Cheap, Cheerful, and Safe
The Nissan Sentra is one of the least expensive cars in America today. Starting at just $22,600, it costs just a little more than the Kia K4, slightly undercuts the good ol’ Corolla, and is over $2,000 less than a Civic. Admittedly, the brand gets flak due to certain owners driving its products in an over-enthusiastic way. The reality is, the Sentra is a hugely competent compact sedan.
Brush aside the undeserved reputation, and the Sentra is a solid, well-equipped car for not a lot of cash. Those considering it will also be glad to know they’re making a safe choice, literally and figuratively. The car was recently awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ award, and that’s not even for the top-spec model yet.
IIHS’ Seal of Approval
Even before, the IIHS has been tough on cars, going beyond the usual government tests to bring out any weaknesses to ensure safety. With that, the organization doesn’t hand out awards easily, and having that Top Safety Pick+ tag on any car makes it worth considering.
The IIHS tested the Sentra SV, the model that sits just above the entry-level S trim. It already comes equipped with a suite of advanced driver assists, which the IIHS praised. The assists were rated as average overall following the tests, but performed well in pedestrian collision avoidance. The Sentra also got good ratings all around for its crashworthiness, providing high levels of protection for both front and rear passengers.
IIHS
The Sentra’s Standard Safety Kit
Even in its most basic trim, the Sentra comes equipped with heaps of safety features. All come equipped with autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and lane-keep assist, to name a few.
The safety package is enhanced the higher up the model grades. For the top-spec SL, it comes with a surround-view monitor, ProPilot Assist, unresponsive driver assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go function. These features are optional on the SR.
Other Nissans Got Awards, Too
The Sentra wasn’t the only Nissan model that received accolades from the IIHS in its most recent tests. The Murano, Pathfinder, and Armada also performed well above the institute’s tough standards.
For Murano and Pathfinder, those crossovers were also awarded the Top Safety Pick+. Those models were retested after the IIHS implemented new standards, but still managed to retain its high ratings. As for the Armada, that one got the Top Safety Pick, just a step below the top award. That said, you can bet Nissan is finding ways to make its flagship SUV get the Top Safety Pick+ award the next time the IIHS tests it again.
