2016 Nissan Altima, Sentra Receiving Extensive Mid-Cycle Refreshes

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

The 2016 Nissan Maxima won’t be the only one to receive an extensive update to its style, as the automaker plans to do the same for the Altima and Sentra.

Nissan’s U.S. sales boss Fred Diaz says both sedans will be “incredibly refreshed” when they enter showrooms for the 2016 model year, Automotive News reports, including a full list of styling updates and technology enhancements.

The overhauls for the Altima and Sentra come despite major sales successes for the duo, with 183,268 Sentras leaving the lot in 2014 — the highest volume for the nameplate in 25 years — and the Altima selling more copies than the Honda Accord over the first five months of 2015 (142,613 versus 128,269).

Yet, mid-cycle revamps are becoming major affairs as automakers battle for more and more market share. Honda alone changed up the current Civic twice already, while Toyota went as far as to add more length and width to the 2015 Camry in addition to other upgrades.

As for what both of Nissan’s revamps may bring, Autoblog says the Sentra may pull from the Euro-market Pulsar’s playbook, while the Sentra could take cues from both the Murano and newly introduced 2016 Maxima.

[Photo credit: Nissan]

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Sector 5 Sector 5 on Jun 15, 2015

    The Sentra needs more punch. It'd be nice to see SPEC V but I doubt it.

    • See 1 previous
    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Jun 16, 2015

      @sproc That's what the Juke NISMO is for!

  • Dougjp Dougjp on Jun 15, 2015

    Update to Nissan probably means their whole line will have ridiculously ugly grills.

  • Segfault Segfault on Jun 15, 2015

    Honda used to call them mid-model changeovers. I always referred to them as "mid-model corrections," i.e., they correct all the things they screwed up with the original. Although the 1996 Accord looked worse than the 1994 original, go figure.

    • See 2 previous
    • Corey Lewis Corey Lewis on Jun 16, 2015

      @gtem The main issue in 96-97 was the variety of purple mist and taupe colors they painted on them. Blech! Ha.

  • Ponchoman49 Ponchoman49 on Jun 16, 2015

    They need to fix the CVT unit in each to be like what Honda is doing with the Accord. That constant droning and engine revving drive me nuts. Speaking of engine Di would be nice along with lower NVH characteristics. Axe the thin urethane base wheel and plastic hub caps and make the S version the base trim level with alloy wheels std equipment. If Chevy, Hyundai, Kia and Ford can do this with the Malibu, Sonata, Optima and Fusion so can Nissan.

    • Gtem Gtem on Jun 16, 2015

      Why incorporate DI when they're already at the top of the heap of non-hybrid MPG ratings? That annoying CVT tuning may also be directly tied to those class leading MPG figures (EPA-wise as well as real world). The Accords seem to fall a bit short on EPA tests (36 mpg highway) but seems that real world highway numbers from forum members have been eye opening, with many folks cracking 40 mpg on longer trips with reasonable driving. Clattery DI would only add to the NVH issue in the current Altima, not to mention whatever carbon buildup headaches might arise.

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