Video: 2024 Nissan Versa Review: Last Econobox Standing?

In 2019, there were 11 entries in the segment, but in the ensuing five years, the Chevrolet Sonic and Spark, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and the Toyota Prius C, Yaris Hatchback and Yaris Sedan have all said, (Damon speaking in a foreign language.) The entry level end of the new vehicle market has pivoted to affordable subcompact SUVs that come only with front wheel drive, like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Venue and Nissan's own kicks. However, if you're looking for true bottom dollar pricing in a subcompact car, the Versa and the Mitsubishi Mirage Hatchback and Mirage G4 Sedan are all that's left. The Versa starts at just $17,530 with destination, narrowly undercutting the Mirage Hatchback starting price. Now, comparably equipped, the Versa is a little more expensive than the Mirage, but it's also a much better car all around. The lowly Mirage is notoriously slow and unrefined, but the Versa is a surprisingly pleasant, decently equipped vehicle for the money. The top line SR model, we tested cost $22,608 with a couple of options added. Now that is about where a base trim, compact car or subcompact SUV starts, and those models aren't as well equipped. Under the hood is a 122 horsepower, 1.6 liter four cylinder. This engine easily outclasses the Mirage's 78 horsepower, 1.2 liter three cylinder, but that's not saying much. The Versa is decently peppy and responsive in city driving, but it quickly runs out of steam on the highway. Summoning adequate passing power usually means flooring the gas pedal, which often creates as much racket from the engine as it does acceleration. The base model Versa comes standard with a manual transmission, but most have a continuously variable automatic. This transmission does the engine noise and the throttle response no favors. It has a rubber band feel with a noticeable buildup in engine revs before the acceleration comes on in earnest. Still the Versa's ride quality and overall quietness, outside of the noisy engine, is better than expected for a subcompact car. It's also relatively nimble and easy to park simply by virtue of its tidy footprint, but it's not a particularly polished handler. Sharp bumps and potholes can cause some jittery reverberations and the steering doesn't feel as crisp and responsive as say any Honda or Mazda small car. The current Versa is relatively fresh, it got a ground up redesign for the 2020 model year and a refresh for 2023 brought a slightly more aggressive looking grill, racier looking alloy wheels for the SR trim and the welcome edition of an available wireless charging pad and an available eight inch touchscreen instead of the standard seven inch screen. The Versa's interior is obviously built to a price, but it still has some sporty personality and accents like leatherette trim inserts, orange contrast stitching, satin silver finished bits and even some faux carbon fiber texturing on the door panels help dress up the hard plastic parts. It's also pretty well equipped. Among the features on the SR model are keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, remote engine start and LED headlights, heated front seats, automatic climate control and a six speaker audio system. However, at these prices, there are several features that just aren't on the menu. If you want wireless Apple CarPlay or Android auto connectivity, leather or even imitation leather upholstery or a heated steering wheel, sunroof, surround view camera system or flip down center armrest in the back seat, eh, you're outta luck. There's enough space for tall folks in the Versa's front seats and adequate room for adults in the backseat, though passengers above six feet tall will likely have to slouch a bit for sufficient headroom. I'm six six and I could squeeze into the backseat for a quick trip when someone much shorter was in front of me. Though the cabin's small item storage is only so so, the Versa's trunk is generously sized, 15 cubic feet according to Nissan's measurements. Now that is close to the factory measurements of some mid-size sedans, including the Toyota Camry and Nissan's own Altima. However, the rear seat backs don't fold flat with the cargo floor. There's a four or five inch step that makes it difficult to slide oversized items forward. With the average transaction price of a new vehicle hovering comfortably above the $45,000 mark and the pool of available used vehicles very small thanks to the pandemic, a growing number of shoppers are gravitating toward entry level new vehicles. Despite this and the fact that the Versa and Mirage now have the subcompact car category all to themselves, the sales for both have been declining. In fact, both cars are reportedly slated to be discontinued after the 2025 model year. If that's the case, the bottom line price for a new vehicle will almost certainly be going up by at least a couple thousand dollars when the Versa and Mirage go away. So if you are a serious penny pincher, you might want to grab a Versa now.