2025 Nissan Versa Review

The 2025 Versa is the cheapest new sedan you can buy. Is it worth the bargain?

Benjamin Hunting | 

Oct 8, 2025 | 7 min read

Benjamin Hunting

What do you give up by getting the least expensive new sedan money can buy? Surprisingly, not as much as I expected, though that base price quoted above is for a Versa with a manual transmission. (Adding an automatic adds nearly two grand.) Either way, the 2025 Versa blends frugality and practicality with a driving experience that's not too far off the mark compared with more expensive compact cars.

That being said, Versa buyers must accept a feature set that will sharply remind them why their monthly payment is so small. If you don't mind this Nissan's austerity, the Versa represents viable basic transportation with a full warranty at a price comparable to a used car. If that sounds good to you, act fast, because Nissan is reportedly discontinuing the Versa at the end of the current model year.

Benjamin Hunting

About the 2025 Nissan Versa

Nissan sells the 2025 Versa in S, SV, and SR trim levels. The Versa S offers a choice between a five-speed manual gearbox and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), whereas the SV and SR are CVT-only models. The Versa starts at less than $19,000 and ranges up to approximately $22,500, including the destination charge for shipping the car from its factory in Aguascalientes, Mexico, to a dealership.

For this Versa review, I test-drove the S trim level in and around the city of Montreal, Quebec, and the countryside of that province's Eastern Townships. This value-focused version of the car came with the CVT and no other options, so the manufacturer's suggested retail price was $20,235, including the $1,245 destination charge. Nissan provided the vehicle for this Versa review.

Benjamin Hunting

Basic Shape and Basic Materials Define the 2025 Versa's Character

Notable for not being an SUV, like many of the other affordable alternatives you might consider, the Nissan Versa sedan isn't flashy, especially when equipped with the S trim level. It even sports hubcaps over steel wheels. Honestly, I don't think that matters, as styling takes a back seat to savings when shopping for the most affordable vehicle on the market. Still, by moving up to a more expensive version of the Versa, you can get aluminum wheels and brighter paint colors.

The interior requires a little more forgiveness, likely even from bargain-focused buyers. Almost everything you see and touch feels lifted from a decade-old rental car fleet, which is to say it's a perfectly serviceable arrangement of buttons, dials, and plastics that do the minimum required to get you moving and keep you entertained while driving. Again, this is not a condemnation, but a reality check.

Benjamin Hunting

While its presentation might be old-school, the Versa's interior room is impressive, and I had no complaints about comfort even on longer trips. This small car is genuinely adult friendly at all four seating positions despite its diminutive exterior dimensions. I don't advise trying to squeeze in a third rider in the middle of the back seat, though.

With the S trim, the Versa's rear seat doesn't fold down, which limits overall practicality. That said, the trunk measures just under 15 cubic-feet, which is a generous amount of space for such a small car.

Benjamin Hunting

The Base 2025 Versa Is Almost Entirely Tech-Free

The Nissan Versa is the epitome of a no-frills vehicle, and that starts with its list of interior technologies. Forget about digital gauges. Instead, the Versa features an analog speedometer and tachometer along with a small LCD readout for fuel economy and other data.

The infotainment system does little to spice things up. It features a 7.0-inch touchscreen providing access to Bluetooth connectivity, an AM/FM radio, an auxiliary audio input, and, well, not a lot else, really. Knobs control volume and tuning and buttons provide access to the few functions programmed into the system. It's worth noting that the screen in my test vehicle was already delaminating.

Nissan offers an optional S+ package for the Versa S. In addition to sizing up from 15-inch steel wheels to 16-inch alloys, it also installs connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a fold-down rear seat. My test vehicle did not have this upgrade.

Benjamin Hunting

Similarly, the Nissan Versa S includes only a few of the advanced driver-assistance systems commonly found in many other vehicles. They include automatic emergency braking, a lane-departure-warning system, and not much else aside from automatic high-beam headlights. You also can't add more safety tech unless you upgrade to the SV or SR trim level. This lack of available safety features is perhaps the biggest downside to purchasing a budget vehicle like the Versa S.

I can report that the lane-departure-warning system is accurate, vibrating the steering wheel when the Nissan strayed over the lane lines on either side of the car. The headlights, though, did not impress me. I live in a rural area where wildlife frequently make their presence known on the roadway, and the amount of light thrown by the Nissan's low- and high-beams did not give me a lot of confidence when navigating early autumn evenings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2025 Versa earns a five-star overall crash-test rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not rated the 2025 Versa.

Benjamin Hunting

The 2025 Nissan Versa Drives Better Than Expected

Every 2025 Nissan Versa comes with a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard with the S trim, but my test car had the optional CVT. The Versa is front-wheel drive.

Those power and torque ratings might sound like a minuscule amount of motivation compared with the turbocharged engines commonly available in many vehicles these days. Still, the Versa's low curb weight of 2,717 pounds or less means the engine isn't moving a lot of mass.

By no measure is the Nissan Versa a quick vehicle. Even with the accelerator pedal floored, you'll need to be strategic in timing your passing opportunities to make use of holes in traffic, especially when traveling above 65 mph. Still, it's not a total laggard, and the CVT feels like a good match for the engine. Yes, the revs climb steeply when accelerating uphill, but it's never unpleasant or overly coarse.

Benjamin Hunting

Compared with a taller-riding SUV, the Versa sedan is also composed in the corners, benefiting from the fact that most of us have forgotten what it's like to drive a tiny car. Interior noise is acceptable, even on the highway, and on gravel roads, the Nissan's suspension didn't overly jostle occupants.

Keep in mind that these perspectives take into account the Versa's bottom-rung position in the new-vehicle market. This is the cheapest car you can buy, so you can't expect thrills or sophistication when behind the wheel. Instead, the Versa is an appliance, and its driving character won't turn off anyone who needs an inexpensive new commuter vehicle.

The Versa's frugality continues at the fuel pump, where I saw an average of 37 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That beat the EPA estimate of 35 mpg, despite the many hills near my home.

Benjamin Hunting

Is the 2025 Nissan Versa a Good Car?

The Versa is great on gas and costs less than any other new vehicle you can find, but it is extremely basic in terms of creature comforts and safety features. If you are on a limited budget, have modest driving requirements, and are wary of buying a used car, the Nissan Versa is far from the penalty box its very low price point might suggest.

If you desire more equipment and are willing to increase your budget a little, it's worth considering the larger Nissan Sentra sedan. Other alternatives include crossovers like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Venue, or Nissan Kicks.

Benjamin Hunting

Nearly two decades into his career as an automotive journalist, Benjamin has had his hands greasy, his hair blown back, and his heart broken by more than one project car. In addition to his work at Capital One, he has contributed features and reviews to Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Hagerty, Driving Line, Inside Hook, Super Street, European Car, Roadkill Magazine, Motor 1, The Drive, the Toronto Star, the National Post, Business Insider, NAPA, Autoblog, Automotive News Canada, and AutoGuide. He is also cohost of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and cocreator of the Code 45 and Dead Air graphic novels. In his spare time, he's a friend to vinyl and enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days.