Nissan Sentra

Second generation
Second generation
Overview
Production	1987-1990
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan; 3-door hatchback; 4-door sedan; 3-door hatchback coupe ; 5-door wagon

First generation
First generation
Overview
Production	1982–1986
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan; 3-door hatchback coupe; 4-door sedan; 5-door wagon

Nissan Sentra
Nissan Sentra
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Production	1982–present
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact car (1982-1999); Compact car (2000-present)
Layout	FF

Third generation

Overview
Production	1991-1994
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	1.6 L GA16DE I4

Fourth generation

Overview
Production	1995–1999
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	1.6L 115 hp I4 2.0L 140 hp I4
Transmission	4-Speed Automatic Overdrive 5-Speed Manual Overdrive
Dimensions
Wheelbase	99.80 in.
Length	171.00 in.
Width	66.60 in.
Height	54.50 in.

Fifth generation

Overview
Production	2000–2006
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	1.8 L QG18DE I4
Transmission	4-Speed Automatic Overdrive 5-Speed Manual Overdrive 6-Speed Manual Overdrive
Dimensions
Wheelbase	99.8 in.
Length	177.5 in.
Width	67.3 in.
Height	55.5 in.

Sixth generation

Overview
Production	2007–present
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L MR20DE I4

The Nissan Sentra is a compact car made by automaker Nissan, and is generally a rebadged export version of the Japanese Nissan Sunny. The name "Sentra" is not used in Japan, where it is currently known as Bluebird Sylphy. In some Asian countries, it denotes a version of the Nissan Pulsar.

In the U.S. the Nissan Sentra serves as Nissan's compact model and directly competes with other compact models such as the Corolla. The Sentra is generally considered to be the biggest and also the most expensive compact car when compared to the competition from Japan and the U.S. In the U.S. prices range from $13,100 for a base model to $21,305 for a loaded top-of-the-line Sentra.

History

The Nissan Sentra was introduced for the 1982 model year as the US export name for the Sunny. Many other countries in the Americas, including Mexico and Brazil, sell their versions of the Sunny as the Sentra.

The current American-market Nissan Sentra comes with either a 1.8 L four-cylinder QG18DE engine producing 126 horsepower (94 kW), or the same 175 horsepower (123 kW) 2.5 L four-cylinder QR25DE engine used in the Nissan Altima 2.5S. Brazilian Sentras only have the smaller 1.8 L unit.

B11 (1982-1986)

This was the first of the Sentra's and was a direct replacement for the Datsun 210. It droped the A series (OHV) engine (RWD)in favor of the E15 (OHC) engine (FWD) out of the Datsun 310, and was the first car to carry the Nissan name solely. In 1983 all Sentras had the E16(s) as the only option with 4-speed manual as standard with a 3-speed automatic and, in some years, a 5-speed manual, as options. A 1.7L CD17 diesel was also available from 1984 to 1986. There were several models of the B11 ranging from the Honeybee a holdover from the 210 that got 35 mpg, or the Deluxe that had A/C, Clarion tape deck and dual side mirrors.

They all had 4 wheel independent suspension and front disc brakes.

B12 (1987-1990)

This generation carried on the multitude of body styles that the B11 had to include station wagon, 2- and 4-door sedans, 3-door hatchback (looks like a short station wagon) and the Sport Coupe. For 1987 all Sentras but the Sport Coupe came standard with the E16(s) with 69hp and a 4spd manual. In 1988 all Sentras had the 70hp E16(i), which was offered for this year with Throttle body injection. In many parts of the world the E series soldiered on in the B12 chassis with some getting Multipoint FI. For 89-90 the only engine choice was the GA16i 90hp a 12 valve SOHC version of the later GA16DE. The B12 carried over the 4 wheel independent suspension with 4 wheel disc brakes an option in some parts of the world. This was the start of the now standard model classes having the "E" as the low level economy car, the "XE" as the base model, and the "SE" as the top of the line model. The SE had dual mirrors, air conditioning, and power door locks and windows in some markets. Later in the B12 run the "GXE" was introduced and offered comforts like variable wipers.

The Sport Coupe is a sportier style of the Sentra. It shared few if any of the body panels with the standard model. It was only available with the E16i or GA16i, and did not receive Nissan's CA18DE that was offered in the Sunny ZX Coupe. All Sport Coupes had dual swaybars, dual remote-adjust mirrors, and a tachometer next to the speedometer. The SE model added features like A/C and rear speakers.

B12s are known for reliability and great fuel economy and is considered by enthusiasts to be a good low budget project car due to interchangeability with other Nissan models.

B13 (1991-1994)

The 1991–1994 generation was the first to offer Nissan's famous and then-new SR20DE engine in the "sporty" two-door SE-R model. The car door handle used a stick. Setting subcompact speed records of the time, the SE-R could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds, came with 4-wheel disc brakes, and had a MacPherson strut independent suspension. The B13 SE-R has developed a cult following over the years and is still a car of choice among tuners.

The sedan was offered with the 1.6L GA16DE engine.

B14 (1995-1999)

The Sentra took several backward steps for 1995, such as cheaper interior materials and the permanent loss of an independent rear suspension. This time, the car door handle became a bar. The two-door Sentra was renamed as the 200SX and took the sporty SE-R model with it, though the sedan got all the performance parts back in 1998 with the Sentra SE.

