2021 Nissan Versa Review

　　

2021 Nissan Versa Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 2021 Nissan Versa is a subcompact sedan that's one of the most affordable new cars on sale today. It's the least expensive and smallest model in Nissan's lineup, slotting just below the Sentra. Despite the Versa's diminutive dimensions, it offers a surprising amount of cargo space, making it more useful than it might seem. It is also available with plenty of safety features, and the cabin doesn't feel like it was built to a budget. After a full redesign for 2020, the Nissan Versa heads into 2021 relatively unchanged.

　　The Versa is one of the few remaining subcompact cars left on sale, with most automakers dropping small cars from their lineups to focus on crossover SUVs. The Hyundai Accent and mechanically similar Kia Rio are both recently redesigned and offer quiet, comfortable rides and spacious cabins. Their warranties are also much more generous than the Versa's. The Mitsubishi Mirage isn't exactly a stellar car, but it's available as both a sedan and hatchback, is equipped with an excellent warranty, and delivers decent fuel economy. If you're willing to spend a bit more, there are a ton of passenger-friendly small SUVs on the market, including the Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Kia Soul and Nissan's own Kicks.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Below Average

　　7.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.5/10

　　How does the Versa drive? 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 quick or have limited space to make a pass, the Versa leaves you wanting badly.

　　You'll be more satisfied with the Versa's handling. It stays composed when going around turns. The steering can feel a little too heavy at times, but it's accurate and allows you to point the Versa where you want to go with ease.

　　

Comfort

6.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Versa? Nissan includes its Zero Gravity seats in the Versa. Those in the SV trim have comfortable cloth that is generally firm, but the seats run a little narrow under the shoulders. They offer great support on short- and medium-length drives, though the lack of sufficient lumbar support might require breaks over longer trips.

　　The car has a comfortable ride if the road surface is decent but gets bouncy over lesser-quality roads. Wind noise is prevalent inside the cabin, and if the car hits any bumps, you will hear it as much as you feel it. Another aspect holding the Versa back in this category is its climate control system. The controls don't allow enough fine adjustment to find exactly the right cabin comfort you're looking for.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　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 both the front and back.

　　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

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Versa comes with a basic four-speaker audio system and it sounds like it. You'll need to turn up the volume all the way up to drown out exterior noise. Onboard navigation is not an option, but optional Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility allows you to get directions through your phone. Pleasingly, they work quickly to display your phone's apps on the screen.

　　The Versa's advanced driver safety 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

7.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Versa has a lot of trunk space for this class of car. Cargo capacity is 14.7 cubic feet, more than most competitors, and the trunk space has enough depth to accommodate larger items. The load floor is relatively low for a sedan, and the rear seats fold down, but not flat, 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, which means you have 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

8.0/10

　　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 under $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

7.0/10

　　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.

　　

Which Versa does zzdcar recommend?

While the base S model comes with a decent list of features, we suggest stepping up to the midlevel SV trim. For not much more money, you get a somewhat upgraded interior, a blind-spot monitoring system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

　　

2021 Nissan Versa models

The 2021 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.

　　S

　　The base S model isn't as basic as you might expect given its affordable price tag. Standard features include:

　　15-inch steel wheels Power windows and door locks Push-button ignition Height-adjustable driver's seat Fixed-back passenger seat (manual transmission only) 60/40-split folding rear seat (CVT only) 7-inch touchscreen Bluetooth connectivity Four-speaker audio system Three USB portsStandard safety features and driver aids include:

　　Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle) Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane) Automatic high beamsSV

　　The SV builds on top of Versa S content with:

　　16-inch alloy wheels Heated mirrors Body-colored mirror caps and door handles Upgraded cloth upholstery Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Satellite radio Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)SR

　　The top-level SR adds even more features onto the Versa SV content. Those include:

　　17-inch wheels LED headlights Foglights Dark chrome grille and black-painted mirror caps Rear spoiler Keyless entry Leather-wrapped steering wheel Unique upholstery Six-speaker audio system Remote engine startThe Versa SR is available with a single option.

　　Convenience package Heated front seats Automatic climate control Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Versa and the car in front)

　　

2021 Versa Highlights

Trim: SSVSRS

　　

Base MSRP	$14,980
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	30 MPG
Cost to Drive	$124/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles