The tenacious 2023 Nissan Versa, now in its third generation, is a small car with five comfy seats and a competitive price. The Versa is the cheapest new vehicle you can purchase, starting at $16,925, and it offers a lot of value with its four doors. The manufacturer has outfitted the compact car with a comprehensive array of driver-assist features, and even the cheapest model includes a sharp touchscreen. The Versa’s value pitch won’t disappoint anyone searching for a new, affordable vehicle for themselves or a youthful driver.
Since the Versa was redesigned entirely in 2020 with a new appearance and more mature proportions, this model year features few revisions. The Versa SR now has an 8-inch touchscreen for 2023, while the SV comes standard with wireless charging and a center console. The looks are identical to in 2022, except for an upgraded grille. There are three trim levels, with the essential S costing $15,925 (with a manual gearbox; automatic transmissions are much more expensive), followed by the mid-range SV model at $20,215 and the top-of-the-line SR at $20,915.
Although the more prominent Versa is no longer classified as a subcompact, it competes in the market for cheap subcompact vehicles and is one of the few such vehicles left. The Versa bridges the gap between smaller compacts like the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage and bigger compacts like the Kia Forte after the departure of the Chevy Spark, Honda Fit, and Hyundai Accent. It also somewhat rivals the more opulent four-door Mini Hardtop. The Versa holds its own in terms of overall performance, despite the Rio and Mirage having higher gas efficiency and the Mini having more upscale materials.
Each Versa features a front-wheel-drive system, and the basic model comes with a manual gearbox as standard. For individuals who prefer not to change gears independently, a continuously variable automatic gearbox (CVT) is offered; the CVT is a standard feature on the SV and SR grades. A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque powers all three Versa models. It performs well both on city streets and highways and has good handling. In addition, parking is simple.
The Versa is a standout entry-level sedan. The car is pleasant on short and long travels thanks to its Nissan Zero Gravity seats, undoubtedly among the most comfortable in the non-luxury segment. Small storage is lacking, but the trunk outperforms many of its rivals with 14.7 cubic feet. Despite this car’s size advantage, the rear seat is confined. Inside, it’s also a little sparse. The Versa is just a vehicle to carry you from point A to point B; it has no lofty ideals.
Although not elegant, Versa’s interior is noticeably better than the Mirage’s, and the Nissan is well-equipped for the money. In terms of safety features, Nissan performs a fantastic job: The 2023 Versa comes included with Safety Shield 360, which is highly comprehensive and offers features not available from Mitsubishi and must be purchased separately from Mini, despite the latter’s significantly higher starting price. The three-year, 36,000-mile guarantee offered by Nissan is adequate, but it falls short of Kia and Mitsubishi’s five-year, 60,000-mile warranties and even longer powertrain coverage.
Performance: Nissan Versa
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the Versa is sufficient, producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, and it offers smooth, dependable driving.
With much more power than the Mirage, the Versa is nearly perfectly on level with the Kia Rio. The only way the little 78-horsepower Mitsubishi can keep up is by being 500 pounds lighter than the Versa and 700 pounds lighter than the Rio. With a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that produces 134 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, the Mini has the highest power of this group, which facilitates passing and accelerating.
The performance envelope of the Versa is small, but the handling and steering are adequate. H: The Versa is not designed to be an efficient vehicle. It works as a utility player and does a good job.
The Versa is a front-wheel-drive car, like others in its class. Although Kia and Mitsubishi no longer offer their prior manual choices, you can still obtain a Versa with a stick transmission and save money. This is an excellent option if you want your children to learn how to use a manual.
Fuel efficiency: Nissan Versa
The 2023 Versa has an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 35 mpg combined (32 urban and 40 highways) when equipped with an automatic gearbox. These figures are comparable to those of the Kia Rio, and both sedans provide higher fuel economy than the Mini hardtop (32 mpg combined with an automatic, 31 mpg with a manual). No other non-hybrid vehicle can match the fuel efficiency of the Mirage, which can achieve up to 39 mpg combined (36 urban, 43 highway), thanks to its diminutive size.
The Versa should go 350 miles on a full tank of petrol, which is plenty of range even if you do most of your driving in cities. Even though electric and hybrid automobiles are more fuel-efficient, their prices are higher. The Toyota Corolla LE is the least expensive hybrid, starting at $23,895, while the Chevrolet Bolt EV is the least costly, starting at $27,495. You would need to go a great distance to make up the difference in energy savings.
