Used 2023 Nissan Versa Consumer Reviews
Nice little car!!
I had to drive to a work event and rented this car for the week. I drove it mainly on the highway/interstate for about 300 miles. I would echo the Edmunds review. Here is what I liked about it: 1) Size. I like a small car and this fits the bill. It isn't so small that you don't feel safe, but it is easy to drive around and park in the city. 2) Fuel Economy was excellent. I estimate based on miles driven and gas used that it easily beat 40 MPG this week. My estimate was 42, but it was likely a little better than that, wish I more exact numbers to work with. 3) Infotainment. My regular car is a 2021 Prius Prime and the Apple CarPlay can be a pain to activate at times. The Versa just worked. As soon as I hooked up my iPhone after pairing and setting up CarPlay CarPlay started on the infotainment screen. It also is the perfect screen size for CarPlay. 4) Seats. I found the cloth seats to be extremely comfortable. I am about 6 foot 3 and was very comfortable in this car. I also had pulled a muscle in my back going into this and I didn't notice any back discomfort while driving the car. 5) I thought cruise control and the voice controls were very intuitive and easy to use. Things that could be better: 1) Acceleration was sluggish, however considering what the Versa is, this is to be expected. For the most part it isn't an issue, just make sure you take this in account when merging and pulling out on the highway. 2) There is nothing premium about the suspension. You will feel bumps in this car. 3) This isn't a big deal to me, but if you don't like hard plastics, this car is almost entirely hard plastic. On mine there is part of the dash that tries to fool you into thinking it is leather/vegan leather, but it is really hard plastic. 4)I liked the manual knobs for the climate controls, but it is very basic. It would have been nice to have some sort of an "climate control" option to keep the car at a specific temperature. Like I said this was a rental, so I can't speak to long term quality, but I really liked the car. It reminded me of an old Ford Temp from the 90s but with a modern take. The one thing I don't love about the car is the price. I started pricing them after renting this one and an SV like the one I rented is $21K, which I couldn't justify. If you can find an S for the base starting price of $16K, that is more in line with the value. My wife owned a 2007 Versa and the model has come a long way in 16 years. once you get to the low $20Ks, I would start thinking more about just getting a Corolla or getting a Chevy Bolt if you will get the full tax benefits. Giving it 4 stars due to the pricing.
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A Struggle to drive
Slow, and clunky transmission. I really do want to love this car! But the transmission makes me regret purchasing it. I like the interior design. The seats for me is perfect but might not work as well for someone whose taller. The tech as others have said is very good and I know others have complained about the volume. But for me the volume is fine and I love being able to listen to my music, and podcasts, while driving. The real issue for me is the transmission. There are times when the transmission shifts so smooth I forget I am in a CVT. But those times are few and far in between. The CVT is unforgivable in this car. Its erratic, clunky and feels like its holding the car back. Trying to accelerate after coming to a stop. Forget it, It feels like the car is struggling always. For me it just makes driving it a chore. Unfortunately, its the only car I could get due to most of the cars being backordered due to the pandemic. But If I had to do it all over again, I would not have gotten this car because of the clunky CVT.
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- SV SedanMSRP: $16,499In-stock online
- SV SedanMSRP: $16,499In-stock online
- SV SedanMSRP: $16,499In-stock online
Pretty Great Car
Honestly the Versa’s are very convenient and reliable especially for the price that they are going for and this goes for all trims. If you are looking for a “sports” car and want the SR thinking it has some type of speed, just go with a Honda Civic/Accord😭 Versa’s are really for ppl who want a cheap car and need it for an everyday commute. Only downside to Versa’s (coming from someone who’s had 2, 2020 SV/2023 SR) they are SO SO easy to get totaled, one hit to both of my versa’s and they were totaled easily. Hit by an Acura and a Honda Accord, two separate times. Both were declared total losses, and before you say “it’s just the driver”…no. I, was hit😭 twice.
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Reliable, fun car
This car has been great so far, and I'm a good judge of cars in this class since I own this, an '18 Kia Rio and a '16 Honda Fit. Each has their positives and negatives, but this write-up is to review the Versa only, of course. Pros: 1) Easiest manual transmission I've ever driven. First gear is geared very low so I haven't killed it yet when taking off. 2) Well-built. The car is comfortable and roomy and has a large trunk for the class. 3) Smooth engine. The engine, while not a powerhouse, is smooth and quiet right up to redline. 4) Nice ride. Firm but comfortable ride is how I'd describe it. 5) Good handling. Reassuring when taking curves. 6) Reliability. So far, so good. No problems. 7) Easy to work on. I've looked around when changing the oil and the oil is certainly a snap to change and I can see the starter would be super easy to change, too. Also the transmission oil looks simple to change. 8) Attractive. This, of course, is subjective but I think it's a nice looking car, especially for its class. 9) Well equipped - lots of nice safety touches for the low price. Cons: 1) Low gearing. You're pushing about 3300 rpm at 70 mph. Could use a 6th gear. You get used to it, but still.. 2) Paint may be soft. I bought mine used and there are a lot of swirl marks in the paint (but I don't know what the car went through before I got it) 3) Could use more power. If you 'get on it' it'll scoot, but more horsepower would add to the fun. 4) Resale could be a problem with Nissan's future in question and people still gun-shy about the JATCO CVTs (even though this is a manual). 5) Could be quieter on the road. I think this may be more the tires than anything (unlike Hondas which put off a lot of suspension noise).
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After maintenance
My vehicle drives smoother and brakes are better, I also needed air in my tires due to the weather messing with my pressure and my vehicle is well.
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