The New Nissan Sentra Makes an Early Debut

Nissan gave us a taste of the next-generation Sentra when it teased several future models at the end of March. That’s when we saw the new Leaf alongside a group of cars hiding in the shadows. By then, spy shots of a prototype had already confirmed the company’s commitment to sedans despite the cancellation of the larger Maxima. But reports also suggest the Versa and Altima may be discontinued, which would leave the Sentra as Nissan’s only sedan.

Ahead of its official debut, the three-box family car is making an early appearance in China. These images don’t come directly from Nissan but from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. As part of the homologation process, new vehicles registered in China must have images published on the MIIT website. That’s also how the updated Corolla, a direct Sentra rival, surfaced ahead of schedule this week.

The Sentra is sold as the Sylphy in China and should look virtually identical when Nissan unveils the U.S. version. The outgoing models for both markets share essentially the same design, so it’s logical to expect the strategy to carry over to the next generation. The exterior aligns with spy photos of a camouflaged prototype from late February, leaving little to the imagination.

Although the styling is fresh, we wonder how new the Sentra really is, since the hood’s cutline appears unchanged. There’s plenty happening at the front, though, where the grille’s intersecting lines meet in the middle. Slim headlights feature Peugeot-like “fangs” that continue into a horizontal strip of LED daytime running lights. It’s unclear whether the upper part of the grille incorporates a light element or a metallic bar, but either way, the design evokes strong Peugeot vibes, particularly the facelifted 508.

Photo by: Nissan

At the rear, the clear taillights are connected by a light bar seemingly spanning the width of the trunk lid, which integrates a spoiler that looks better executed than before. The new Sentra’s smoother rear end benefits from this detail, as the spoiler gives the illusion it stretches to the edges of the fenders.

While MIIT hasn’t revealed interior images, it has published preliminary technical specifications. China’s new Sylphy measures 183.3 inches (4,656 millimeters) long, 71.9 in (1,825 mm) wide, and 57 in (1,448 mm) tall, with a 106.7 in (2,712 mm) wheelbase. That makes it slightly longer and wider than the outgoing car, while height and wheelbase remain unchanged.

Photo by: Nissan

The China-spec sedan, built by Dongfeng Nissan, comes with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 133 horsepower. In its lightest configuration, it weighs 2,875 pounds (1,304 kilograms) and rides on 16-inch wheels with 205/60 R16 tires.

We might see America’s 2026 Sentra as early as November at the Los Angeles Auto Show. A report suggests Nissan could shift production from Mexico to its Mississippi plant to avoid the Trump administration’s hefty tariffs. Whatever the case, let’s hope pricing doesn’t climb too much. The current Sentra starts at $22,785 for the base S trim, destination included.

2026 Nissan Sylphy (China)

Photo by: Nissan