2023 Nissan Versa Review

Name: 2023 Nissan Versa
Brand: Nissan

Price Range: $13,999 - $19,590

Average

7.4

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2023 Nissan Versa is a well-built small sedan, with plenty of space inside and enough standard technology and safety features to easily justify its price. Solid fuel economy is another bonus. The Versa's slow acceleration is a bummer, but overall it's a smart pick for an affordable small sedan.

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Average price: $15,453

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Nissan Versa model years

Nissan Versa for Sale

Pros

Lots of features for the money
Generous cargo capacity
Impressive fuel economy
User-friendly infotainment system

Cons

Sluggish acceleration
Not much interior storage for small items

What's new

Updated front-end styling
Smartphone wireless charging pad is newly available
Minor revisions to standard and optional feature availability
Part of the third Versa generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Written by automotive expert Dan Frio

Updated: 4/27/2023

The 2023 Nissan Versa is a solid pick for a subcompact car, offering more features, comfort and tech than you'd expect in this class. It's also new enough to have Nissan's latest styling cues baked in, with plenty of bold creases and textures to make it one of the more visually interesting small sedans. The Versa's roomy interior and large trunk rival those of some entry-level European cars, and it remains one of the few cars available with a manual transmission.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near Ashburn, VA

547 listings

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2023 Nissan Versa
SV Sedan
$15,490
fair price
$457 below market
- 52,801 miles
- 32 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- 97 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
Close
Located in Harrisburg, PA
Recent Arrival! 2023 Nissan Versa 1.6 SV FWD CVT 4D Sedan32/40 City/Highway MPG **APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO**, **REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY**, Alloy wheel...
Features and Specs:
35 Combined MPG (32 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
3N1CN8EV8PL873223
Stock:
YP873223
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-14-2026
2024 Nissan Versa
S Sedan
$16,799
great price
$2,701 below market
- 15,266 miles
- 32 City / 40 Hwy MPG
- 55 mi away
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Tire Pressure Warnin...
- USB Inputs
- Lane Departure Warni...
Close
Located in Baltimore, MD
Meet the 2024 Nissan Versa 1.6 S—a practical, fuel-efficient sedan designed for everyday driving. Silver exterior, low mileage at 15,266 miles, and lo...
Features and Specs:
35 Combined MPG (32 City/40 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN:
3N1CN8DV3RL823673
Stock:
N260306A
Certified Pre-Owned:
No
Listed since:
08-10-2026

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That five-speed transmission is only available on the base model, which is too bad since it can help you extract a bit more thrust from the anemic four-cylinder engine. The trade-off for the Versa's meager power, though, is impressive fuel economy — up to 35 mpg combined. The Versa is a smart pick, but it's also worth considering the rival Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio, two small fuel-efficient cars that are also fun to drive. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more about the Versa's hits and misses.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Ryan ZumMallen

Average

7.4

out of 10

We drove the 2023 Nissan Versa on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7/10

How does the Versa drive? You can't expect an economy-minded sedan to be quick but the Versa's four-cylinder engine takes its time getting you up to speed. There's little issue in typical driving around town or fitting in with traffic. But in cases where you need to pull away quickly or have limited space to make a pass, the Versa leaves you wanting. At the Edmunds test track, our Versa accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in a leisurely, and somewhat noisy, 10.4 seconds. It's one of the slower vehicles we've tested in a while.

You'll be more satisfied with the Versa's handling. It stays composed when going around turns. The steering is a little numb and can feel a little too heavy at times, but the Versa will follow your directions surprisingly well. The Versa's brakes also work well in emergency situations, and and the brake pedal makes it easy to stop smoothly in routine driving.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Versa? The seats in the Versa SR, which is what we tested, have comfortable cloth that is generally firm. But the seats run a little narrow under the shoulders. They offer good support on short- and medium-length drives, though the lack of sufficient lumbar support might require breaks over longer trips. The rear seats are similarly firm but still comfortable.

The Versa rides smoothly over most surfaces, but like most inexpensive vehicles, it can get bouncy over lesser-quality roads. Wind noise is prevalent inside the cabin, and if the car hits any bumps, you will hear it. We appreciate the climate control's straightforward arrangement of real buttons and knobs and found the vents to be easily adjustable and well placed.

Interior

8/10

How’s the interior? The Versa scores high for its interior design. It's easy to get inside and adjust the seat to your preferred driving position. The cabin is relatively roomy too. Even at the highest driving position, which feels almost like you're in an SUV, there is plenty of headroom with space to stretch your legs. It's similarly spacious for passengers in the back, but taller people might feel their head brush against the headliner.

The touchscreen is responsive and provides a clear picture. The controls on the center stack and steering wheel are straightforward, and you can use the tuning button to scroll through screens, which is easier than poking the touchscreen while driving. It's pretty easy to see out of the Versa thanks to the short hood and large windows.

