HOW’S THE RIDE?
Performance is boosted in this latest incarnation of the Sentra.
A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, paired with an automatic (CVT) transmission, puts out 149 horsepower and 146 lb.-ft. of torque.
All Sentras are FWD vehicles.
Compared to other compact sedans, I enjoyed my time driving the Sentra and the performance from this power plant. It gets you moving well, even if it's not a complete rocket, and it handles impressively and offers a quiet and smooth ride.
Don’t expect miracles, but it offers strong performance for the price point.
TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
Smaller cars tend not to be overly packed with safety features, but the 2020 Sentra had a few tricks up its sleeve.
My test vehicle featured the optional Intelligent Around View Monitor that proved very helpful in parking situations.
Also, now standard on the Sentra starting in 2020 is Nissan’s suite of safety aids, called Safety Shield 360. Among the helpful features this includes to prevent accidents are:
- High Beam Assist
- Blind Spot Warning
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Rear Automatic Braking
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Lane Departure Warning
The Sentra’s infotainment system is also well-designed, easy-to-use and uncomplicated — just like it should be. Some other automakers, which go over the top in their infotainment designs and overly complicate the experience, could take a hint from this level of simplicity.
MPG
Official fuel mileage numbers on the 2020 Nissan Sentra are 29 city/39 highway/33 combined on the base trim, and 28/27/32 on the SR trim. Driving an SR, I averaged 29 mpg. These numbers are not class-leading but stay near the top of the class in terms of efficiency, even against strong competitors such as the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla or Hyundai Elantra.
PRICE
Base price for the SR trim level I tested was $21,430, and my test vehicle came to $25,325 after options. The base trim level of the Sentra starts at $19K. These are competitive prices for the segment.
BOTTOM LINE
Nissan has knocked it out of the park with the 2020 Sentra, which blows away the previous version by a mile. With all the drama surrounding the company in the past year, great new vehicles like this can go a long way to refocusing attention on what they do best — producing attractive, fun-to-drive, safe and fuel-efficient vehicles.
=====
AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.
