The Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Sonic are gone, but the subcompact sedan segment lives on elsewhere. The Nissan Versa was completely redesigned for 2020 and we were immediately smitten, rating it as one of the best new cars for less than $20,000. Nissan also proudly marketed it as one of the cheapest new vehicles sold in the US and this won't change for the new model year.
The Japanese automaker has just revealed official pricing for the 2021 Versa and shoppers seeking a bargain are still in luck; the base S trim is just $100 more than last year, beginning at $14,930, not including the $925 destination fee. Meanwhile, the SV and SR trims' pricing remains unchanged from 2020, starting at $17,740 and $18,340, respectively, and also not with destination.
Regardless of trim, all 2021 Sentras continue to come powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine good for 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual is standard on the base model while a CVT is optional here but standard for the SV and SR. Fuel efficiency is also quite impressive, rated at 27/35/30 mpg city/highway/combined for the manual and 32/40/35 mpg for CVT-equipped models.
Aside from the ever so slight change in base trim price, the 2021 Sentra remains unchanged, which is a good thing because it comes packed with a lot of standard features such as a "floating" 7-inch touchscreen display, remote keyless entry and push-button start, and best-in-class front legroom.
Nissan's Standard Safety Shield 360, standard on SV and SR and optional on S, includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Rear Automatic Braking, Blind Spot Warning, and Lane Departure Warning. The Intelligent Driver Alertness and Intelligent Cruise Control remain optional. The Versa SR also comes standard with 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, and fog lights. The SR Convenience Package also tacks on heated front seats, automatic climate control, and adaptive cruise control.
Nissan has not specifically stated if the 2021 Versa is now in dealerships but if it's not already, it should happen any day now.