Safety and driver support technology:
Every Versa comes with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360, which comes with lane departure warning, high beam assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, and automatic rear braking as standard features (the mid-grade SV model also comes with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard features). Compared to the technology offered by the Mirage, which provides almost no of this technology, and the Kia Rio, which is scant until you reach the highest trim level, this is a vast improvement.
The 2023 Versa received the maximum possible rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). The 2023 Versa has just “Good” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in specific tests, and the car hasn’t been fully assessed.
Comfort and Space
At least up front, the Versa’s interior is relatively roomy. The most significant amount in this small class of headroom is 39.5 inches. Like the rear legroom, the front legroom measures 44.5 inches instead of 42.1 inches in the Rio and 41.7 inches in the Mirage. Backseat passengers won’t be as pleased since it is immediately apparent which row Nissan gave priority when building this vehicle.
Despite being almost as big as vehicles like the Forte and Civic Hatchback, the Versa is dead last in its class for rear headroom (36.3 inches compared to the Mirage’s 37.2) and rear legroom (a very tight 31 inches compared to the Rio’s 33.5 inches). The Versa has around 6 or 7 inches less back legroom than vehicles like the Forte and Civic.
The Versa stands out from its rivals, who average 5.5 inches off the road, thanks to its 6.8-inch ground clearance. This improves the driver’s field of vision while also making the ride significantly bumpier on washboard roads and uneven pavement.
Infotainment: Nissan Versa
The infotainment system of a Versa is simple to connect to and effortlessly incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Although it is not a standard feature on the basic model, it is on the SR and SV variants. Like the Accent, the Kia Rio comes standard with a smartphone connection. Mitsubishi has the most basic features and no native infotainment system, although it integrates CarPlay and Android Auto.
Standard features include a four-speaker sound system, a 7-inch touchscreen, three USB ports, voice controls, and Bluetooth connectivity. The 8-inch touchscreen and two more speakers with the top-tier SR model give the satellite radio a greater chance of drowning out any road noise and the CVT’s droning.
Storage & Cargo Space:
The Versa now has an opportunity to shine: The little sedan’s 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space allows it to hold a surprising amount of stuff. More than the Rio and the Mini Hardtop combined, that is an additional cubic foot. The rear seats split 60/40 when you choose the automatic gearbox. Fans of manual transmissions get a fixed back seat.
More cargo space is available with the seats folding in the Mini, Mirage, and Rio hatchbacks (up to 47 cubic feet in the Mirage), but rear passengers are not available in any of the three vehicles. The Rio sedan and the four-door Mirage G4 have smaller trunks (12.3 and 13.7 cubic feet, respectively), and neither folds down like the manual Versa S.
With a small console and constrained door pockets, the Versa has trouble with little storage, although the Mirage and Mini have similar issues.
Design: Nissan Versa
Nissan did a fantastic job with its 2020 Versa facelift. What had previously been a faceless blob suddenly evolved into a mature, though still youthful, relative of the car manufacturer’s bigger Sentra. The exterior has a sleek, aerodynamic form and identifiable Nissan design elements, and the interior fit and finish are excellent. Although there is a lot of hard plastic, it appears considerably more contemporary than the Mirage’s cabin and doesn’t have the same cheap, cardboard-like feel as earlier Verses.
The Nissan Versa 2023: Is It Worth It?
If you’re looking for a vehicle with a manual gearbox, your only choice is the Essential S, which starts at $16,925 (plus a $1,095 destination charge). Although the S Automatic is available, it starts at a far higher price—$18,595—than the automatic basic models of the Rio and Mirage.
If you have more cash, we’d suggest the Versa SV ($20,215) or SR ($20,915). Before considering the extra safety features, the SV offers attractive improvements to Apple CarPlay, heated mirrors, improved upholstery, and satellite radio. Two of the most essential driver-assist features for driving in heavy traffic or crowded parking lots are blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warnings. The SR upgrade brings 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, and adaptive cruise control, which is efficient on lengthy journeys.
How Much Does a Nissan Versa Insurance Cost?
The Nissan Versa has affordable insurance costs. Our statistics show that a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record may anticipate an average yearly premium of $2,030; this cost is standard across all 50 states. In contrast, a Mitsubishi Mirage costs $2,440, a Kia Rio $2,128, a Hyundai Venue $1,727, and a Mini Hardtop $1,937.
Verdict
The Nissan Versa is the automaker’s smallest and most affordable car, but in 2020 it had a dramatic redesign that increased its size and upgraded its interior and amenities. For 2023, not much will change, which is excellent for this tenacious four-door small vehicle. Every Versa has a front-wheel drive and a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Once moving, the car handles nicely and travels smoothly. When shopping for an economical new automobile, the Versa is tough to beat for the price.
