Car Review: 2023 Nissan Versa

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Where have all the cheap cars gone? As more and more news headlines proclaim record inflation of commodities, where have the most affordable cars gone? In recent years the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Nissan Micra, Chevrolet Spark, and Toyota Yaris have all departed leaving a hole in the market at the most affordable end. Today, just a few players remain, but none of them are as fresh as the newly redesigned Nissan Versa. Is it time to consider a value-conscious sub-compact?

The Versa is all new for the 2023 model year and this time it’s available only as a four-door sedan. The Versa Note hatchback left us in 2019. The Versa is Nissan’s most affordable model slotting in at $2,250 less than a Sentra and $3,400 less than a Kicks. The entry-level trim for the Versa is the S 5MT denoting its five-speed manual transmission and it carries an MSRP of $18,298. Of course, one must add the mandatory $2,095 freight and PDI charge to that, giving a real-world base price of $20,393.

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My tester was the top-trim SR model with an as-tested price of $24,683 including a $1,750 PDI charge, which would now be $2,095. Remember what I said about inflation? Anyways. The options list for a Nissan Versa is pretty short and it’s basically limited to paint. If you want any colour other than black, you’ll have to pay at least $135 or a maximum of $300 depending on the colour you want. Call me old fashioned, but cars used to come with paint— charging for every colour other than one base colour is a prime example of paintflation.

No matter which trim you choose, you get the same 1.6L I4 spinning the front wheels. But it won’t spin them that quickly because it makes just 122 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. The five-speed manual is available exclusively on the base trim and all other trims come only with a CVT automatic like our test car. I believe this and the Mitsubishi Mirage are the last five-speed manual cars you can buy in Canada. The five-speed actually gets slightly worse fuel mileage than the CVT, 8.6 L/100 km city and 6.7 highway versus 7.4 L/100 km city and 5.9 highway, respectively. 

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Just above the S trim for $3,200 more is the SV which includes wireless phone charging, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and 60/40 folding rear seats. Items exclusive to the sporty SR trim include 17″ aluminum wheels (S comes with 15″ steelies and SV gets 16″ aluminum wheels), 8-inch touchscreen infotainment — instead of a 7-inch one found on lower trims — remote engine start, and a “leather wrapped” steering wheel. I don’t know what animal was skinned to make this wheel, but it certainly wasn’t a cow and the finish leaves plenty to be desired even at this price point.

Driving impressions

Let’s get away from the spec sheet and talk about what this car is like to drive and live with. Walking up to the Nissan Versa, it’s certainly large for this segment. If you feel that a subcompact car may not be able to fit your lifestyle, you should take a second look at the cars in this segment; they have grown significantly! For example this 2023 Nissan Versa sedan is the same length as a compact class Honda Civic from 2010. This is evident when you climb inside. From the front or the rear, you hardly feel cramped and there is a commendable amount of passenger space for the segment. The rear seats can accommodate normal-sized people and are real seats that you could use for long trips, not just emergencies.

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At idle, the Versa’s engine vibrates noticeably and the CVT can be jerky at low speed maneuvers. It’s clearly no sports car but I like that Nissan’s CVTs emulate the stepped shifts of a torque-converter automatic during hard acceleration. Many of the subcompacts that came before this new Versa, like the Micra and Fit, handled well and were fun to throw around. Not so in the new Versa and the handling is decidedly dreary. There is no “slow car fast” fun to be had here.

The Versa’s party trick can be found when you pull onto the highway. Despite its small engine and modest output, the Versa offers relaxed and quiet highway cruising, thanks to the magic of a CVT transmission. At 110 km/h, the engine can spin as slowly as 1,900 rpm. Highway cruising has historically been a weak-spot on sub-compact cars but the Versa excels at it. If you want to road trip on a budget, this would be an excellent option.

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Inside, the seats are comfortable and the SR trim gets red accents on them. The centre console controls are simple, intuitive, and thoughtfully laid out. It’s a nice layout that’s easier to learn and use. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are present and that’s a good thing because Nissan’s native infotainment system is basic at best. I’d plug your phone in and enjoy that rather than spend much time messing around with the Nissan system. 

And where does the Sentra find itself in the market? Well, the most affordable car in Canada is still the Mirage at $14,298 but it’s also a lot less car than the Sentra in almost every measurable way. The Kia Rio is a hair cheaper at $19,933 but the larger Forte is $2k more than the Versa and is more comparable on spec and price. The Forte and Nissan’s own Sentra are the largest rivals to the little Versa as they offer more space and power for not much more money. If you’re wondering about the Civic, well it’s in an entirely different price class starting at $9k more than the Versa.

So are subcompacts worth a closer look as eggs and bread double in price? I think so. For too many years, makers and buyers have been focused on the subcompact CUV despite it offering very few real advantages over a sedan or hatch, other than “I like to sit up high.” For the value-conscious shopper, the Versa will do everything you want it do (other than be fun) and it’s a surprisingly versatile little car.

Check out the latest Nissan Versa model.