Nissan Sentra earns top IIHS safety rating for 2026

The 2026 Nissan Sentra has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ distinction, the institute’s highest rating. The redesigned compact sedan received Good scores across all three IIHS crash tests, covering small overlap front, moderate overlap front and side impact, supported by 10 standard airbags.

Nissan said the 2026 Sentra features a completely new advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) suite compared to its predecessor. A new-generation front camera with 4K-class resolution and a wider field of view is paired with front radar to improve hazard detection. The updated system also adds bicyclist and motorcyclist detection functionality.

All grades now feature standard LED projector headlights, replacing the previous model’s halogen or LED reflector units. Nissan said the brighter, more precisely aimed lights contributed to improved IIHS lighting test performance and better night visibility.

Yuki Amma, a Research and Development Manager on Nissan’s ADAS team, said: “Remarkable advancements in camera technology have allowed us to enhance Sentra’s active safety capabilities while maintaining overall system affordability.”

The 2026 Sentra starts at US$22,600.

Source: Nissan