Is This The New Nissan Sentra? Nissan Previews The Sylphy In Shanghai

The Sentra is Nissan's last sedan in need of an overhaul

Nissan Sylphy - Is this the next Sentra?

Odd name aside, this may be the next Nissan Sentra.

With Nissan’s recent reveal of the 2020 Versa, the aging Sentra stands as the brand’s last sedan in desperate need of a refresh. Enter the Nissan Sylphy, which just debuted at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show. By any other measure, it’s a strangely named Nissan for a foreign market. However, based on looks and size, this may be the 2020 Nissan Sentra.

All around, the new Sylphy has a sleeker, more aggressive exterior. To us Americans, the Vmotion grille is all too familiar in the Maxima, Altima and now the new Versa. It has much sharper headlights, as well as a floating roof design. Nissan says the Sylphy has a drag coefficient of 0.26 — equal to a GT-R. And that’s about the only similarity between this car and a Nissan GT-R.

Nissan Sylphy - Is this the next Sentra?

Under the hood, the new Nissan Sylphy has a new HR16DE Gen 3 engine, mated to an Xtronic continuously variable transmission. However, it’s likely we’ll have different engines in the new Nissan Sentra when it debuts in the U.S., anyway. The current-generation model houses a 1.8-liter MRA8DE engine with 124 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque. The HR16DE engine is a 1.6-liter unit currently in the Nissan Kicks, which has about the same amount of power as the current Sentra.

Nissan Sylphy - Is this the next Sentra?

Full of technology

Move on to the interior, and you’ll find a layout largely similar to the new Altima, save the round HVAC vents. There is an 8.0-inch infotainment display perched atop the center stack. In the instrument cluster, there’s also a 7.0-inch multi-information display.

As with the Maxima, Altima and Versa, we expect the Nissan Safety Shield driver assistance suite to make its way into the new Sentra. In this Nissan Sylphy revealed in Shanghai, Nissan included technologies like Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Cross Traffic Alert, and Emergency Brake for Pedal Misapplication. There are also features like Intelligent Ride Control and Intelligent Trace Control.

While Nissan has yet to reveal the new Sentra, this Sylphy may be a step in that direction. Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for updates on the new Nissan Sentra!

Nissan Sylphy - is this the next Sentra?
Is this the new Sentra? Nissan unveils the Sylphy at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show. [Photo: Nissan]