Sport Mode Nissan Sentra: Everything You Need to Know

The newer Nissan Sentra models have a number of features to improve how the car functions and create an all-around more versatile vehicle.

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The newer Nissan Sentra models have a number of features to improve how the car functions and create an all-around more versatile vehicle. The Sport mode feature allows you to take advantage of the Sentra's horsepower in a completely new and extremely fun way by increasing the car's rpm and eliminating the more fuel-efficient restrictions. Keep reading to discover what driving modes are available on the Nissan Sentra, explore some of the particulars of the Sport mode feature specifically, and learn more about the performance capabilities of this functional and efficient car.

Do You Use Your Different Nissan Driving Modes?

The Nissan Sentra Owners and Service Manual states that the newer Sentra models are available with a continuously variable transmission, also known as a CVT, that provides you with a number of different driving modes, including:

  • Eco
  • Normal
  • Sport

    For those who are used to driving an automatic car that features only one driving mode, the distinction between these different modes can be a little confusing and unfamiliar, but they are definitely worth experimenting with so that you can discover what your Nissan Sentra is capable of.

    According to Glendale Nissan, you can think about the Nissan Sentra's Sport mode as almost the complete opposite of Eco mode because it is significantly less efficient. This is due to the fact that the Sport mode gives the driver more power so that they can reach a higher rpm before they automatically shift into the next gear. Though extremely fun to drive, the lack of efficiency means that you won't want to use this mode all the time. Besides, the Sport mode only works when you exceed a speed of 20 miles per hour, so it's a great mode to use when you need to travel a little faster.

    In order to take advantage of this feature, the Nissan Sentra Owners and Service Manual says you must push the button on your car's instrument panel labeled 'SPORT.' After you have pressed the button, you should see a Sport mode indicator illuminate on your speedometer. This light should stay on the entire time that you are active in Sport mode, allowing you to enjoy the adjusted transmission points, enhanced performance, and increased sensitivity to the throttle.

    Just as the name implies, Eco mode is the economical option on the Nissan Sentra, Glendale Nissan says. The Eco mode isn't great for shorter trips around town where there's a higher likelihood of hitting more stop-and-go traffic because it restricts your acceleration. This mode is perfect for longer trips though, like long commutes or far drives to visit family and friends, when you're hoping to limit your spending on fuel and are planning on spending a good amount of time on the highway. If you want to use cruise control during your long trip, Glendale Nissan suggests switching over to Normal mode so that you can save some gas.

    Nissan boasts that the new Sentra provides you with even more control by allowing you to customize the car's Eco mode settings to match your personal preferences. This feature allows you to adjust the responsiveness of the cruise control setting as well as the efficiency of the car's climate control. As a result, you can create a driving experience that is as efficient as it is enjoyable.

    Sentra Performance

    According to Nissan, the Sentra has always been committed to fuel efficiency while still providing the fun and responsive driving experience that you would expect from a Nissan. While still providing a great fuel economy, they equip the new Sentra with a 2.0L, four-cylinder engine, a significant upgrade from its previous 1.8L engine. This improvement gives the Sentra 15 percent more torque and 20 percent more horsepower than it had before.

    The new Sentra comes with some of the most advanced engineering that Nissan has ever provided. You can see this most notably in the Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) system that is designed to improve the engine's combustion. This technology ties an electric motor to the valve timing system, allowing it to continuously vary the timing to improve the car's fuel economy, driveability, and power, and reduce the emissions.

    Nissan states that they've also created ways to allow the engine more freedom to rev by applying a diamond-like carbon coating to the piston rings, a low-friction mirror bore coating on the cylinders, and a hybrid coating to the piston skirts. Additionally, to eliminate any undesirable engine vibrations and improve the overall feel of the car, the Sentra comes with an engine balancer shaft. In order to make the new Sentra responsive and responsible, the engine comes with an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system that is liquid-cooled. Essentially, this system reduces emissions by allowing the engine to run a bit cooler.

    The 2020 Sentra also features the most recent version of the Xtronic CVT, Sentra's virtually gearless transmission system. The Xtronic CVT comes with D-Step Logic Control, which gives you the option to either simulate the shifting of gears or maintain the perfect engine rpm for a truly smooth drive.

    Aside from having a transmission and engine that provide you with excellent fuel economy, Nissan says that the new Sentra has plenty of other advanced features and technology. To reduce the car's aerodynamic drag, the new Sentra comes with active grille shutters that you can close when traveling at higher speeds. Additionally, engineers scrutinized the body shape during development, and created a design that has underbody paneling and smaller A- and C- pillars, allowing the car to essentially glide through the air. In all, Nissan was able to create a more fuel-efficient, smoother, and quieter ride by reducing the aerodynamic drag by an astounding 10 percent.

    The Nissan Sentra offers a number of features and modes that are designed to create a better and more versatile driving experience. You can switch to a different driving mode depending on your needs and the individual situation. If you haven't yet, it is definitely worth it to experiment with the different modes that are available to you so that you can fully take advantage of everything that your Sentra is capable of.







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