The seventh-generation Nissan Sentra (B17), also known as the Nissan Sylphy in certain Asian markets, is a compact sedan. Not officially sold in Western Europe, it has enjoyed great success in North America, Asia, and Latin America. Designed to offer maximum interior space and comfort at an affordable price, it falls short, however, with subpar driving dynamics and modest performance. A major facelift occurred in 2016, bringing better soundproofing, revised suspension, and a modernized design. While the gasoline engines are generally very robust, the reliability of this generation is heavily marred by frequent failures of its continuously variable automatic transmission (Jatco CVT), particularly on the 2013 to 2015 models.
The Nissan Sentra B17 is a rational, spacious, and comfortable compact sedan, ideal for small budgets looking for an everyday vehicle. However, the catastrophic reliability of the CVT gearbox on the 2013 to 2015 models requires the utmost caution. If you must buy this model, absolutely favor the facelifted versions (2016-2019) where the CVT was improved, or look for the rare manual gearbox versions which are extremely reliable. A crystal-clear maintenance history, including automatic gearbox oil changes, is non-negotiable.