The Altima is giving its life so the Sentra can be spared.The era of the Nissan Altima is officially coming to an end. WardsAuto reports the Yokohama-based automaker is axing the company's popular midsize sedan.But the cause isn't what you probably expected. Although the current Altima is nearing the end of its production lifecycle, the reasons to discontinue the model are rather unusual.Sacrificing the Altima for the SentraIt's the end of an era for Nissan's bread-and-butter midsize sedan. - Credit: NissanAccording to the report, the outlet spoke with Nissan's product planning chief, Ponz Pandikuthira, who said the company is significantly reworking its lineup to streamline its offerings. The motivation behind the plan is to optimize the company's product range for a more sustainable long-term strategy.AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd, ultimately reduce operational costs. Said strategy already includes hitting some high-demand targets, such as the highly-anticipated return of the Xterra, the next-gen rugged body-on-frame Pathfinder and more.The Honda Accord and company will be losing its Nissan rival after 2026. - Credit: NissanBut the sadder parts of the plan includes axing the Altima. The main reason why Nissan is getting rid of the Altima is apparently to allow the Sentra to grow, both literally and figuratively.As with every new generation of vehicles, they tend to get bigger in size and offer more features.It's been the case with most cars, including the Sentra and Altima. However, seeing as the Sentra is growing even more, the Altima is redundant.The end of one of Nissan's longest-running models in AmericaThe decision to axe the Altima comes down to growing demand for the Sentra. - Credit: NissanThe discontinuation of the Altima is an unfortunate decision because it brings an end to one of Nissan's most iconic models. Regardless of your opinion on the car (and the jokes surrounding the model in the community these days), the Altima has been a part of the brand's portfolio for almost four decades.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's consistently been the rivaling answer to the likes of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry since 1992. The current sixth-gen model has been with us since 2018. After a mid-cycle refresh in 2022, it's finally reached the end of its lifecycle.Since 1992, the Altima has been a major staple in Nissan's lineup. - Credit: NissanThe Altima joins the Maxima and the entry-level Versa on the discontinuation bandwagon after the company axed those two models not too long ago (the Versa still exists in other markets).Focusing on an SUV and truck-centric futureNissan's going back to basics and focusing more on SUVs, trucks and crossovers for its near-long-term strategy. - Credit: NissanWith the Altima departing, that leaves the Sentra as the only standard car left in Nissan's US lineup. All other remaining models are either SUVs or trucks.Yet, Nissan Americas still plans to lean even more into its SUV and truck offerings. Along with the Xterra returning and the next-gen Pathfinder going back to its rugged roots with a body-on-frame platform, there will be another, road-biased Pathfinder variant that'll retain a unibody construction.Trucks and SUVs will be the common theme of Nissan America's in the foreseeable future. - Credit: NissanThe Armada and Frontier will march on with business as usual. While the Kicks, Rogue and Murano complete the automaker's crossover range.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Across that spectrum, we are fully able to capture people who are coming in for a typical sedan," Pandikuthira continued telling WardsAuto. "We are not losing out on sedan customers unless they are driven primarily by price."About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.