Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
2021 VERSA
It would be a standout even if the category wasn’t dwindling
The group of small and affordable cars is rapidly contracting as there’s only a minuscule cluster of sub$20,000 candidates left. For 2021, the Chevrolet Sonic, Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit have all been given their walking papers.
Among the remaining low-cost rarities, the Nissan Versa is one of only four subcompact sedans on the market (along with the Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Mitsubishi Mirage G4).
Buyers can pick one of these tiny tots or resort to scouring the used-car lots or online listings for a decently priced retiree.
The second-generation Versa sedan that was introduced for 2020 is arguably the best looking of a diminished group. Nissan began with a cleansheet design that, quite frankly, puts the original Versa to shame. The corporate “V Motion” grille remains front and center, but it’s more attractive, as is the rest of the nose. The hood has sharply creased character lines as do the doors and fenders, and the big gaps between the tires and the fender openings have been greatly reduced.
The kink in the sheetmetal directly below the rear window pillars pays homage to the Maxima and Altima sedans as well as the Murano tall wagon.
Interior styling has also come in for attention, with premium hard- and softtouch materials and higher quality seat coverings. The dashboard controls and attendant analog gauges are straightforward and the standard flat-bottom steering wheel is a sporty touch.
The lower and sleeker roofline also adds attractiveness, but it comes at the expense of reduced rear-seat headroom that was a strong suit. Trunk space has also decreased slightly.
Compared with the one-size-larger Nissan Sentra, the Versa is about five inches shorter and gives up three inches between the front and rear wheels. Interestingly, cargo volume is about the same for both models. When comparing the two vehicles, it’s surprising that Nissan keeps both in play. The Sentra is more powerful and costs about $4,500 more.
The Versa has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. The previous Versa 1.6 made 109/107. That’s not exactly a seismic shift in output, but for a car weighing just 2,600 pounds, the difference can be more easily felt.
A five-speed manual transmission is standard, but only with the base S trim. A continuously variable automatic (CVT) is available with the S and standard with the SV and SR. CVT fuel economy is estimated at 35 mpg (combined city/ highway), which is five mpg better than that of the stickshift version.
Nissan upped the Versa’s ride-and-handling game with added structural rigidity and a number of suspension improvements. They include retuned shocks, a thicker front stabilizer bar and revisions to the torsion-beam rear axle. A new power-steering system is designed for sharper response and better feel.
The base Versa S costs $15,850, including destination fees. It comes with most of the basics, including air conditioning, seven-inch touch-screen, Bluetooth connectivity with text messaging, and a fourspeaker audio system.
The midgrade SV adds, along with the CVT, a splitfolding rear seat, 16-inch alloy wheels (the S has 15inch steelies), driver’s-seat armrest and blind-spot warning with cross-traffic backup alert.
The SR is topped up with climate control, premium interior trim, 17-inch wheels, rear spoiler and a six-speaker audio package.
Note that the Versa’s vast array of dynamic safety tech — such as emergency braking and active cruise control — is standard in the SV and SR trims.
Since the current Versa is still relatively new, chances are good that it will stick around for at least a few more years. By that time, perhaps the sedan segment will have rebounded, which would mean buyers of subcompacts might have a greater choice of affordable transportation.