Come 2025, the Nissan Versa will truly be the last mainstream subcompact car standing in America. The Mitsubishi Mirage is on its way out, the Chevrolet Spark and Kia Rio were discontinued years ago, and the Toyota Yaris is now merely a hushed whisper down the corridors of dealer service departments. As such, Nissan seems to be taking advantage of this unique position and adding a little bit of content while hiking prices.
See, new LED headlights are standard across the board, and three pre-paid oil changes mean prices rise between $1,060 and $1,190 depending on trim level. The top-ranking SR trim now retails for $22,330 including freight, the mid-range SV trim for $21,630, and the cheapest two-pedal S CVT trim for $20,130.
This means that the only Versa still under $20,000 is actually the one you want: the $18,330 Versa S, which loses the CVT transmission in favor of a five-speed manual. Not only do you now get better headlights, the base Versa comes with air-conditioning, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, three USB ports, and sensible 15-inch steel wheels. Oddly, neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto is available on the base model, but this thing would be fully loaded if the year was 2012.
It’s easy to poke a bit of fun at a basic vehicle like this and wonder why anyone would buy one over a used Corolla, but hang on a minute — this most basic Versa actually makes sense. For starters, there’s no Xtronic CVT to worry about, just a good old-fashioned five-speed manual. The 1.6-liter HR16DE four-cylinder engine is a proven unit that uses a timing chain and port injection, so you don’t have to worry about timing belt replacement intervals or direct injection carbon build-up. Simple drum brakes in the back should offer a huge lifespan, and a physical, mechanical parking brake reduces complexity compared to an electronic arrangement. The suspension’s simple too, struts up front and a torsion beam out back. If you want a car to keep for a very long time, the base Versa is made with some rather promising ingredients.
Add in the fact that financing a new car usually attracts better interest rates than financing a used car, and I could see the value proposition for someone with not a lot of cash to splash who just wants simple, honest transportation. The base Versa will get the job done, and deliver a tolerable 30 mpg combined while doing so.
However, even the Versa won’t be around forever. At the moment, there are doubts as to whether a new generation Versa will appear once this one reaches the end of its lifecycle. Sooner or later, the mainstream subcompact car could be dead in America for good. Enjoy it while you still have the chance to.
(Photo credits: Nissan)
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This probably would have atrocious rev hang to meet emissions. This is not the the old cheap cable throttle econobox we want it to be. The throttle by wire has become the death knell for the cheap fun manual cars. To only compound things the throttle by wire is the way that automatics overtook manual cars in efficiency, durability and power.
Now that they aren’t heinously ugly I think you could do a lot worse than this car.
This is a totally solid choice for someone that just wants simple, low cost transportation. There’s a place for cars like this. And a lot of Americans really should consider it, over buying an 8 year old Grand Cherokee with the same 72 month loan at a higher rate.
I’ll add that this generation of Versa is so, so much less cynical and shitty than the last one. It’s closer to the cheap and rational of the first gen.
Fun fact: this platform is shared with Renault, so the Versa is pretty close relative to the E-Micra and a number of Renaults and Dacias.
Also Ladas.
If the LED lights have any kind of decent pattern, go for the $18,330 special. An honest 5 speed and 4 doors, universal econo suspension and disk brakes are the formula for trouble free motoring. $300 or so should get you ahead unit that will display the required reversing camera and add CarPlay or whatever the other thing is. It even comes w/ a warranty fhat used Corolla doesn’t have.
At this price point I am buying the new Versa vs the 100,000 mile Toyota. From the guy who is driving a 250,000 mile Camry.
Sounds like a new 2002 Sentra, which I mean as a compliment.
except with rev hang
“no Xtronic CVT to worry about”? This must be a joke. The Jatco Xtronic CVT was designed to be worry free. The smooth, no-shifts nature of the CVT, combined with its maintenence-free lifetime CVT fluid, there is literally nothing to worry about. I’m surprised Nissan even offers the inferior 5 speed manual. Nothing but hassle, and don’t even get me started on clutch replacement…
Love the commitment to the bit, sir.
All some people need or want is a cheap appliance car. This works quite nicely.
The overstyled car for Doordash drivers who can’t afford an Altima.
Great.
Cars like this make me miss my ’89 Mercury Tracer.
I’ve been looking at these (not that I’m likely to go buy one) because manual transmission. Yes, it’s a Nissan (with all the negative connotations that carries) but I still sort of like it for its basic adequacy. If it could be had as a two-door, it’d probably be irresistible to weirdos like me.
Plus, though it’s been a cliche for well over a decade, I think it was available in metallic orange for a bit.
If this car had a T or an H on the grille, it would be the best new car on the market.
So true! 🙂
I’m frankly shocked they’ll still offer a manual. Take rate appears to be around 5% and it’s the last 5-speed manual sold in the US, now 2 years running.
I wonder if it’s just so they have one model they can advertise for under $20k?
This is actually a rather attractive car now. Decent looking car, decent price, decently simple. The last true Nissan.
It really is – the previous gen, which I still see, is sooo ugly. I’m esp. impressed with how low it is…it has the roofline of a ’90s car.
I’d consider it if the nearest Nissan dealer wasn’t 100 miles away on the other side of a mountain range. A used Mazda is a better proposition for me.
The Chinese are coming
They are already invading the Buick dealership.
Does it still have mandatory steelies with plastic covers?
That was the one drawback with last year’s model from my pov. Every year I play “what would I replace my Focus with if I had to?” and last year for the first time, the Versa appeared on the list simply b/c manual transmission in an everyday sedan.
“ three pre-paid oil changes mean prices rise between $1,060 and $1,190 depending on trim level.”
Geez, does that include steak and lobster dinners for the entire service team?
And LEDs! Don’t forget the LEDs!
My guess is dealers are in the habit of steering customers in this price bracket to the more profitable used lot, and this is an incentive to get dealers to stock Versas and actually try to sell them.
I agree buyers of inexpensive cars are not car savvy and are preyed on by slimy salesmen especially since manufacturers don’t advertise so much anymore.