Starting at $20,260
6.5/10
C/D RATING
Specs
Photos
Nissan
6.5/10 C/D RATING
Specs
Photos
- Highs Roomy interior, comfy seats, lots of tech and upscale features.
- Lows Incredibly slow acceleration, noisy engine, harsh ride.
- Verdict Offering good value for the price, the Sentra is still lacking the fun-to-drive character that its competition offers.
Overview
The Nissan Sentra is all new for the 2020 model year and is a big improvement versus its predecessor. Riding on a new and improved platform, the Sentra's bodywork echoes that of its larger Altima and Maxima siblings. There's a new, more powerful engine that boosts fuel economy, more standard technology and driver-assistance features, and a redesigned interior. Despite these upgrades, the Sentra needs more power from its anemic engine to be competitive with better performers such as the Mazda 3 and the Hyundai Elantra with the turbocharged engine.
What's New for 2020?
The only thing that's not new for 2020 is the name of the car, because everything else has changed. The engine is larger and more powerful for 2020 and is paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Unlike the 2019 Sentra, a manual transmission is not available. The Sentra also rides on a new platform, which improves its ride quality and handling thanks to a new suspension. The interior gets a redesign, too, and looks more modern and luxurious than the previous model. There are also standard tech upgrades that consumers will appreciate, such as blind-spot detection and automated emergency braking. All of this is wrapped in new exterior styling and new paint colors, including a two-tone color option.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2020 Nissan Sentra starts at $20,260 and goes up to $22,600 depending on the trim and options.
The mid-level SV trim is our pick of the newly simplified Sentra lineup. It features an upgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen, standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two data-capable USB ports (one of which is a newer USB-C port), one charge-only USB port in the back seat, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless access, and 17-inch aluminum wheels.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The sole engine option for the 2020 Sentra is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 149 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. The only transmission choice is a CVT, with the manual getting the ax for 2020. Performance is quite tepid; in our testing, it dragged itself from zero to 60 mph in a slothlike 9.2 seconds. With its new platform and independent rear suspension, the ride quality is firm; medium-size bumps are especially noticeable. The new setup delivers balanced handling through the curves and the brakes have a pleasingly firm pedal. We recorded a stopping distance from 70 mph of 170 feet, which is a solid result for this class. Despite the hefty steering feel, there isn't enough feedback from the tires to inspire spirited driving.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel economy improves thanks to the new engine, despite it being both larger and more powerful. The EPA rates the base Sentra at 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway. Once we get a Sentra for testing, we will test Nissan's claim for better fuel efficiency with our real-world 200-mile highway fuel-economy route.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The interior of the 2020 Sentra is vastly improved compared with the outgoing car, with higher-quality materials and details such as satin-chrome aluminum accents and contrast stitching. Cloth seats are standard, but the top-level trim gets a leather heated-seat option. Nissan's Zero Gravity seats, which we have found to be quite comfortable in other vehicles such as the Nissan Titan, are featured. Overall passenger space should improve, as the car widens by a couple inches, but headroom might be reduced slightly, as the roofline was lowered in the redesign. Cargo space is similar to the old Sentra; the previous generation had 15.1 cubic feet of trunk room and the new version has 14.
View Photos
Infotainment and Connectivity
The standard infotainment system is a 7.0-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.0-inch screen available on higher trim levels. The standard driver display is 4.2 inches and the optional size is 7.0 inches. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is available, but only on the SV trim level and above; the base trim doesn't get these features.
Safety and Driver Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
View Crash Test Results
Just like the other Nissan sedans, the Sentra will now get Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of six driver-assistance features including blind-spot monitoring and automated braking assistance. Also standard are 10 airbags and an alert to remind you to check the back seat for children when exiting the vehicle. The SR trim gets LED headlights that aren't available on the lower trims.
- Standard front automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard rear automated emergency braking
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Sentra has a competitive warranty coverage that aligns with rivals such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Unfortunately, Nissan doesn't offer any complimentary scheduled maintenance—Toyota provides two years or 25,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
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