America has become a nation of truck drivers, enamored with the thought of driving a 2-ton, all-wheel drive monstrosity with all the visual grace of a large appliance box.
Automakers are delighted, of course, as they’ve always been able to charge more for SUVs, even though it cost them little more to manufacture than cars. This has brought in the massive profits needed to develop electric vehicles, something dictated by the world’s governments, not consumer desire. In the interim, truly affordable sedans have withered to a meager few, of which the 2023 Nissan Versa is the least-expensive in America, starting at $15,830. That’s more than 67% less than the average new vehicle price of $48,528, according to Cox Automotive.
Offered in ascending S, SV and SR trim, opting for a ride in the cheap seats doesn’t mean that you can’t have a bit of automotive fast fashion. Just don’t expect it to be fast. Lacking the dowdiness of its predecessor, Nissan’s cheapest ride wears standard LED headlights and the brand’s signature V-motion grille, floating roof, and C-pillar design cues. Sharing its fashion sense with its pricier siblings means you won’t be embarrassed while parking at the Piggly Wiggly.
But whatever fashionable illusions you have fade once you climb inside, where you’re greeted by a sea of hard plastic, particularly on the center console, where the driver’s right leg rests. Ambience is plain, but offset by a padded instrument panel and stitching on the SV – a premium touch that attempts to elevate the cabin’s ambience. It’s certainly an improvement from its unfashionable antecedent. And buying the $19,820 Vera SR nets such conveniences as automatic climate control, heated front seats, intelligent key with pushbutton start, center console with armrest, power windows, power door locks and automatic headlights.
One of the Versa’s virtues was once its generous back seat legroom. It now measures a miserly 31 inches, a far cry from past models developed for the Chinese market, where consumers put a premium on spacious back seats. But the Versa is sufficiently roomy up front, and the trunk holds a generous 15 cubic feet of cargo, although that’s also less than before.
Mechanically, the front-wheel-drive Versa is basic – no surprise given its price tag – with front disc/rear drum brakes, an independent front suspension and a torsion beam out back. A 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generates 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque through a five-speed manual transmission on base S models; others get a continuously variable automatic transmission. Payload is rated at 862 pounds for the S, 948 pounds for the SV, and 876 pounds for the SR.
Versa S and SV models come with a 7-inch color touchscreen; you’ll have to step up to the SR to get the larger 8-inch. A four-speaker AM/FM audio system is standard on S and SV trims, while a 6-speaker unit is standard on the SR. All Versas come with Bluetooth, a USB port and an auxiliary power point. But if you require Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and a wireless smartphone charging pad, choose the SV or SR. No matter how much you pay, you won’t get a built-in navigation system, but most buyers will use their smartphones instead.
Slow off the line and reluctant to furnish more power, the Versa perfectly plays its part as a low-end economy car. When more power finally arrives, its presence is noted by the loud, wailing engine and a lethargy that makes the prospect of highway onramps terrifying. But its mission is economical transport, not thrills, although at 32 mpg, fuel economy is about what you’d expect: not great, not bad. Also, it won’t surprise you that the Versa has a stiff ride, little bump absorption and more-than-expected body lean. Again, it’s typical economy car performance. But it does boast surprisingly grippy tires, at least on the SR.
For those with limited means, the Versa proves to be a lifeline to owning a new car at a minimal price in an era of ever-escalating prices. But watch the bottom line. Once the price reaches $22,000, opt for the larger, better-trimmed, better-performing Nissan Sentra.
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2023 Nissan Versa
Base price: $15,830
Engine: 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine
Horsepower/Torque: 122/114 pound-feet
EPA fuel economy (combined city/highway): 35 mpg
Fuel required: Regular Unleaded (87 octane)
Length/Width/Height: 177/68.5/57.7 inches
Cargo capacity: 15 cubic feet
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