE.
Under the hood, it featured the same 1.6-litre engine but with more power, 110 hp. Station wagon and hatchback body styles were discontinued. Two-door coupe and four-door sedan came with a refreshed design.
The front fascia included a narrow rectangular front grille, and the headlights were wider than the predecessors. Besides, other new features included power locks, mirrors and windows, alongside optional sunroof and alloy wheels.
A year later, the coupe version got a new nameplate, Nissan NX. Besides, Sentra came with a Value option that included a stereo system, air conditioner and cruise control.
In 1993, the sedan received a facelift. It featured the driver’s airbag for the first time in the history of Nissan Sentra. Plus, another sports trim, Sentra SE-R, boasted more power than the predecessors. That said, its 2.0-litre engine produced 140 hp.
FOURTH-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (1995-1999)
The fourth generation Nissan Sentra came in sedan body style only. Continuing the same 1.6-litre engine, it boasted 115 hp in this generation, five hp more than the third-generation Sentra. The engine was mated with a five-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
SE and SE-R models came with a 2.0-litre engine producing 140 hp. Moreover, two new trims, GLE and SE Limited, were added to the lineup.
The exterior was quite similar to the last generation with a subtle change in the car’s front grille. In 1998, the SE sedan model received performance parts, such as 14-inch wheels and the SE-R came with 15-inch alloy rims.
FIFTH-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (2000-2006)
Nissan Sentra’s fifth generation made its way in 2000 as a compact sedan. That said, it was more sporty and sleeker and provided more efficient performance than its predecessors.
Under the hood, a new 1.8-litre engine mated with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission was installed. It produced 125 hp. Not only that, the SE-R model produced 165 hp with the 2.5-litre engine, whereas the new addition to the Nissan Sentra lineup, the SE-R Spec V model, generated 175 hp.
The new Nissan Sentra generation came with a redesigned headlight. New taller and slightly rounded headlights replaced the rectangular ones. The front fascia can be easily distinguished by the rounded design instead of the rectangular one.
In the interior, the centre console was taller than its predecessors. Moreover, the SE-R Spec V model in the Nissan Sentra’s history was a great addition. It included a leather-wrapped steering wheel and the seats were inspired by Nissan’s iconic model, Skyline.
SIXTH-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (2007-2012)
In 2007, the sixth-generation Nissan Sentra debuted with more interior capacity than its predecessors. It featured a 6-inch longer wheelbase than the previous Nissan Sentra models. Additionally, it was higher and provided better headroom due to the rounded rooflines.
On the exterior, it was a complete redesign. The headlights were curved. Plus, a new grille design with Nissan’s logo in the centre gave it a distinctive look.
Under the hood, the standard 2.0-litre engine mated with a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT) generated 140 hp. Meanwhile, sporty and performance-oriented models, SE-R and Spec V came with 2.5-litre engines paired with CVT boasting 177 and 200 hp, respectively.
SEVENTH-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (2013-2019)
Built on Nissan’s V platform, the new Sentra models emerged with a modern and completely redesigned look. Under the hood, the seventh generation Nissan Sentra came with a 1.8-litre engine producing 130 hp. The compact sedan fulfilled the demands of commuters with its fuel efficiency.
New trims were introduced in the Nissan Sentra’s history. The trim lineup included S, SV, SR, SR Turbo, SL and NISMO. Speaking of that, SR Turbo and NISMO debuted in 2017. The SR Turbo featured a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing 188 hp.
This Nissan Sentra generation received transmission tuning, new suspension and a steering system to improve driving performance and experience. To further enhance the driving experience, the 2014 onwards Nissan Sentra models featured Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Additionally, the sedan was more user-friendly than its predecessors.
By the end of Nissan Sentra’s 7th generation, the sedan pulled off 30 million sales in its journey of around 4 decades. It became one of the best-selling car models by a Japanese car maker.
EIGHTH-GENERATION NISSAN SENTRA (2020-Present)
The eight-generation Nissan Sentra model came with a complete redesign. It featured sleek headlights and the iconic V-shaped front grille.
Marking almost a four-decade journey, the latest Nissan Sentra generation was more powerful, efficient and packed with modern safety features. Powered by a 2.0-litre engine paired with CVT, it produced 149 hp. Besides, the fuel economy is rated as one of the best for the compact sedan segment.
Modern exterior complemented by a tech-packed interior and powered moonroof enhances the driving experience. Besides, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard on all 2021 onwards Sentra models.
That wraps up the complete Nissan Sentra history. The sedan has proved to be a successful car model and also ranks among the top used sedans in the dubizzle’s 2022 annual non-luxury pre-owned car market report. If you are looking for a vehicle with modern features and a sleeker exterior look, the used Nissan Sentras for sale in the UAE can prove to be a great option.
You can also explore other non-luxury and luxury used cars for sale in the UAE and buy the one that matches your requirements.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s cars blog to learn more about popular car makes and their iconic models.
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