Technology

7/10

How’s the tech? Our test car, equipped in the top-of-the-line SR trim, came with an 8-inch touchscreen and a six-speed audio system. Clarity at normal volumes is good, but you'll need to turn up the volume all the way up to drown out noise at freeway speeds. Onboard navigation isn't offered on the Versa, but most trims come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility that allows you to get directions on screen powered by your smartphone. Integrating your phone happens quickly. The SR trim also includes a wireless charging pad.

The Versa's advanced driver aids are helpful without being intrusive. Forward collision warning activates with a simple string of beeps. Lane keeping warnings are also gentle buzzes. The biggest weak points are a low-resolution rearview camera and an overly sensitive backup collision mitigation system. During our testing, this system mistakenly triggered when one of our drivers was backing into a street from a mildly inclined driveway. It slammed the car to a stop.

Storage

7/10

How’s the storage? The Versa has a lot of trunk space for this class of car. Cargo capacity maxes out at 15 cubic feet, more than most competitors, and the trunk is deep enough to accommodate larger items. The load floor is relatively low for a sedan, and the rear seats fold down if needed.

Small-item storage is not a strong suit. The center armrest is optional and can barely fit a smartphone. Child seat accommodation is better. There is good space for a rear-facing seat in the back. The lower car-seat anchor points are hidden between cushions, but they're easy to locate and attach to. The rear seats have integrated headrests, requiring you to wrap the strap around them to attach to the rear tether hooks.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Versa equipped with the CVT automatic has EPA-estimated fuel economy of 35 mpg combined (32 city/40 highway). That's right up at the top of the class. Our test Versa soared above that with a 41.1 mpg average on our 115-mile test route that combines street, mountain roads and freeway driving.

Value

8/10

Is the Versa a good value? The Versa offers basic affordability without feeling like you're punishing yourself. It feels tightly built, with higher-quality materials than typical for the class, and provides more pizzazz than your usual econo-sedan. There is interesting tech and enough safety equipment to easily justify the cost of entry, with room to add options and still stay close to $20,000.

Nissan offers a pretty middle-of-the-road warranty with basic coverage for three years/36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for five years/60,000 miles. Hyundai, Kia and Mitsubishi all go up to 10 years/100,000 miles. Roadside assistance is offered for three years/36,000 miles. Most rivals offer better coverage, and some provide free maintenance for up to three years.

Wildcard

7/10

The Versa has no delusions of grandeur. There are no superfluous paddle shifters, fake vents or Sport mode. It's an economy car that offers space and safety technology at an attractive value. That said, the steering and handling are decent for the price, and even a few of us will admit we like the style and feel of the flat-bottom steering wheel. This is a slow car. There's no getting around it. But the Versa makes a good effort to avoid being soulless and feeling cheap.

2023 Nissan Versa trim level differences

The 2023 Nissan Versa is a subcompact sedan available in three trims: S, SV and SR. Every Versa is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque) that sends power to the front wheels. A five-speed manual is standard on the S, though a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. The CVT is standard on SV and SR models. Compare the 2023 Nissan Versa trim levels in-depth.

Which Versa trim does Edmunds recommend?

For an inexpensive set of wheels, the midtier SV trim is the best value of the lineup. It doesn't cost much more than the entry-level S yet offers several appealing upgrades such as smartphone integration and a blind-spot warning system.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$169/mo

$237/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Reliability

The 2023 Nissan Versa has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 1 recall. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 4 out of 5, ranks it #13 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

4 out of 5 stars4/5Excellent

#13 out of 27 among Subcompact Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$391/yr

vs. $416/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Frequency

0.94x/yr

vs. 1.22x/yr
for Average Subcompact Car

Severity

10.6%

vs. 10.1%
for Average Subcompact Car

Recalls

1 recall found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 24V154000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: PD103, PD1
Number of vehicles affected:: 351
Defect Description:: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Defect Consequence:: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles

Nissan Versa Reviews

Owner Reviews

3.9

46 reviews

5(59%)

4(10%)

3(6%)

2(13%)

1(12%)

See all 46 reviews of the Nissan Versa

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

2023 Nissan Versa video

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2023 Versa Features & Specs

Trim:

Est. Market Value	$15,468
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$169/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Versa models:

Automatic Emergency Braking: Detects vehicles and pedestrians ahead and automatically applies the brakes if a collision is imminent and the driver doesn't react in time.
Rear Door Alert: Uses the horn, door sensors and driver display to remind the driver to check the rear seat for children after the vehicle is parked.
Lane Departure Warning: Monitors lane markings and alerts the driver if the Versa starts to drift out of its lane without a turn signal being used.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover11.8%

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