The Nissan Versa is the cheapest sedan you can buy in 2023. While the price alone is a reason to buy, it does have a few issues that might turn away prudent car shoppers. The base model’s standard features are not luxurious, but they do provide value in this inexpensive subcompact car. 

The Nissan Versa is the cheapest sedan of 2023

The starting price of the Nissan Versa base model is $16,130. It is important to clarify that this is for the base model with the manual transmission. Those seeking an automatic will spend at least $17,800 for an Xtronic CVT transmission. 

The 2024 Versa has three trim levels: S, SV, and SR. The SV trim starts at $19,420, and the SR trim starts at $20,140. Higher trim levels offer upgrades typical of other cars, such as increased wheel size, a touchscreen display, and heated seats. 

What are the Nissan Versa S’s good and bad points?

The best points about the Nissan Versa S include the fact that buyers aren’t giving up everything to get on the road in an affordable vehicle. The Versa S still has a touchscreen display and controls on the steering wheel. It still has some driver-assist technologies and enough room to comfortably drive longer distances. Overall, the Versa S is an OK car even in its most basic of trim levels. 

However, basic does have its bad points. After all, not many people want cloth seats or manually adjustable seats. Knowing your carbon fiber isn’t real or seeing ugly hard plastic doesn’t make drivers feel luxurious, but the biggest problem with the Versa S is the powertrain. 

Putting the “pedal to the metal” is necessary to keep up with traffic at highway speeds, and drivers may get frustrated getting up to speed on on-ramps. The Versa is slow, and it doesn’t improve with trim levels. 

An overview of what you get with the Nissan Versa S

U.S. News states that the Versa is affordable, “but it doesn’t feel like a cheap penalty box.” That is because although its features are cheap, the Versa’s features are also better than expected. 

The base model Nissan Versa has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. It is front-wheel drive (FWD) and gets a combined fuel economy rating of 35 MPG. 

Features in the Nissan Versa S trim include cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure warning. It has rear cross-traffic alert and high beam assist along with a rearview monitor, hill start assist, and rear automatic braking. 

The standard wheels are 15-inch steel wheels with covers, and the headlights are halogen, but the Nissan Versa S does have automatic on-off headlights and dual power outside mirrors. 

The inside of the Nissan is surprisingly roomy for a subcompact car. The headroom in the front is 39.5 inches and only slightly less in the back at 36.3 inches. The front seats offer 44.5 inches of legroom, while the rear seats offer significantly less at 31 inches. The cargo capacity is 14.7 cubic feet.

Interior features in the base Versa S include six-way manual adjustable cloth seats and faux carbon fiber door trim. It has a color touchscreen display with hands-free technology, and there are steering wheel-mounted controls for audio. 

Ultimately, the Versa S will surprise many people with its quality build despite being an entry-level vehicle, but it won’t impress those looking for standard features available in other models. The biggest disappointment in the Versa will surely be its slowness, as this vehicle is about as underwhelming as it gets when it comes to speed. This cheap vehicle is functional, and its price is its best feature.