The Sentra has been a mainstay in the Nissan lineup for decades. Its reputation is typically one of affordability and economy, both in the areas of fuel and amenities. But the 2020 Nissan Sentra isn’t just new for the model year as the Sentra now comes with a completely new design both inside and out. And its interior is even making experts question whether it’s a Nissan Sentra at all.

The completely redesigned 2020 Nissan Sentra: what’s new

It appears Nissan was on a mission when it came to redesigning the new Sentra sedan. As Car and Driver experts point out, the only thing about the redesigned Nissan Sentra “that’s not new for 2020 is the name of the car, because everything else has changed.”

The new Sentra sits on a completely new platform that gives it more length and an improved suspension. This new platform doesn’t just change the ride, but also adds to a completely new exterior styling closer to that of its Maxima and Altima siblings.

Under the hood, the 2020 Nissan Sentra gets a larger and more powerful engine, now paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 149 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. On the inside, the new Sentra receives more modern features all around, as well as more standard tech features.

At a glance, the Sentra looks more aggressive and modern than ever before. The Sentra’s new platform doesn’t just add to its design quality, but improves its ride and handling quality as well. It’s the interior where the Sentra reeks of luxury and modern amenities, however, but you aren’t really paying for them. And it’s the interior where Nissan really hits the mark.

How the interior goes beyond expectations

Although many packages and options are available with the new 2020 Nissan Sentra, there is only one choice for engine and drivetrain in all trims. But upgrades made to the interior, even in the most bare-bone Sentra, bring it much closer to any top competitor in the segment.

Standard interior features now include a 7.0-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch driver display, Zero Gravity front seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel, high-quality cloth seats, and more. According to Car and Driver, the sportier exterior of the 2020 Sentra is certainly matched by a new, sportier interior, which “seems as if Nissan peeked inside the Chevrolet Camaro for some inspiration.”

The middle-of-the-road Sentra SV sent to MotorTrend experts shocked them so much with its impressive quality, it went above and beyond their “average” expectations. The 2020 Sentra SV is described as a “solid ride,” “cozy,” “luxurious,” and even “sleek.”

Even without driving it that much, the experts had nothing but good things to say about the Sentra SV and its Premium package. For a price that outpaces most within its own segment, owners can enjoy an 8.0-inch touchscreen, leather-wrapped steering wheel, diamond-quilted leather seating, a power-sliding moonroof, heated front seats, and more.

Of course, these luxuries are additional to what Nissan considers the “basics.” Every new Sentra comes standard with Nissan’s suite of driver-assist safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert with a rearview monitor, rear automatic braking, and intelligent driver alert. There’s even an alert to remind you to check your back seat for children.

The Nissan Sentra’s available trim levels and pricing

As part of the Sentra’s complete redesign, trim levels in the lineup are simplified to only three variants. The CVT is the only transmission available as the optional manual transmission is removed from the 2020 lineup.

According to Nissan, the 2020 Nissan Sentra has an impressive entry price of around $19,000. This extremely affordable price belongs to the base Sentra trim, the S. Go one step up and you’ll get the SV trim for around $20,000. Starting prices for the highest trim level, the SR, begin at more than $21,000.