B15 (2000-2006)

The Sentra finally crossed over into the "compact" class for 2000, on an all-new platform. Previously, the compact class had been occupied by the Stanza (discontinued in 1992), and its wheelbase remains unchanged from the previous generation. Production shifted from Smyrna, Tennessee toAguascalientes, Mexico, and the Smyrna production line was retooled to build the Nissan Xterra. The 1.6 L engine was dropped in favor of the 1.8 L (126 hp) QG18DE. Numerous upgrades were made over the previous generation. The new model featured a new interior with higher quality plastics and more comfortable seats. The exterior was also substantially updated and now featured body-side moldings and clear headlights. In 2002, a new SE-R (165 hp) was introduced, trading its SR20DE engine for the Altima's torquier but lower-revving QR25DE. The SE-R came in a base model with a 5-speed manual transmission or optional automatic. Also available was a 6-speed manual transmission with helical limited slip differential, which was called the SE-R Spec-V (175 hp). 2004 saw a minor facelift for all Sentras. Nissan also started cost-cutting and took the front stabilizer bar out of 1.8 L models.

B16 (2007- )

Template:Future automobile Nissan introduced the next-generation 2007 Sentra at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in January. This Sentra will have the same type of car door handle abandoned by the third-generation Sentra. It is larger in every dimension than the B15 model, as the Nissan Versa takes the subcompact role once filled by the Sentra.[1]

The Sentra features a 2.0 L Nissan MR engine, the first North American vehicle to use this new engine family. A continuously variable transmission or 6-speed manual transmission will be offered. It rides on the new shared Nissan/Renault Global C platform. As with the B15, the B16 Sentra will be produced at Nissan's Aguascalientes plant. The 2007 Sentra goes on sale in the fall of 2006.

1991-94 Nissan Sentra coupe.
2004-06 Nissan Sentra.
2002-03 Nissan Sentra.

2002-03 Nissan Sentra.

US-spec '02/'03 Nissan Sentra SE-R.
1995-1999 Nissan Sentra
1998-99 Nissan Sentra.
1989 Nissan B12 Sentra Wagon

SE-R Spec-V

Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V (2003, US)
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Production	2002–present
Body and chassis
Class	Sport compact
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Powertrain
Engine	2.5 L straight-4 (175 hp)
Dimensions
Curb weight	2710 lb

The Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V is the sport compact version of the Nissan Sentra. It is the highest trim level of the Sentra SE-R line, a performance variant on the Sentra chassis. Beginning production in 2002, it has garnered a reputation for its impressive performance within the segment. Its engine is the 2.5-litre QRD25DE unit originally created for the Nissan Altima. The engine produces 175 hp at 6000 rpm and 180 ft·lbf of torque at 4000 rpm. This power is enough to propel the car to 60 mph from standstill in 7 seconds.

The car came standard with a 6-speed manual transmission with helical limited slip differential, and 17-inch wheels with performance tires. Perhaps as impressive as the car's quickness was its handling, which was the result of aggressive factory-tuning of the car's suspension and the addition of low-profile tires, which fortunately did not severely harshen the car's smoothness. Along with a standard race-inspired sporty interior, other optional features at the time included a 300-watt 9-speaker audio system (with a 8-inch subwoofer in the trunk) and a power sunroof. In all, it is a rare car that is still relatively unknown to many, giving it the subsequent sleeper image to those who are familiar with the car. For example, the car appears in the video game Need for Speed Underground and Need for Speed: Underground 2.

Initially, for 2002 and 2003, the SE-R Spec V (along with the SE-R) was given an aggressive front fascia (borrowed from Nissan's Japanese supercar, the Skyline GT-R) with side still extensions and rear trunk-mounted spoiler which gave it a handsome yet aggressive, race-ready look. For the 2004 and 2005 model years, cosmetic changes were made to make the Spec V look like regular Sentra's from the front, although it still retained its side-still extensions, rear spoiler, and 17-inch wheels (albeit different ones from 2002 and 2003 models). The 2004 model year also featured a new style of taillight which is somewhat inspired by the Skyline GT-R's quadruple taillights. Other cosmetics added in 2004 that were akin to the Skyline GT-R are the six-spoked wheels, the SE-R gear shift handle, and the the availability of Sapphire Blue.

Rebadged Pulsars and Sentras

File:Nissan tsuru.JPG

Nissan Tsuru 2005, Mexico City, Mexico.

The Sentra name was adopted in several other countries, such as New Zealand, where it was used for the Nissan Pulsar range from 1986 (though, interestingly, the station wagon version was actually a rebadged Nissan Sunny California). The Sentra name continued to be used in New Zealand for the Pulsar until 1998, just as Almera was used in Europe. After 2002, the Japanese Pulsar name was adopted.

Unlike the U.S. version, a hatchback was offered; engines offered were 1.4, 1.6 and 2.0 petrol; a diesel was available in Europe. Some even were sold in the Republic of Ireland.

In the Republic of China, Yulon has built its licensed version of the Sunny as the Sentra since 1990. The current Taiwan-market Sentra reflects the styling of the Japanese-market Bluebird Sylphy (the same as the Almera/Pulsar sedan but with a luxurious emphasis).

Today, the Philippines also uses the Sentra name for its version of the Pulsar.

In Mexico, and parts of Central America, the 1991-94 Nissan Sentra is still in production. Called the Nissan Tsuru, it is the same basic car only with minor cosmetic changes and mechanical downgrades to make it cheaper, such as non-power steering, downgraded interior trim, a downgraded braking system, and a mechanical clutch instead of a hydraulic one. More recent models have received a Renault-built hydraulic clutch.

There is also a Nissan wagon car and it is faster and better than the nissan ADs. The Sentra is an 1600 DOHC and the AD is an auto diesel.

Awards

The Sentra SE-R was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1991 through 1994. The Sentra SE was on Sport Compact Car magazine's 8 Great Rides for 2001 The Sentra SE-R Spec V was on Sport Compact Car magazine's 8 Great Rides for 2002,2003, & 2005 The Sentra CA was awarded the California Environmental Protection Agency Award in 2000

References

External links