Archived model-year dossier
2020 Nissan Sentra
The 2020 Nissan Sentra is completely redesigned, with new styling and a new 2.0-liter four making 149 horsepower in place of the 1.8-liter, and used prices from $12,750 at Kelley Blue Book. NHTSA lists four recalls, two for bent tie rods, and 205 complaints. EPA rates it 32 to 33 mpg combined.
Configurations2
Model/option labels2
Combined efficiency32–33 MPG/MPGe
Electric rangeNot listed
Decision answers7
What changed on the 2020 Nissan Sentra
Nissan (opens in a new tab) calls the all-new 2020 Sentra a breakthrough for its compact sedan, with new styling, a refined premium interior, a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder replacing the 1.8-liter and delivering 149 horsepower and 146 lb-ft, and a dual-pinion electric power steering system and Intelligent Trace Control as standard. Gunn Nissan (opens in a new tab) adds a new floating roof and updated taillights and rear bumper.
Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) puts used 2020 Sentras at $12,750 for the S to $14,200 for the SR at a dealership, and rates fuel economy at 28/37 to 29/39 mpg city and highway. EPA rates the 2020 Sentra at 32 to 33 mpg combined and $1,900 to $1,950 a year in fuel, with front-wheel drive.
Recalls and problems owners report
NHTSA lists four recall campaigns for the 2020 Sentra. 21V461000 and 23V581000 cover a tie rod that may be bent or may bend, and dealers replace the tie rods as necessary. 22V244000 covers a right-hand headlight that may be misaligned, and 23V628000 covers camera harness damage that can distort or lose the rearview camera image.
Owners have filed 205 complaints with NHTSA: forward collision avoidance with 60, steering with 55, unknown or other with 47, electrical system with 45 and service brakes with 25. CarComplaints (opens in a new tab) tracks the year's problems by category, and ProblemsByVin (opens in a new tab) keeps a record.
2020 Sentra against the Corolla, Civic, Elantra and Mazda3
EPA rates the 2020 Sentra at 32 to 33 mpg combined and $1,900 to $1,950 a year in fuel. The Toyota Corolla lists 31 to 52 at $1,200 to $2,000 including its hybrid, the Hyundai Elantra 26 to 36 at $1,750 to $2,400, the Honda Civic 25 to 36 at $1,750 to $3,100, and the Mazda3 27 to 30 at $2,100 to $2,300. The Sentra is ahead of the Mazda3 and in line with the Corolla's gasoline range.
Trim-by-trim specifications
The 2020 Nissan Sentra: 3 trims compared.
Kelley Blue Book specifications, one row per trim.
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | EPA city / hwy / comb | Seats | Basic warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Automatic, CVT w/Xtronic | FWD | 149 | 146 | 29 / 39 / 33 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| SV | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Automatic, CVT w/Xtronic | FWD | 149 | 146 | 29 / 39 / 33 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| SR | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Automatic, CVT w/Xtronic | FWD | 149 | 146 | 28 / 37 / 32 mpg | 5 | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Trim | Curb weight | Length | Height | Wheelbase | Ground clearance | Turning circle | Fuel tank | Front headroom | Front legroom | Tires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 3,047 lb | 182.7 in | 56.9 in | 106.8 in | 4.8 in | 38.1 ft | 12.4 gal | 38.9 in | 44 in | P205/60R16 |
| SV | 3,045 lb | 182.7 in | 56.9 in | 106.8 in | 4.8 in | 38.1 ft | 12.4 gal | 38.9 in | 44 in | P205/60R16 |
| SR | 3,084 lb | 182.7 in | 57 in | 106.8 in | 4.9 in | 38.1 ft | 12.4 gal | 38.9 in | 44 in | P215/45R18 |
Equipment by trim
Which 2020 Nissan Sentra trim has what.
Std is standard, Opt is optional, a dash means Kelley Blue Book lists it as not available.
| Equipment | S | SV | SR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety | |||
| Anti-theft alarm | – | Std | Std |
| Blind-spot alert | Std | Std | Std |
| Child door locks | Std | Std | Std |
| Child-seat anchors | Std | Std | Std |
| Forward collision warning | Std | Std | Std |
| Driver-attention monitor | Std | Std | Std |
| Hill-start assist | Std | Std | Std |
| Pedestrian detection with automatic braking | Std | Std | Std |
| Rearview camera | Std | Std | Std |
| Surround-view camera | – | – | Opt |
| Electronic stability control | Std | Std | Std |
| Traction control | Std | Std | Std |
| Technology | |||
| Text-message reader | Std | Std | Std |
| Bluetooth audio streaming | Std | Std | Std |
| Bluetooth | Std | Std | Std |
| Hands-free calling | Std | Std | Std |
| IPod connector | Std | Std | Std |
| IPod interface | Std | Std | Std |
| Premium audio system | – | – | Opt |
| Satellite radio | – | Std | Std |
| Apple CarPlay or Android Auto | Std | Std | Std |
| Steering-wheel audio controls | Std | Std | Std |
| Voice recognition | Std | Std | Std |
| Comfort | |||
| Heated front seats | – | Opt | Opt |
| Heated steering wheel | – | – | Opt |
| Heated mirrors | – | Std | Std |
| Power driver's seat | – | Opt | Opt |
| Leather seats | – | Opt | – |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | – | Std | Std |
| Tilt steering wheel | Std | Std | Std |
| Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel | Std | Std | Std |
| Cup holders | Std | Std | Std |
| Folding rear seat | Std | Std | Std |
| Exterior and convenience | |||
| Alloy wheels | – | Std | Std |
| Fog lights | – | – | Std |
| Rear spoiler | Opt | Opt | Std |
| Remote liftgate or trunk release | Std | Std | Std |
| 12-volt power outlet | Std | Std | Std |
| Power windows | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote keyless entry | Std | Std | Std |
| Remote engine start | – | Std | Std |
| Proximity keyless entry | – | Std | Std |
| Push-button start | Std | Std | Std |
| Cruise control | Std | Std | Std |
| Integrated garage-door opener | Opt | Opt | Opt |
| Rear-window defroster | Std | Std | Std |
Complete certification table
2 configuration records.
