2016 Nissan Sentra to get heavy restyle

Nissan is having a banner year when it comes to launching updated products in 2015. The latest Maxima is already on sale in showrooms, and the next-gen Titan joins it later. Refreshes for the Sentra (2014 model year pictured above) and Altima are also on the way, and the changes are likely to be significant to stay competitive in the compact sedan segment. 

"It will be an incredibly freshened Sentra," Fred Diaz, Nissan Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing in the U.S. said to Automotive News. The big changes reportedly include a thorough restyling and some new tech. Nissan North America Director of Product Communications Dan Bedore confirmed to Autoblog the company will launch refreshes to the Sentra and Altima "later this year" but wouldn't give a more precise timeline or other details about them.

However, rumors about the restyling are already out there, and Sentra's overhaul reportedly takes inspiration from the Pulsar in Europe. That might mean a move to Nissan's pointed, V-shaped grille and more aggressive, angular headlights with better-integrated LED running lights than the current design. Meanwhile, the Altima's update potentially borrows cues from the Murano and Maxima and could see improved fuel economy.

This comprehensive restyling comes despite Nissan already having a major success in the US with the current Sentra. Volume this year is up 15.5 percent through May with 88,701 sales. Also, the sedan had its best numbers in the past 25 years in 2014 with 183,268 of them sold, according to Automotive News.

VIDEO REPORT: Nissan Driver Attention Alert helps combat drowsy driving with innovative system

Nissan is highlighting the fact that its new Driver Attention Alert (DAA) system is available on two of its most attention-getting vehicles – the 2015 Nissan Murano crossover and the upcoming 2016 Nissan Maxima sedan.

The issue of drowsy and inattentive driving has been the subject of recent studies by the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) and AAA* (formerly the American Automobile Association). Results of a November 2014 AAA survey, for example, suggest that drowsy drivers are involved in approximately 300,000 crashes each year – 6,400 of them fatal.

Nissan's Driver Attention Alert system, which is standard in the 2015 Murano SL and Platinum grades and the 2016 Maxima Platinum, is intended to address potential driver fatigue and inattention. The system adapts to each individual driver, monitoring steering input patterns (using steering angle sensors) during a period of driving to establish a baseline. It continuously compares subsequent driving patterns to a baseline using a statistical analysis of steering correction errors.

If it detects driving behavior consistent with a drowsy driver, the system uses an audible chime sound and displays an amber coffee cup with a message reading, "Take a break?" in the vehicle's information display.

The DAA includes logic to help address false detection, road curvatures, lane changes, braking and even poor road conditions. The system automatically resets when the engine is turned off. It can also be turned off by the driver if desired. It is the driver's responsibility to remain alert at all times. DAA is only a warning to inform the driver of a potential lack of driver attention or drowsiness. It does not detect and provide an alert in every situation.

The totally redesigned 2016 Nissan Maxima is on public display this week at the New York International Auto Show at New York's Jacob Javits Center. It is scheduled to go on sale this summer. The new 2015 Nissan Murano is available now at Nissan dealers nationwide.

Along with the Maxima and Murano's suites of available safety and driving aids, both stand out from other vehicles in their respective segments due to their futuristic styling – featuring new Nissan signature design language including V-Motion front end, boomerang lighting and unique floating roof appearance.