2026 Nissan Sentra Safety Rating
Small cars · Current IIHS listing · IIHS data updated 2026-09-04
The 2026 Nissan Sentra scores 89.8/100, ranking #3 of 16 current small cars and #63 of 137 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It holds the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2026.
Every primary IIHS test is rated Good. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Acceptable; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (54 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test
Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Seat belt reminders
Child seat anchors
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How the score is built
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 54 per million registered vehicle-years | Small cars as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other small cars
Closest-scoring current small cars with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small car ranked →
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Hyundai Elantra | #1 of 16 | TSP | $22,625 | 94.1 | |
| 2026 Nissan Sentra (this page) | #3 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,600 | 89.8 | |
| 2026 Kia K4 | #4 of 16 | TSP+ | $22,290 | 89.6 | |
| 2026 Honda Civic | #5 of 16 | TSP | $27,895 | 89.1 | |
| 2026 Toyota Prius | #6 of 16 | TSP+ | $28,550 | 89.0 |
Other model years of the Nissan Sentra
| Model year | Status | IIHS award | Primary tests reported | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Nissan Sentra | Archived | — | 4/4 | Not ranked |
Each model year keeps its own record. Ratings from one year are never copied to another unless IIHS states the test applies.
Our analysis
The 2026 Nissan Sentra belongs to the Small cars class. This class has an above-average driver death rate compared with the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years, which usually reflects lighter weight and smaller size in multi-vehicle crashes. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Nissan Sentra earned Top Safety Pick+ for 2026. That award requires Good results in the updated tests plus qualifying headlights and pedestrian front crash prevention on the relevant trims; the linked IIHS report shows the exact trims.
Across the 6 IIHS rating categories reported, the Nissan Sentra earned 6 Good ratings. Check the occupant-protection details above as well; a Good headline result can hide a weaker rear-seat subscore.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Nissan or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Nissan Sentra
No recalls on record. NHTSA lists this model year and currently shows no recall campaigns against it.
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Questions about the 2026 Nissan Sentra
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Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.