The Nissan Versa is once again the cheapest four-door sedan you can buy in the US, with a starting price of only $15,730.
The cost of vehicles has risen dramatically in recent months, partly due to parts shortages and global logistics issues. The US' unchecked dealer system is also making the most out of the lack of supply versus demand, and recent research shows that customers are willing to pay up to five figures above sticker.
This has left the average consumer looking for more affordable options, and Nissan has again come to the rescue with the Versa sedan. According to a recent survey by Nissan, 53% of respondents identified affordability as the most essential attribute in a new vehicle, followed by fuel economy at 34%.
The Nissan Versa has held this title for quite some time and is only eclipsed by one other car as the cheapest car available in the USA. This year, Nissan even beat the 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, which starts at $17,245. The cheapest car overall remains the Chevrolet Spark, which has an MSRP of $13,600. But good luck getting a family in there.
The most impressive part of the Nissan Versa's achievement is that the company could keep the price low yet still deliver the 2023 model with a facelift and new standard features.
We recently covered the Versa's new look and feel, and now that the official pricing has been revealed, we can say that the Versa is cheap but certainly not nasty.
When it set the pricing for the 2023 Versa, Nissan clearly took its research to heart.
The top-of-the-line Versa SR starts below $20,000 ($19,720), and below it sits the SV at $19,020. The Versa S fitted with the Xtronic CVT transmission costs $17,400, and the base model, equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, goes for only $15,730. That base price undercuts the entry-level Kia Rio sedan by $820. None of these prices include the destination charge.
The exterior of the 2023 Versa sedan gets a new front fascia and grille, new Nissan logos inside and out, a new optional Gray Sky Pearl paint color, and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels on the range-topping Versa SR. Each car has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, automatic rear braking, and high beam assist. Optional safety tech includes blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
The 2023 Nissan Versa sedan also gets new optional features such as a wireless smartphone charging pad, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
The new S Plus package adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch alloy wheels, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat to the base model.
All models come fitted with a modest 122-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine capable of 35 mpg when equipped with the CVT automatic transmission. Sales of the Versa have been unimpressive, but Nissan hopes the new facelift and low price will pick things up again.