Used 2023 Nissan Versa

In a segment with only a handful of rivals, the Versa still stands out. Unless you are a technology nerd, there isn’t much about the Versa that will send your heart racing. However, for a small entry-level sedan, it fulfills its transportation mission efficiently and effectively.

In our testing, we really appreciated the wonderfully comfortable and supportive Zero Gravity front seats. Moreover, within its segment, the Versa offers better-than-average front-seat leg and headroom. Its 15 cubic feet of trunk space is nearly as much as that of the midsize Nissan Altima and more than the Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio.

Versa swims in a sea of low-thrust small sedans. In other words, its 4-cylinder engine delivers typical acceleration for the class. Ideal for commuting into and around the city, it’s easy to park and provides sufficient stop-and-go performance. We find it surprisingly quiet and comfy.

All things considered, we think it goes, steers, and stops at least as well as its classmates. It adapts well to errand running and is easy on fuel. Yet, it easily accommodates five passengers. The Versa accomplishes all of this while swaddled in a blanket of safety and driver-assistance technologies. What more should you expect from an entry-level sedan?

We’ve spent hours driving and researching today’s shrinking array of small entry-level cars, including the Nissan Versa.

Space is the name of the game for the interiors of subcompact sedans. Nissan did a brilliant job squeezing every usable inch of passenger room from Versa’s tidy size. We are fans of the Zero Gravity seats Nissan employs in several of its more expensive models. They’re a nice surprise in the entry-level Versa.

We applaud the Versa’s class-leading front-seat legroom, as well as the user-friendly layout of the gauges and controls. Yet another reason for supporting the SR as the trim level to buy is its 8-inch infotainment touchscreen replacing the 7-inch one in the lower trims. The SR also replaces the manual climate control in the lower trims with a set-it-and-forget-it automatic system.

Designers and engineers focus on maximizing interior space in small sedans, sometimes at the expense of exterior styling. Nissan has managed to make the most of the Versa’s diminutive exterior dimensions in airing out the cabin. However, it clearly spent some time classing up the exterior, as well. We think the new front end, with its re-imagined V-motion grille, enriches the Versa with a real presence and character. One reason we recommend the top-tier SR grade is for its 17-inch wheels, which add an air of maturity missing with the tiny 15-inch wheels on the base S grade.

Making a subcompact sedan appear sleek is no small feat, but Nissan has done exactly that. The profile line begins with the front bumper, washing over the hood and then finishing with the roof’s raked C-pillar. It falls short of qualifying as a work of art; however, Nissan stylists have invigorated Versa with more than a touch of personality.

Automatic transmission
Nissan was an early adopter of continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) and has put its CVT experience to good use in the Versa. Engineering simulated gear shifts into this pully-and-belt transmission at least gives the illusion of changing cogs. Furthermore, it’s a better choice in the S trim, where it’s an option, than the manual because it delivers better fuel economy.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Standard in every Versa model, these systems allow your smartphone to interface with your vehicle. Not only can you access the music on your phone, but you can also send messages, receive messages, make calls, and so forth through your vehicle’s media system.

Safety Shield 360
Included on every Versa model, this bundle of safety and driver-aid technologies features forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, and high-beam assist are included, as well.

Proximity keyless entry
We number this among our must-have features, but it’s only standard in the SR. If the key fob is on your person, the doors automatically unlock when you approach the vehicle or touch the door handle. Push-button start is paired with proximity keyless entry.

LED Headlights
Standard in the SR, these auto on-off headlights illuminate a longer, wider area than the standard halogen lights on the lower trim levels. They are also more noticeable to approaching drivers.

NissanConnect Services
Standard on the SR, this app allows you to control certain vehicle features, such as lock and unlock, through a smartphone.

There is little daylight between the Versa’s 4-cylinder performance and that of its closest competitors like the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio. The Versa delivers more horsepower than those, but it’s not significant.

Although the Versa provides solid fuel economy, its rivals can do a bit better. The Rio and Accent maintain a 3-mpg advantage in combined driving with an automatic transmission.

We manage our expectations when driving economy cars and do so when testing the Versa. In that light, we find the Versa has sufficient grunt for urban tasks, as well as highway cruising. It certainly more than holds its own with its classmates.

1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine
122 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
114 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
Fuel economy: 30 mpg (27 city, 35 highway) Automatic: 35 mpg (32 city, 40 highway)

More Versa fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

3-year/36,000-mile Warranty

The Versa is covered by Nissan’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, and a powertrain warranty good for 5 years, with no mileage limit. Although fairly consistent with industry new-car warranty protection, Versa’s warranty doesn’t begin to compare with that of the Accent and Rio. They provide a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.