The 2020 Nissan Sentra has been completely redesigned, and that’s a good thing, mostly. While new Nissan Sentra buyers will get a lot of new features and a fresh new look, they’re also going to have to sacrifice a few things. CarFax.com reviewers took the all-wheel-drive 2020 Nissan Sentra SR on a one-week test drive, and these were the results. 

Impressions of the 2020 Nissan Sentra

Carfax.com liked the 2020 Nissan Sentra’s sleek new exterior that has been revamped to look more like the Nissan Maxima and Altima. That means sleeker lines featuring distinctive headlights that sweep back over the wheels.

The interior also got an upgrade, with high-quality materials throughout. The interior styling combines retro-looking knobs and vents with super-modern technology focused on the integrated 8-inch touchscreen.

Overall, reviewers were impressed with the 2020 Sentra’s technology. The touchscreen integrated well with Apple CarPlay, and they felt the controls were intuitive and easy to use. He especially liked the physical button that activates the 360-degree camera and the fact that the car doesn’t have to be in reverse to see behind you.

When it came to performance, reviews were mixed. The 2020 Nissan Sentra has a more powerful engine than it’s predecessors, but the fact that it’s mated to a CVT caused some issues. The driver found the engine was slow to deliver, with revving continuing after acceleration, which was annoying. Once it got going, the Nissan Sentra had crisp acceleration. 

Comfort and quality got the most praise, with an appealing upgraded interior in the Nissan Sentra. There’s also a lot of extra available tech, like a remote engine start system, and push-button ignition. Comfort features include heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra has versatile cargo options with a 60/40 fold-down rear seat and an easy-loading trunk with 14.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Cramped quarters and other complaints

Although the seats were comfortable and supportive, the driver had a tough time with the interior dimensions. At six feet tall, the driver’s knees were banging into the sides of the compartment while he drove because the cockpit has gotten narrower. He also felt the rear seat legroom was fine, but the height of the vehicle meant his head barely fit. 

For handling, Carfax.com used the words “ok,” and “not the most responsive.”  They found the car leaned a lot on winding roads and freeway exits, which the driver found surprising. There was also more wiggling than he would have liked while turning the Sentra. The other complaint was the noise. The reviewer didn’t like the droning of the transmission and felt the cockpit was noisy overall. He reported intrusive road noise and engine noise, especially on uneven pavement.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra’s safety features

Even the base model of the 2020 Nissan Sentra is packed with driver-assist safety features. Nissan Safety Shield includes the above mentioned 360-degree camera, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and high beam assist. 

These modern driver-assist features in the Nissan Sentra ensure that both the driver and passengers are protected from everything happening on the road.

Overall, the redesign of the 2020 Nissan Sentra brings sleekness and style to a still-affordable sedan. The Carfax.com test vehicle was priced at $25,825, and it has a starting MSRP of $19,090. The Nissan Sentra is still an excellent value for the money with plenty of comforts, convenience, and state-of-the-art safety features.