Used 2021 Nissan Versa

Now in the second year of a fresh generation, the Nissan Versa has matured into a well-considered car offering features more often found in larger and more expensive sedans.

These include advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking. And the 2nd-lowest trim comes with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration. But it’s also things like usable interior space, a pleasant cabin, and a fuel-efficient engine that make the 2021 Versa well worth considering by potential buyers looking for the most affordable brand-new car they can get.

Nissan keeps the pricing in the teens while making the Versa competitive against the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and Mitsubishi Mirage. If anyone wanted something more along hatchback lines, Nissan also has the Kicks subcompact crossover.

The Versa’s cabin is impressively quiet, and there’s no tinny sound when closing the doors. It’s more of an agreeable thunk.

The 122-horsepower engine starts with the push of a button and settles into a smooth idle. This amount of power is relatively modest, yet still adequate for commuting and weekend errands. Drive is engaged using a conventional shift lever.

When driving the 2021 Versa sedan in a sedate manner, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) works quietly and efficiently in the background, only becoming more vocal under hard acceleration. That’s when the CVT “upshifts” near the 6,500-rpm redline, doing its best to mimic a conventional automatic transmission. At 80 mph on the freeway, the engine is running at a relaxed 2,000 rpm.

The ride quality is also perfectly acceptable for everyday duties. And the body doesn’t lean that much through the corners.

The braking system includes 10.4-inch rotors up front and 8-inch rear drums (looking tiny inside the SV model’s 16-inch alloy wheels). It’s slightly disappointing to see drum brakes in a brand-new 2021 car, but they still deliver dependable stopping power even when driving the Versa with a bit of eagerness.

Thankfully, the steering does not feel over-assisted. And the flat bottom of the standard plastic steering wheel looks sporty, while also making a bit of extra space for the driver’s thighs.

Five people can fit in the Versa subcompact sedan, although it’s better if there are only four adults on board. The seats are supportive and comfortable enough for longer trips, and there’s enough headroom up front for 6-footers.

The sloping roof encroaches on rear headroom, however. And the rear bench seat at the entry-level car with the 5-speed manual transmission does not fold forward to increase cargo capacity (as it does in every higher version).

Even though the plastics in the dash and door panels are hard, they are textured in such a way as to look higher-grade. In general, the presentation of information is clear, and the controls on the steering wheel are easy to use.

The instrument panel in the Versa SV features an analog speedometer on the right and a configurable thin-film transistor (TFT) display on the left. This can serve as a rev counter or show other information like tire pressures, average fuel economy, and radio stations.

Measuring 15 cubic feet, trunk space is only a tad smaller than that of a Toyota Camry midsize sedan.

It’s a trivial thing, but makes a big difference — having wheels that fill the fenders. Nissan gives its new Versa that attribute, while also bringing a family resemblance to its Altima and Maxima sedans.

Like those bigger cars, the 2021 Versa has a grille with a distinct V-shaped element and the impression of a “floating” roof created by black trim placed strategically on the rear pillars. It also has an impressively low drag coefficient of 0.29.

The top SR trim has extra visual interest with a black chrome grille, 17-inch alloy wheels (the base model has 15-inch steel wheels with plastic covers), and a small rear spoiler. Among the colors on offer for the 2021 Versa are Electric Blue Metallic, Monarch Orange Metallic, and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
This feature is standard in every 2021 Versa and a potential lifesaver. The Versa also will apply its brakes if something is detected in the car’s path while reversing.

7-INCH COLOR DISPLAY
A 7-inch color infotainment touchscreen is standard throughout the 2021 Versa range. Integrated nicely into the dash, this screen works well with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration (which is standard in the top two trims).

In addition to automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, the 2021 Versa is a well-equipped subcompact sedan. Highlights include power windows, push-button start, cruise control, rear automatic braking, 7-inch infotainment screen, lane departure warning, and a 4-speaker audio system.

The Versa SV brings 16-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, a 6-speaker audio system, and Nissan Safety Shield 360 — an array of driver assistance features that includes lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams.

There aren’t many options for the 2021 Versa. No doubt anyone buying the lowest S trim will want to add the CVT if only for the reason that, after a few years, it will be easier to sell than a Versa with a manual transmission.

The Versa SR is eligible for the Convenience Package that adds adaptive cruise control, automatic climate control, and heated front seats.

The engine in every 2021 Versa is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder unit making 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. That’s a couple of horses more than the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent, and a full 44 more than the Mitsubishi Mirage.

Front-wheel drive is the only arrangement. The base S model comes standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. Every other version has an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is optional in the S trim.

The Hyundai Accent has an advantage of one mile per gallon in both the city and highway cycles when comparing figures relating to automatic transmissions. With a manual transmission, the Accent is even more frugal. The Kia Rio has the same engine as the Accent.

1.6-liter inline-4
122 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm
114 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 27/35 mpg (manual), 32/40 mpg (CVT)