2020 Nissan Sentra

The all-new 2020 Nissan Sentra compact sedan is a more competitive entry into an already competitive but shrinking car segment. This new generation of Sentra improves over the past model in many ways: Exterior styling, interior design and materials, comfort, performance and handling. We like the way it looks, and appreciate the improvements to the driving dynamics without sacrificing comfort or fuel economy. The 2020 Sentra is a much more interesting car than generations past and a generally good offering, but it still has some flaws — meager power, a sole CVT transmission option and a cramped back seat. It’s also up against some stiff competition, including the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and newly improved Toyota Corolla, which, frankly, we still prefer over the Nissan. Nevertheless, the Sentra feels competitive and well-rounded for the segment — something we wouldn’t have said about it a year ago. What's new for 2020? The Nissan Sentra is an all-new model for 2020. That means new looks, new dimensions, new interior design and materials, new driving dynamics and new performance specs. What's the Sentra's interior and in-car technology like? The 2020 Sentra’s interior is an improvement from the previous version, with more inspired design and better materials that give it an altogether more upmarket and sportier feel than before. It's now one of the more handsome and well-made cabins in the segment. A lower driver’s seat with more aggressive bolstering makes it more driver-focused. We like the mix of materials on offer — which can be complemented by contrasting stitching and orange or charcoal accents — instead of vast, drab swaths of plastic. There are cloth upholstery options, as well as a leatherette and even a tan leather option with quilted stitching. Heated seats and steering wheel are also available. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard equipment in the S trim, while the SV and SR have 8-inch units. Thankfully, there are still hard buttons for the important audio and HVAC functions, and all come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. In addition to two standard USB ports (one front, one rear), the SV and SL trims gain a USB-C port as well. It still has analog gauges, with a digital information display in the center of the instrument panel. It offers available adaptive cruise control, and can be had with the ultra-helpful “Around View” 360-degree parking camera. How big is the Sentra? The 2020 Sentra's exterior is very close in size to its primary competitors, but it differs a little bit inside. Despite Sentra getting a slightly larger back seat for 2020, headroom is scarce, and legroom (34.7 inches) is about the same as Toyota Corolla, but falls shy of the Hyundai Elantra’s 37.3 or Honda Civic’s 37.4 inches. As a result, those rivals provide a more comfortable experience for rear passengers on longer rides or stand a better chance of accepting child seats without impinging upon front seat space. The Sentra’s trunk has shrunk slightly for 2020, dropping down to 14.3 cubic …
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