Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2021 Nissan Sentra

small car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2021 Nissan Sentra 4-door sedan
2020 Nissan Sentra shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Advanced

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Nissan Sentra SV 4-door

The Nissan Sentra was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2005
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Footrest (cm) 18
Left toepan (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Parking brake (cm) 11
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2005
Head
HIC-15 89
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 37
Femur (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.60
Right 0.35
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.9
Right 1.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 59
Right 59

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Nissan Sentra SV 4-door

The Nissan Sentra was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2004
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 17
Footrest (cm) 13
Right toepan (cm) 9
Center toepan (cm) 5
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 7
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 10
Right lower dash (cm) 9

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2004
Head
HIC-15 282
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 31
Maximum Nij 0.39
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18
Femur (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 2.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 7
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.60
Right 0.46
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 40

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2004
Head
HIC-15 97
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 32
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.7
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.21
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.5
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 30
Right 38

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Nissan Sentra SV 4-door

The Nissan Sentra was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF2005
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 9
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 3
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 2
Right (cm) 3
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -2
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2005
Head
HIC-15 296
Peak gs at hard contact 83
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 36
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 1.0
Femur force - right (kN) 1.1
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 2
Maximum tibia index - left 0.46
Maximum tibia index - right 0.49
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 63
Right 54

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Nissan Sentra S 4-door

The Nissan Sentra was redesigned for the 2020 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2004
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -15.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2004
Head HIC-15 140
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 15
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 32
Average deflection (mm) 28
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.74
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.47
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 2.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 171
A-P moment (Nm) 52

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2004
Head HIC-15 69
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 12
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 24
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.39
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.55
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.3
Combined force (kN) 1.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.5
L-M moment (Nm) 166
A-P moment (Nm) -21

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2020-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S 4-door

The Nissan Sentra was redesigned for the 2020 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
The dummy's head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill hard. The head protection is inadequate.
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows that the driver dummy's head moved downward, past the side curtain airbag, and contacted the window sill.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbags.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2231
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2231
Head
HIC-15 387
Peak gs at hard contact 84
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.7
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 24
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 42
Average deflection (mm) 36
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.59
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 1.03
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 4.8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2231
Head
HIC-15 182
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 22
Average deflection (mm) 19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.66
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.31
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.8

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2020-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Nissan Sentra SV 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,035 lbs
Peak force14,266 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.70

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Manual cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Manual cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 24
Distance below top of head (mm) 53
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.9
Head contact time (ms) 56
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 243

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 3 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • SR trim equipped with Premium package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve and fair on the gradual right and both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual left and gradual right curves and fair on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SR trim equipped with Premium package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-23 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 107.8 m 9.3%
Straightaway left edge 57.4 m 9.3%
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.1 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 56.9 m 60.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge 55.2 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 54.5 m 93.1%
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 173.8 m
Straightaway left edge 163.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 80.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 61.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 64.6 m

Trim level(s)

  • SR trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SR trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 51.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 23.3 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 38.6 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 32.7 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 33.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 28.5 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 127.7 m
Straightaway left edge 81.6 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 49.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 45.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 39.5 m

Trim level(s)

  • S trim
  • SV trim
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen projector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • S trim
  • SV trim
Low-beam headlight type Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen projector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2020-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 41.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 21.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 34.1 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 27.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 32.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 25.8 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 131.9 m
Straightaway left edge 107.8 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 55.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 45.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 42.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-23 models

Superior
Superior
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2020-24 models

Advanced
Advanced

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 8 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 36 mph. A warning was issued 1.9 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-24 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 13
Clearance angle (degrees) 91
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 97
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Lower anchor B
Lower latch is shared for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation