2020 Nissan Sentra Road Test and Review

2020 Nissan Sentra blue front view parked ・ Photo by Nissan

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is newly redesigned, bringing a fresh update to Nissan’s best-selling vehicle. Since first introducing it for the 1982 model year, Nissan has since sold over six million units of this compact sedan. It enters its eighth generation with a sportier, more dynamic design that takes its cues from the Maxima and GT-R.

There’s a more refined interior and a full suite of safety and convenience features with standard Nissan Safety Shield 360 and available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sentra also shows off a more powerful engine and improved driving dynamics that make it ideal as a commuter car. It also comes with pricing that makes it an affordable choice for those on a budget. Let’s take a closer look at the all-new 2020 Nissan Sentra to see if this is the right compact sedan for you.

Choose from three available trims.

A simplified lineup includes three trims for 2020. The base S starts at $19,090 and includes 16-inch steel wheels, remote keyless entry, and push-button start. The SV sees a price increase to $20,270 and adds standard features that include 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and upgraded infotainment with NissanConnect. This includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with an 8-inch color display, multi-touch control, and a six-speaker audio system. It also has dual-zone automatic climate control, intelligent cruise control, and upgraded interior trim.

Sitting at the top of the Sentra lineup priced at $21,430 is the SR with a sportier look than the rest. It has 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a dark chrome grille, and LED headlights, daytime running lights, and fog lights. The sporty feel continues inside with sport cloth trims featuring orange stitching. At every trim level, the 2020 Nissan Sentra is an affordable choice.

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A More Powerful Engine

Power for the 2020 Nissan Sentra comes from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft of torque. That’s 20 percent more horsepower and 17 percent more torque than the 1.8-liter engine it replaces. This new engine is paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

While those numbers are modest, it’s important to remember that the Sentra is not a large car, but rather a compact sedan. The new engine provides ample power to get the Sentra moving, whether you’re simply driving around town or trying to accelerate into highway traffic. A heavy foot on the accelerator gives all the power you need to easily merge into traffic and delivers the extra power you need to pass slower vehicles. The transmission is smooth and notably quiet, something that is often an issue in more affordable cars, which helps make the 2020 Nissan Sentra a capable and enjoyable ride.

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Smooth Ride and Surprisingly Responsive Handling

Compact sedans aren’t known for providing the best ride and handling. That comes in part from their focus on affordability, but the 2020 Nissan Sentra eschews that idea. Improvements start with a lower center of gravity that gives the Sentra a more planted feel. It has both a wider track and lower overall body height than last year's model, which gives it better driving dynamics. Quick maneuvers at highway speeds are easy to manage with the Sentra staying well-controlled. Rough and uneven pavement isn't an issue either, with a suspension that evens out the bumps.

The benefit to passengers is a smooth and comfortable ride. The ride is enhanced by the overall quiet of the cabin. Nissan reduced road and wind noise through improved sealing in the doors, windows, and body of the Sentra. It also added soft acoustic materials. Together, these changes make the Sentra a more welcoming space for passengers.

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Striking Exterior Design

Nissan has been updating its sedans to fit in with its current design language, and now it’s the Sentra’s turn. It looks nothing like its former self, instead taking on a sportier, more aggressive demeanor that makes it more appealing. There’s Nissan’s signature V-motion grille along with thin LED headlamps up front. This flows back to a lower roofline reminiscent of a sporty coupe. Its longer, wider stance — thanks to a new platform — further enhances the new sporty look of the Sentra.

That design ideal goes even further in the Sentra SR, thanks to a rear spoiler and black accents on the sideview mirrors and lower body side sill extensions. There’s also a dark chrome accent to the grille and a chrome exhaust finisher. A wide range of bold colors across the lineup and the option for two-tone paint schemes add even more character to this compact sedan.

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Comfortable and Well-Appointed Interior

Purchasing a compact sedan, especially one that is affordably priced, often means settling for a subpar interior. The 2020 Nissan Sentra, however, manages to offer affordable pricing without sacrificing interior quality. It’s a refreshing change in the segment. There are satin chrome accents, contrast stitching, and a D-shaped steering wheel that gives the Sentra a sporty look and feel. Materials look and feel good, with available quilted leather seating surfaces adding an extra touch of refinement.

There’s room for five passengers, although the rear seats are snug for three adults. Two adults will find plenty of room to get comfortable in the rear, with ample headroom and legroom for even taller passengers. Front passengers will enjoy Nissan’s Zero Gravity seats, which offer a premium ride experience. They’re supportive and comfortable and make even the longest road trips less tiring.

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Standard infotainment includes a large touchscreen.

Infotainment in the 2020 Nissan Sentra includes a standard 7-inch color touchscreen, which is larger than what is often found in base trims of affordable offerings. There’s also Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, hands-free text messaging, Siri Eyes Free, and Google Assistant voice recognition. Step up to the SV trim and the availability of additional features increases. These include an even larger 8-inch display screen with NissanConnect featuring both Apple CarPlay and Android Audio.

Navigation is not available, which makes that smartphone connectivity crucial. While not as fully featured as the systems available in some higher-priced offerings, infotainment in the Nissan Sentra still includes key features on all but the base model. This may pose a challenge for those looking at the base trim but helps keeps overall pricing on the Sentra affordable.

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Extensive Standard Safety Features

Safety is a priority, especially when you’re driving a compact sedan in a sea of SUVs and crossovers. Every Nissan Sentra, even the base trim, features Nissan Safety Shield 360 as a standard feature. This safety suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, a lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, and rear automatic braking. To find that level of safety on an affordable compact sedan is exceptional.

In addition to standard Nissan Safety Shield 360, the Sentra also comes standard with intelligent driver alertness. This recognizes when the driver’s inputs indicate they’re driving tired and warns them to take a break. There’s also a rear door alert, which reminds the driver to check the back seats if the doors were opened at the start of the trip. The Sentra incorporates important advanced safety technologies at every trim level without exorbitant pricing.

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Room not just for people, but cargo too.

Those who put a priority on carrying cargo tend to opt for larger vehicles, but simply because you’re purchasing a compact sedan doesn’t mean the only thing you’ll ever carry is people. The Sentra has a good amount of cargo room with 14.3 cubic feet available in the trunk. The trunk opening is wide enough to make loading bulky items easy, so you won’t be needing to constantly borrow a friend’s car when you have something larger to take home.

There are also 60/40 split-folding rear seats. This expands on trunk space and allows for carrying a wider variety of cargo. Longer items can extend right into the passenger compartment, and the split seating still lets you keep a passenger in the back seat at the same time. It may be compact, but the Nissan Sentra still offers versatility for cargo.

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Final Thoughts

The 2020 Nissan Sentra enters its eighth generation as a completely evolved version of its former self. No longer simply a sedan that’ll take you from point A to point B, this new Sentra makes sure you enjoy the trip. It has sporty and attractive exterior styling that falls in line with the rest of the Nissan sedan lineup, and a comfortable, quiet interior adorned with quality materials.

In addition to updated styling, the Sentra boasts a wide range of standard safety features and a solid infotainment system at every trim level. There’s also a more powerful engine and a new platform that is lower and wider, which make the Sentra a fun and engaging drive. Combined with its affordable price point, the 2020 Nissan Sentra is an attractive option in a segment with dwindling choices as consumers move toward SUVs and crossovers.

Photo by Nissan