The 2021 Nissan Sentra marked a significant redesign, bringing with it not just a fresh aesthetic but also enhanced safety features. For those prioritizing safety in their vehicle choice, understanding crash test performance is paramount. This detailed analysis delves into the safety ratings of the 2021 Sentra, drawing from rigorous evaluations to provide a comprehensive overview of its protective capabilities.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Assessment
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. In the driver-side small overlap test for the 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra models, the vehicle achieved a Good rating, the highest possible.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/Neck, Chest, Hip/Thigh, Lower Leg/Foot) | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Technical measurements from the test VTN2005 indicated minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment, with key measurements including:
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 12 |
| Footrest | 18 |
| Left toepan | 7 |
| Brake pedal | 6 |
| Parking brake | 11 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 4 |
| Upper dash | 7 |
| Lower instrument panel | 8 |
Driver injury measures were also reassuringly low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of 89 and minimal forces recorded on the neck and femur.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
Extending the small overlap assessment to the passenger side, the 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra again demonstrated strong performance, securing an Good overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Passenger injury measures (Head/Neck, Chest, Hip/Thigh, Lower Leg/Foot) | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/Neck, Chest, Hip/Thigh, Lower Leg/Foot) | G |
While the structure and safety cage received an Acceptable rating in this passenger-side test, all injury measures for both passenger and driver dummies were rated Good. Test VTP2004 revealed slightly greater occupant compartment intrusion on the passenger side compared to the driver side.
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 17 |
| Footrest | 13 |
| Right toepan | 9 |
| Center toepan | 5 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 7 |
| Upper dash | 10 |
| Right lower dash | 9 |
Passenger injury metrics remained low, with a HIC-15 of 282, and similarly low forces on the neck and femur, indicating effective occupant protection in this challenging crash scenario.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Assessment
In the traditional moderate overlap front crash test, which involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier, the 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra maintained its high safety standard with an Good overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/Neck, Chest, Leg/Foot Left & Right) | G (Leg/Foot), A (Head/Neck) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Test VTF2005 measurements indicated minimal footwell intrusion and steering column movement.
| Measurement | Value (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest intrusion | 3 |
| Left footwell intrusion | 9 |
| Center footwell intrusion | 6 |
| Right footwell intrusion | 4 |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 3 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Left) | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Right) | 3 |
| Steering column upward movement | 1 |
| Steering column rearward movement | -2 |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 |
Driver injury measures remained well-controlled, although the head/neck injury measure was rated Acceptable, while chest and leg/foot measures were rated Good.
Side Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The original side impact test evaluated the 2020 Nissan Sentra S 4-door, resulting in an Good overall rating. This test simulates a vehicle being struck on the side by another vehicle or object.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures (Head/Neck, Torso, Pelvis/Leg) | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures (Head/Neck, Torso, Pelvis/Leg) | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Technical measurements from test VTS2004 showed minimal B-pillar intrusion, and driver and passenger injury measures were all rated Good, showcasing excellent side impact protection.
Side Crash Test: Updated Evaluation Reveals Driver Head Protection Issue
An updated side crash test, conducted on a 2022 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S 4-door, yielded an Acceptable overall rating. While structure and safety cage remained Acceptable and most injury measures were Good, a critical issue emerged with driver head protection, which was rated Marginal.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Driver injury measures (Head/Neck, Torso, Pelvis) | G (Head/Neck), A (Torso, Pelvis) |
| Driver head protection | M |
| Rear passenger injury measures (Head/Neck, Torso, Pelvis) | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Image: Post-crash view of the 2021 Sentra after updated side impact test, highlighting structural integrity.
The test CES2231 revealed that the driver dummy’s head moved downward past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill hard, indicating inadequate head protection for the driver in this updated side impact scenario.
Image: Occupant compartment of the 2021 Sentra after side impact test, showing airbag deployment and structural damage.
Image: Grease paint on driver dummy head indicating contact with window sill in 2021 Sentra side impact test, revealing head protection deficiency.
Image: Rear passenger dummy head grease paint mark in 2021 Sentra side impact test, confirming effective rear passenger head protection by side airbags.
Roof Strength Test: Ensuring Rollover Protection
The roof strength test assesses a vehicle’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra achieved an Good overall evaluation.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Curb weight | 3,035 lbs |
| Peak force | 14,266 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.70 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.70, the 2021 Sentra’s roof demonstrates robust protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints and Seats: Whiplash Protection
Evaluations of head restraints and seats are crucial for minimizing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2021 Nissan Sentra with manual cloth seats received an Good overall evaluation.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements confirmed good seat geometry with a backset of 24mm and distance below the top of the head at 53mm, contributing to effective whiplash protection.
Headlights: Mixed Performance Across Trims
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra headlight ratings vary significantly depending on the trim level.
For the SR trim equipped with the Premium package, featuring LED projector headlights, the overall rating is Acceptable.
| Trim level | Rating |
|---|---|
| SR trim with Premium package | A |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Low beams provided good visibility on straightaways and sharp right curves, but glare was noted. High beams offered good visibility on straightaways and gradual curves.
However, for the SR trim (LED reflector headlights) and S & SV trims (Halogen projector headlights), the overall headlight rating is Poor.
| Trim level | Rating |
|---|---|
| SR trim | P |
| S trim & SV trim | P |
| Low-beam headlight type (SR trim) | LED reflector |
| Low-beam headlight type (S & SV trims) | Halogen projector |
| High-beam headlight type (SR trim) | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type (S & SV trims) | Halogen projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Both low and high beams on these trims demonstrated inadequate visibility on straightaways and curves.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
The 2021-2023 Nissan Sentra’s standard Automatic Emergency Braking system with Pedestrian Detection earned a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention | Superior |
The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
For pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime), the system received an Advanced rating.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Pedestrian front crash prevention (day) | Advanced |
The system avoided collisions with crossing adults and children at 12 mph and 25 mph in some scenarios, and significantly reduced impact speed in others.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): Ease of Use
Child seat anchor evaluations assess the ease of installing child seats. The 2021-2025 Nissan Sentra received a Good+ rating for LATCH system ease of use, including extra LATCH positions.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Child seat anchors (LATCH) | G + extra LATCH positions |
The Sentra offers two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and borrowing capability for lower anchors, providing flexibility for families.
Conclusion: 2021 Nissan Sentra Safety Performance
The 2021 Nissan Sentra demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving mostly Good ratings in critical crash tests. While the updated side impact test revealed a Marginal rating for driver head protection and headlight performance varies significantly by trim, the Sentra generally provides robust occupant protection and excellent front crash prevention capabilities. For prospective buyers, especially families, the 2021 Nissan Sentra stands as a safe and reliable option in the compact sedan segment, warranting consideration for its comprehensive safety features and crash test performance.
