Yes, the Nissan Versa is a good car. Its engine is capable, if uninspiring, and it has competent handling. The ride is smooth, and the Versa gets good gas mileage. Inside, you’ll find a pleasant cabin with comfortable seats and intuitive tech features. The trunk is large by class standards as well. For its superior combination of quality and value in its class, we named the Versa our 2022 Best Subcompact Car for the Money.
This Nissan's interior quality leaves room for improvement, and some rivals have more rear-seat space than the Versa, but almost every vehicle in the subcompact car class forces buyers to compromise on something.
The Versa is a solid small sedan that delivers in a lot of ways that matter most to car buyers. It’s not perfect, but given the price point of a subcompact car, you shouldn’t expect perfection. And speaking of prices, the Versa’s is lower than that of many of its competitors, making it a strong value in this class.
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This 2022 Versa review incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2020.
U.S. News Best Cars has been ranking vehicles since 2007, and our team has more than 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry. Our car reviews are objective. To keep them that way, our editorial staff doesn’t accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and a third party handles all the advertising on our site.
There are no major differences between the 2022 Nissan Versa and the 2021 model.
Compare the 2021 and 2022 Versa »
Here are the key changes for the Nissan Versa over the last few years:
If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2019 Versa, 2020 Versa, and 2021 Versa reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Best New Car Deals and Best New Car Lease Deals pages to learn about savings and discounts you can find on new vehicles.
The Nissan Versa’s starting MSRP sits at $15,080. That’s not the lowest base price in the class, but it’s pretty close. The top-of-the-line SR starts at $18,490, which is a below-average top-trim price for a subcompact car.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Nissan dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Nissan deals page.
The Nissan Sentra is a compact car, but it’s not much roomier than the Versa. In fact, the Versa actually has more trunk space. However, the Sentra has more standard equipment, such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance features. Both sedans suffer from many of the same weaknesses, such as a droning engine and tight headroom.
Compare the Versa and Sentra »
The Chevrolet Spark is one of the few subcompact cars that cost less than the Versa. However, many buyers will likely think the Nissan is worth the extra money. Versa models with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) get better fuel economy estimates than the Spark, and all Versas have nicer cabin materials and roomier passenger accommodations. The Nissan has more standard safety features, too. We named the Versa our 2022 Best Subcompact Car for the Money because of its outstanding combination of quality and value.
Compare the Versa and Spark »
Compare the Versa, Sentra, and Spark »
The Versa has a nice cabin, considering its price. Fit and finish is good, the layout is sleek, and the plastics are high-grade.
As is the case with many cars in this class, the Versa’s standard features list is short. However, using the infotainment system is simple. There are physical buttons and knobs for climate and audio settings, all within easy reach of the driver. The touch screen works well, though it’s occasionally slow to recognize inputs.
For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto?
Few subcompact car rivals have as much trunk space as the Versa. The base model provides 14.7 cubic feet of space, while other models give you 15 cubes.
This Nissan seats five people. The seats are comfortable, and there’s a decent amount of space in both rows. However, taller riders may find themselves wishing for a bit more headroom in the back.
There are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the Versa’s rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat.
Read more about interior »
Every Versa features a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The base model comes with a five-speed manual transmission and offers a silky continuously variable automatic (CVT). The CVT comes standard in all other models.
The engine provides sufficient power for everyday driving, but it doesn't have enough muscle to move the Versa with any authority. It also drones a bit during stressful situations, and you’ll have to mash the gas pedal to coax out those bursts of power needed for highway passing.
The Versa gets 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with the manual transmission and 32/40 mpg city/highway with the CVT. The latter set of numbers are good for the subcompact car class.
The front-wheel-drive Nissan Versa delivers a comfortable ride over most road surfaces. Its suspension smooths over minor road flaws, and its satisfying steering feedback and well-controlled body roll help it feel poised around corners.
Read more about performance »
The 2022 Nissan Versa has a predicted reliability score of 83 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Nissan backs the Versa with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Read more about reliability »
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2022 Nissan Versa an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has not yet crash tested the 2022 Versa.
Standard driver assistance features:
Available driver assistance features:
Read more about safety »
The Versa is 14.8 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 2,599 to 2,729 pounds.
Nissan builds the 2022 Versa in Mexico.
The 2022 Nissan Versa comes in three trims: S, SV, and SR. All three have a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. The S is the only trim that can be had with a manual transmission. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional in the S trim and standard in all other trims.
Unless you really want the manual, it’s worth upgrading to the SV trim to get the NissanConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Nissan Versa S has a starting MSRP of $15,080. Standard equipment includes cloth upholstery, forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touch screen, a four-speaker stereo, a USB port, Bluetooth, and Siri Eyes Free.
Models with the CVT start at $16,750 and gain split-folding rear seats.
The Versa SV starts at $17,890. In addition to the base trim’s features, the SV comes with upgraded cloth upholstery, a rear-seat reminder, driver drowsiness monitoring, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, satellite radio, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay.
The top-of-the-line SR starts at $18,490. It gains sport cloth upholstery with fabric inserts, proximity keyless entry, remote start, and a six-speaker stereo.
The Convenience package ($400) adds heated front seats, automatic climate control, and adaptive cruise control.
Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Nissan dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Nissan deals page.
See 2022 Nissan Versa specs and trims »
The 2022 Nissan Versa should hit the mark for a lot of buyers. It’s one of the most affordable subcompact cars, and aside from a lack of athleticism, it doesn’t have many big flaws. The Versa is comfortable, provides a decent amount of passenger and cargo space, and comes with easy-to-use tech features. It’s a solid value in this class.
Don't just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.
