Used 2020 Nissan Sentra for Sale nearPhiladelphia, PA

How much does the 2020 Nissan Sentra cost?

Prices have softened 3.88% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

With 1,924 listings available, you have a solid pool of used Sentras to compare on price and condition.

Is the 2020 Nissan Sentra a good car?

Yes — the 2020 Nissan Sentra earns a 4.8/5 from owners and a 7.7/10 expert rating. The model scores 9/10 across Cost effectiveness and Safety.

Owners consistently praise the Sentra’s beautiful design, smooth ride, excellent fuel economy, and useful gadgets. The overview also points to a more upscale feel than you’d expect at this price, with style and everyday value doing most of the heavy lifting.

The main trade-off is performance: the car is described as having fairly pedestrian acceleration and limited excitement. That makes it a better fit if you want a polished, sensible compact sedan rather than something sporty.

With 30.9% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s meaningful room to shop for value.

Is the 2020 Nissan Sentra reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a car that feels dependable in daily use, with praise for its smooth ride, fuel economy, and overall satisfaction. It also highlights the Sentra’s useful gadgets and safety features, which tends to reinforce confidence in long-term ownership.

The expert drive notes that the CVT is smooth and responsive, engine noise and vibration are kept mostly at bay, and the chassis feels composed and supportive. The cost-effectiveness notes also emphasize strong value, which matters when you’re planning to keep a used car for the long haul.

For used buyers, the main ownership risk is less about outright durability and more about making sure the specific car has been cared for well and hasn’t picked up avoidable wear.

What should I look for when buying a used 2020 Nissan Sentra?

At 61.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a careful inspection of bodywork, alignment, and interior condition. Because the Sentra’s appeal is tied so closely to its style, comfort, and tech, you’ll want to make sure the car still feels tight, clean, and well-kept.

Pay close attention to how the car drives in traffic and at highway speeds, since the powertrain and throttle response are part of the ownership experience. It’s also worth checking that the safety and convenience features work as expected, especially on higher-trim cars.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The SV adds a more upscale feel with a larger touchscreen, expanded instrument display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, WiFi, dual-zone climate, proximity entry, adaptive cruise control, and remote engine start. The SV Premium Package adds 17-inch wheels and quilted tan leather, while the SR adds 18-inch wheels and fog lights.
• Powertrain: A 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder makes 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The setup is smooth and responsive, but acceleration tapers off after 30 mph and the car is not especially sporty.
• Safety package: Every Sentra trim includes forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection for the front, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, auto high beams, rear side airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver attention monitor.
• Infotainment: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and WiFi come standard on the mid-level SV, along with two more USB ports including USB-C and larger screens. Navigation and wireless charging are not offered.
• Fuel efficiency: EPA-rated fuel economy is 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined. The SR returns 1 mpg less in the city and combined and 2 less on the highway.

Which 2020 Nissan Sentra trim should I buy?

The 2020 Nissan Sentra is offered in 3 trim levels: S, SV, SR.

Here's the short version:

• S: This is the least expensive way into the Sentra, but the available content points to the SV as the smarter buy if you want the car’s best mix of value and equipment.
• SV: This is the best-value trim. It adds the features that make the Sentra feel more modern and upscale, including the larger screens, wireless smartphone integration, WiFi, dual-zone climate, adaptive cruise control, and remote start.
• SR: Choose this if you want the sportier-looking trim with 18-inch wheels and fog lights, but the content still frames the Sentra more as a comfort-and-value sedan than a performance car.

Every trim includes the same standard safety suite, so you don’t have to move up the lineup to get the core driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2020 Nissan Sentra?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop patiently but should move quickly on strong listings.

• Deal availability: 30.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,924 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 3.88% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 61.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $14,095, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2020 Nissan Sentra's resale value?

The current average of $14,514 sits slightly below last year's $15,099.

That softer pricing suggests the Sentra has become more accessible for used buyers, which can help keep demand steady among shoppers focused on value. For a future seller, that means resale strength will likely depend on condition, mileage, and how well the car presents against similarly priced compact sedans.

Because the market still rewards the Sentra’s style, safety, and efficiency, a clean, well-maintained example should remain easier to move than one with visible wear or a rough history.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2020 Nissan Sentra safe?

The 2020 Sentra has not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Nissan includes a full suite of standard driver-assistance features on every Sentra trim: forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection for the front, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, auto high beams, rear side airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a driver attention monitor.

That standard safety content is a major strength, especially for a compact sedan at this price. The main caveat is that the crash-test record is not available in the provided data.

Should I buy a 2020 Nissan Sentra or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2020 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2020 if:

• 30.9% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 61.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 3.88% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2020 redesign brings a more upscale look, stronger tech, and better driving dynamics.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $15,032, the 2021 costs more than the current year's $14,514 average.
• It builds on the 2020 makeover with a more polished personality and competitive safety, technology, and fuel economy.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2020 is the smarter buy. If you’re willing to pay more for a slightly newer example, the 2021 is the cleaner follow-up choice.

How does the 2020 Nissan Sentra compare to the 2020 Honda Civic?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2020 Nissan Sentra:

• Pros: Excellent value for money, Standard advanced safety features, Stylish design.
• Cons: Fairly pedestrian performance.

2020 Honda Civic:

• Pros: Excellent value for money, Multiple body styles, Multiple powertrain options.
• Cons: Outdated technology.

Our experts score the 2020 Nissan Sentra 7.7/10 and the 2020 Honda Civic 8.2/10. The Sentra is the better pick if you want a lower average used price and standard safety features baked in. The Civic has the edge if you want more variety in body styles and powertrains, even though the comparison notes outdated technology.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.