| EPA ID / label | Engine / technology | Drive / transmission | Fuel | City | Hwy | Combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42472Sentra | 2L 4-cyl SIDIConventional | Front-Wheel DriveAutomatic (variable gear ratios) | Regular | 29 | 39 | 33 | N/A |
| 42473Sentra SR | 2L 4-cyl SIDIConventional | Front-Wheel DriveAutomatic (variable gear ratios) | Regular | 28 | 37 | 32 | N/A |
Model-specific answer center
7 answers for this exact family-year.
Q01What changed on the 2020 Nissan Sentra versus the 2019 Nissan Sentra?
Model year
Against the 2019 Nissan Sentra: Model/option labels added: Sentra SR. Model/option labels no longer listed: Sentra Nismo. Engine descriptions added: 2L 4-cyl SIDI. Engine descriptions no longer listed: 1.6L 4-cyl SIDI, 1.8L 4-cyl. Transmissions no longer listed: Automatic (AV-S7), Manual 6-spd. Fuel types no longer listed: Premium. Certification records went from 5 to 2. Midpoint combined efficiency moved from 29.5 to 32.5 MPG/MPGe. Federal recall campaigns on file went from 2 for the 2019 to 4 for the 2020.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov certification records for both model years
Q02How did the 2020 Nissan Sentra do in NHTSA's side crash and rollover tests?
Safety record
The 2020 Nissan Sentra earned 5 stars in the side crash test (5 stars driver side, 5 stars passenger side) and 5 stars for rollover resistance, a 9.9% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash. Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, read 2026-09-20.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
Q03How much is the destination charge on the 2020 Nissan Sentra?
Pricing
Kelley Blue Book's review of the 2020 Nissan Sentra puts the destination charge, the fee for delivering the vehicle from the factory to the dealer, at $925. It is added to the base price. Source: Kelley Blue Book review of the 2020 Nissan Sentra, read 2026-09-21.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Q04What torque do the 2020 Nissan Sentra's wheel nuts need?
Wheels and tires
The 2020 Nissan Sentra owner's manual gives 83 lb-ft as the wheel-nut tightening torque. Source: 2020 Nissan Sentra owner's manual.
Source: Manufacturer owner's manual
Q05What brake fluid, refrigerant and key-fob battery does the 2020 Nissan Sentra use?
Maintenance
The 2020 Nissan Sentra owner's manual names DOT 3 brake fluid and R-1234yf air-conditioning refrigerant. Source: 2020 Nissan Sentra owner's manual.
Source: Manufacturer owner's manual
Q06What size wheels does the 2020 Nissan Sentra have?
Wheels and tires
The 2020 Nissan Sentra's wheel diameter is 16 inches on the S and SV and 18 inches on the SR. Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Q07How do the 2020 Nissan Sentra trims differ from one another?
Trims
All 3 trims share the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making 149 hp. The SV has an anti-theft alarm, alloy wheels, heated mirrors and 4 more as standard equipment over the S. The SR has fog lights and a rear spoiler as standard equipment over the SV.
Source: Kelley Blue Book vehicle specifications
Live NHTSA evidence
Current federal safety records for 2020 Nissan Sentra.
Exact-vehicle evidence desk
Check the exact vehicle, not just the model name.
Recalls, build data and service applicability are determined at VIN level, not by model name.
01 · NHTSASafety ratings, recalls, complaints and manufacturer communicationsExact model-year search → (opens in a new tab)02 · NHTSACheck open safety recalls by 17-character VINOfficial VIN remedy status → (opens in a new tab)03 · vPICDecode manufacturer-submitted vehicle attributesInternal VIN tool →04 · EPAQuery another year, make, model and option1984–current browser →
FuelEconomy.gov data source (opens in a new tab) · Methodology
Other model years
Compare the Nissan Sentra across model years.
Ownership desk
Problems and maintenance decisions worth checking next.
Diesel ownershipWhite smoke from a diesel on cold startDepends →Body, water and noisePower liftgate reverses or will not closeSoon →Seasonal and storageStarting and inspecting a vehicle after long storageRoutine →Warning lightsCheck-engine light: steady versus flashingDepends →Warning lightsTire-pressure light flashing, then staying onSoon →Engine and coolingEngine overheats at idle but cools while movingStop driving →