NISSAN VERSA 2024: BEAUTIFUL AND TEMPTING
NISSAN VERSA 2024: BEAUTIFUL AND TEMPTING
Posted on June 5, 2024
Nearly 20 years ago, during the financial crisis, gasoline prices hit rock bottom, and the market was flooded with affordable small cars. Needless to say, things have changed a lot since then. Today, small cars are becoming extinct. In fact, it's quite easy to count them, as there are only two models left in the segment, and the Nissan Versa is one of them. The first question one might ask is why the Versa has remained while the majority of other small cars have disappeared?
Nissan hasn't made radical changes to the 2024 Versa, which remains a very compelling car in its current form. It's affordable, fuel-efficient, and not lacking in terms of equipment. It's one of the most economical personal transportation options on the market when you consider ownership costs.
Range and Price
With the average price of a new vehicle hovering around $69,000, it's safe to say that the definition of what's affordable has completely changed in recent years. Today, a $40,000 vehicle is considered affordable because it's the price of a compact car with some equipment or a practically base model compact SUV. However, there are even more affordable options, such as the Nissan Versa, which starts at $22,894. For that price, you get front fog lights, heated mirrors, multiple USB ports, the kind of features that used to be optional. The Japanese manufacturer's small sedan even comes with a 7-inch touchscreen as standard. For a slightly higher cost of $1,700, you can access the SV version, which upgrades the wheels from 16 to 17 inches, not to mention it benefits from wireless charging and a host of other interesting options. For $25,994, there's the SR version. Here, you get an 8-inch touchscreen and several luxurious options.
Category and Competition
Today, it's all about SUVs, and manufacturers have taken advantage of this trend to practically eliminate all subcompact cars from the market. In fact, there are only two models available in this niche now. There's the Mitsubishi Mirage, which mainly focuses on the economical aspect. On the other hand, the Versa offers a more interesting overall experience with comfort and good-quality finishing.
Rival: Mitsubishi Mirage
Design and Technologies
One of the things that have saved Nissan's cars are the beautiful designs they benefit from, which also applies to the Versa. Its body is very modern and dynamic. It's a car with a strong personality. It even offers some vibrant colors like electric blue and scarlet ember red. Personally, I find it a very beautiful car.
Its interior is understated, yet still elegant. Nissan has excelled in the materials used in the interior. The seats are very comfortable, and it's a car that benefits from excellent soundproofing. The ergonomics have been well thought out, and the Versa offers an intuitive and smooth multimedia system.
Certainly, one cannot expect cutting-edge technologies from a car as affordable as the Nissan Versa. However, the Japanese manufacturer's small sedan doesn't give the impression that it lacks anything, and that's what makes it so interesting. For the price difference, I would opt without hesitation for the SR version, which offers a true array of safety technologies, and its 8-inch screen makes all the difference.
Performance
The 2024 Nissan Versa only offers one powertrain option, which is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. It delivers 122 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque, which may seem modest compared to what is found in most vehicles today, but I promise you it's more than enough. It's paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. This combination allows the small Japanese sedan to achieve an average fuel consumption of 7.4 L/100 km in the city and 5.9 L/100 km on the highway. It's almost more fuel-efficient than most hybrid SUVs currently available on the market. If you want to save money, electrified models aren't always the right solution, especially when there are cars like the Nissan Versa still on sale.
Weak Points
The base model isn't really interesting. There's no manual transmission option anymore. Resale value depreciates quickly.
Strong Points
It's an elegant, comfortable, and modern car. Its interior and cargo space are impressive.
Signature Element
The value for money of the Versa is simply incredible, especially with the SR version.
Closing Thoughts
The Nissan Versa holds a special place in my heart, for several reasons. Firstly, it's one of the last mainstream subcompact cars still available on the market. It's charismatic and doesn't lack anything in terms of equipment. It's also surprisingly comfortable for its size and price range. In short, it's understandable why Nissan continues to offer it. It's a friendly and affordable small car that deserves all consideration.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier