“Sentra is designed to thrill customers with its fresh styling, advanced connectivity and Nissan Safety Shield® 360 technologies,” says Adam Paterson, director of marketing, Nissan Canada Inc. “Sentra is a major part of the Nissan NEXT transformation plan. More than just vehicles – Nissan NEXT is creating a stronger, more sustainable Nissan, providing vehicles and services that exceed customer expectations.”

Behind the wheel, Sentra is also fun-to-drive starting with its fuel-efficient 2.0-litre DOHC 4-cylinder engine that delivers 149 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque. Top-level driving dynamics are supported by an independent rear suspension matched to a MacPherson strut front suspension with twin-tube shock absorbers. A dual-pinion rack electric power steering system and Nissan Intelligent Trace Control technology are both standard for nimble and responsive handling.

In its second year of the eighth generation, the Canadian Sentra offers a compelling proposition for the base model – Sentra S 6MT – with heated front seats and heated exterior mirrors now fitted as standard. Those looking for a more connected drive have the option of a six-speed manual transmission on the sporty Sentra SR model, previously only available on the Sentra S.

Additional enhancements for the 2021 model year include the addition of standard Apple CarPlay® integration and Android Auto™ and NissanConnect® on all grades (previously available only on SV and SR grades), and a new two-tone paint combination – Electric Blue Metallic with Black roof for the SR grade.

Nissan’s 2021 Sentra has also been awarded a 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK (TSP) rating, thanks to advances in the Sentra’s headlight technology.

According to IIHS, approximately half of all fatal crashes in the U.S. occur in the dark, and more than one-quarter on unlit roads. For this reason, IIHS places a strong emphasis on headlight capability when evaluating vehicles.

Sentra brings an exceptional level of advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology to its segment – including standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and Safety Shield 360 technologies, available ProPILOT Assist. With High Beam Assist as standard equipment Altima earns the TSP+ distinction. Altima has earned the IIHS TSP or TSP+ award each year since 2013.

In September, Nissan made additional improvements to the optional thin projector LED headlights offered on the Nissan Sentra SR trim with Premium Package (model years 2020 and 2021). The 2020 Sentra SR model built after the upgrade, and 2021 Sentra models, now qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK when equipped with those headlights. The Sentra is packed with the most standard safety technology in its class with standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 across all trims.

Nissan Safety Shield 360 is a suite of six active safety technologies comprised of:

• Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection – uses forward-facing radar and camera technology to help detect vehicles and crossing pedestrians, can give audible and visual warnings and apply braking to help avoid or reduce the severity of frontal collisions
• Lane Departure Warning – can alert driver of drifting from lane with a visual warning and audible or haptic signals
• High Beam Assist – automatically switches to low beam headlights when it detects a vehicle ahead and turns the high beams back on when appropriate
• Blind Spot Warning – helps detect vehicles in driver’s blind spot areas
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert – can warn the driver about detected approaching vehicles when reversing out of a parking spot
• Rear Automatic Braking – helps detect stationary objects when backing up and, if necessary, applies the brakes to help avoid a collision.

If you’re interested in test driving a 2021 Nissan Sentra, please click the button below. Depending on current conditions, traditional test drives may not be available so we’ll contact you to discuss what is possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.