Safety is the most important thing when buying any used car, but especially a family sedan. Good news if you have the Nissan Sentra on your vehicle shopping list: The Sentra is generally considered to be one of the safest sedans on the road.
How safe is the Nissan Sentra?
The 2020 Nissan Sentra received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and the highest score of “Good” by the IIHS. Combine that with 4.33-Star Owner and 4.6-Star Expert Review Rating from Vehicle History, and you’ve got a very safe ride.
Of course, there’s more to safety than just crash ratings. So let’s take a look at what safety features the 2020 Nissan Sentra comes with, how these ratings were decided, and how it’s going to keep you from getting into an accident in the first place.
Nissan Sentra Crash Test Rating
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test/Results
The 2020 Sentra scored near-perfect “Good” ratings across the board from the IIHS. It even got a “Superior” rating on its front crash prevention system. But there was one major exception: the car’s headlights.
The Sentra scored a “Poor” rating on headlights. And unfortunately, the headlights are pretty standard across all trim levels. Aftermarket LED upgrades could make your Sentra a little safer, but this could be seen as a major shortcoming fresh off the lot.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test/Results
The NHTSA gives the 2020 Sentra a 5-star overall rating. It received 4 stars for Overall Front, 3 for Front Passenger Side, and 5 for everything else.
It is worth noting that the Sentra scored a perfect 5 stars from the NHTSA for rollover. That almost never happens. Even in the safest cars, you usually see the rating max out at 4, so good job, Nissan!
It’s also worth noting that the 2020 Sentra has zero recalls, zero investigations, and only eight complaints on record with the NHTSA.
Other Reputable Test/Results
The NHTSA and IIHS tend to be the most trusted voices when it comes to safety ratings in the U.S. But J.D. Power comes in at a close third place.
Taking safety into account, as well as reliability and driving experience, J.D. Power gives the 2020 Sentra an 84 out of a possible 100, tying the car in J.D. Power’s “Top 4 2020 Sedans.”
Euro NCAP and Latin NCAP have yet to put the Nissan Sentra to the test.
Nissan Sentra Available Safety Tech
Intelligent Forward Collision Warning With AEB
Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, or I-FCW, operates via a sensor located under the grille. The sensor is used to detect objects directly ahead of your vehicle. If the I-FCW detects an obstacle, you get a light and a sound alarm to let you know that you need to watch out.
Rearview Monitor Backup Camera
A backup camera is pretty standard in newer vehicles these days. It’s simply a camera mounted in the back of your car so that you can see behind you.
The smart thing about these cameras is that the image is actually flipped as it’s transmitted to your monitor. This way, it works like a mirror so that if there’s an obstacle on your left, it appears on your left.
Lane Departure Warning
Lane departure warning uses sensors to let you know if you’re drifting out of your lane. In the Sentra, the system simply issues a warning. You know those bumps on the side of the road? Sort of like that.
In some autos, you have lane keep assist, which automatically steers your car back into the lane. Some drivers love this feature; others hate it. Lane departure warning warns you but leaves control in your hands.
People Also Ask…
Do Nissan Sentras Last Long?
The Nissan Sentra is expected to go up to 70,000 miles with no major repairs and will typically run for about 200,000 miles with proper maintenance and regular wear and tear.
With excellent maintenance, there’s no reason you can’t double that. And repairs on Sentras tend to be a little cheaper than those on comparable compacts.
Where are Nissan Sentras Built?
Mexico. The Nissan Sentra is built in a manufacturing plant located in Aguas Calientes in Tijuana, Baja California, just south of the San Diego border. This makes the Sentra one of the very few Japanese cars in the world that is not built in either Japan or the United States.
What Does SR Stand for in Nissan Sentra?
Sportier Ride. At just 149 horsepower, the Sentra isn’t exactly competing with the Ford Mustang, but it was built with the sports car lover in mind, and the SR trim level embraces its sporty side in both the appearance (just check out that cool lip spoiler) and the driving experience.
