Nissan Restyles Sentra

The Sentra, Nissan's No. 3-selling nameplate after the Altima midsize sedan and the Rogue compact crossover, has become a key part of the brand's U.S. growth plan.

Crossovers such as the Rogue have been driving growth in the compact segment. But Ken Kcomt, Nissan's director of product planning for passenger cars and sports cars, says that sedans will continue to be an enormous part of compact activity.

"The Sentra is a very important product for us," he said. "The compact segment is growing as a whole, and the Sentra is growing within it. We've made changes to enhance the quality impression it makes."

Nissan unveiled the 2016 Sentra last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The restyling gives the Sentra the same family looks as Nissan's Maxima large sedan and Murano midsize crossover. That required a redesigned grille and fascia, a new hood and fenders, and the introduction of Nissan's now-signature boomerang headlights and taillights.

The restyling introduces the upscale touch of chrome door handles and chrome window accents on a nameplate that once was Nissan's economical entry car.

The Sentra gets a new suspension, including new springs, shocks, brakes and tires, and a re-engineered steering system. The redrawn Sentra also receives an updated interior, with a new-generation liquid crystal display flat-panel display screen and more advanced navigation and safety systems.