2020 Toyota Camry vs 2020 Nissan Sentra

The 2020 Toyota Camry had a renewed focus on quality and appeal, aiming to reclaim its reputation for reliability and value. Its styling was more expressive than ever, with bold front fascia and taut lines that gave it a sporty look. The interior featured uniformly nice materials and a driver-focused dashboard, making even the base trims feel upscale. The TRD model added red trim accents, including bright red seatbelts, enhancing its sporty appeal. Despite these improvements, the Camry remained a mainstream sedan with a starting price of $25,380, not quite reaching the luxury or sport sedan status.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, on the other hand, transformed its previously dowdy image into something more appealing. The new design, inspired by the Altima, made the Sentra feel larger and more refined. The lowered body profile and detailed sheet metal creases gave it an expensive look. The interior also saw significant upgrades, with a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and white-stitched leatherette dash that felt premium. The SV Premium Package offered quilted tan leather seats and Infiniti-grade materials, making the Sentra's interior close to that of luxury compacts like the Mercedes-Benz CLA.

The 2020 Toyota Camry offered four distinct powertrains: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with FWD, the same engine with AWD, a FWD 3.5-liter V6, and a hybrid powertrain. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 horsepower and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing a smooth and powerful driving experience. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 203 hp (206 in XSE trim), was lighter and offered a more engaging drive, especially in the sporty XSE trim. The AWD system, similar to that in the RAV4, could send up to half of the engine's 184 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels, enhancing traction in slippery conditions. Fuel economy for the front-drive Camry was rated at 31 mpg combined, dropping to 28 mpg with AWD and 26 mpg for the V6 models.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra, however, simplified its powertrain options with a single 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The CVT mimicked gear changes of a conventional automatic, providing smooth and responsive performance. The Sentra's independent rear suspension improved handling and ride quality, making it feel controlled and supportive. Fuel economy was impressive, with an EPA rating of 29 mpg city, 39 highway, and 33 combined. The Sentra's steering response and handling were also high points, offering a quick and confident driving experience.

The 2020 Toyota Camry was easy to get into and drive, with most controls falling easily to hand. The front seats offered increased legroom and hip room compared to the previous generation. However, the rear seat had reduced legroom and overall passenger volume, making it tighter than competitors like the Honda Accord. The trunk space was also smaller, at 15.1 cubic feet, equivalent to that of the Honda Civic. The addition of AWD did not compromise the trunk or passenger space, thanks to modifications in the floor structure and fuel tank.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra's backseat was surprisingly spacious, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The front seats featured Nissan's Zero Gravity cushioning, reducing fatigue on long drives. The lowered body profile improved side visibility, although the rear window's rake limited the rear view. The trunk space measured 14.3 cubic feet, slightly smaller than the outgoing model but still large for a compact car. The seatbacks folded to expand cargo space, making the Sentra practical for everyday use.

The 2020 Toyota Camry added Android Auto to its standard features, joining Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a three-month trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. The standard infotainment system, while functional and quick to respond, felt dated with low-resolution graphics. The base models came with a 7-inch screen, with an optional 8-inch upgrade available. A three-month trial of WiFi Connect and a one-year trial of Remote Connect were also included. Higher trims featured a 7-inch multi-information display and an optional 10-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra did not offer ProPilot, navigation, or wireless charging, but it included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and WiFi as standard on the mid-level SV. The SV also added two more USB ports, including USB-C, and larger screens. The SV Premium Package and SR trim offered additional features like LED headlights, Bose stereo, sunroof, heated front seats, and 360-degree cameras. The SV came with dual-zone climate control, proximity-entry key, adaptive cruise control, and remote engine start, making it well-equipped for its price.

The 2020 Toyota Camry came with Toyota's Safety Sense suite, including a pre-collision system with emergency braking, dynamic radar adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, and automatic high beams. A one-year trial of Safety Connect was also included. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional. The Camry earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. There was one NHTSA recall for leaking engine coolant, affecting up to 44,191 cars with 2.5-liter engines.

The 2020 Nissan Sentra had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to receive top ratings. It included rear side airbags, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, forward and reverse emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and auto high beams as standard. A driver attention monitor was also included, making the Sentra well-equipped for safety.