2026 Nissan Sentra leaked ahead of official debut

China MIIT leaks next-generation Sentra/Sylphy

It’s been ages since we last saw a brand-new Nissan Sentra on a dealership, as the last time the model was in the Philippine market, it was known as the Sylphy. But Nissan faithfuls haven’t forgotten about the nameplate, and remains as one of the most recognizable models of the brand.

That said, the next-generation Sentra has been revealed ahead of schedule in China, where it’s also known as the Sylphy. It was not an official release from Nissan, but rather the information came from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which requires images and specifications of a model to be posted publicly on the MIIT website as part of its homologation process.

The leaked photos show the 2026 Sentra having a more modern look, while retaining the familiar silhouette of its predecessor that’s still being sold in the US market. The front fascia has slim LED headlights with fang-like accents, and a new grille with intersecting lines follow the brand’s current design language.

At the rear, the sedan gets a horizontal light bar that connects the taillights, with an integrated ducktail-like spoiler for a cleaner finish. Size-wise, the new Sentra measures 4656 mm long, 1825 mm wide, 1448 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2712 mm. Based on the document, the China-spec model could be offered with 16-inch alloy wheels as standard.

The China-spec model suggests a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine powering the next-generation Sentra. Output rated at 133 PS. There are no news yet about an e-Power version, which is surprising given that Dongfeng Nissan is developing the model for the Chinese market that’s been rolling out EREVs, PHEVs and EVs left and right.

The model could be out by the first quarter of 2026 in the Chinese market as the Sylphy, but the Sentra for global markets will follow at a later date.

Despite the fact that the sedan market isn’t as popular as it once was, the existence of the Corolla Altis, the Civic, and recently the returning Elantra suggests there’s still clamor for compact sedan models here in the country. Should Nissan Philippines pull the trigger in the future, we’d love to see the Sentra nameplate once again.