2024 Nissan Versa Sedan

　　

2024 Nissan Versa Review

byJosh JacquotCorrespondent

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar., rating written byJosh JacquotContributor

　　Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.

　　We expect the Versa to continue into 2024 with few, in any, changes. Nissan has peddled its smallest car for a decade and half on the merits of its low cost, value and high fuel economy. And we expect it to continue to shine in those areas in 2024. It won't surprise us if Nissan does away with the manual-transmission version, which trails the CVT-equipped models by 5 mpg in combined fuel economy. And it's plausible Nissan will make more technology and safety-related driver aids standard equipment, though the Versa certainly doesn't embarrass itself in those areas now.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: A good pick for tech and safety

Among subcompacts the Versa leverages its value. Its list of standard and optional equipment downright embarrasses competitors. Standard on every Versa are: automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear automatic braking and high-beam assist. A blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic warning is included on the midlevel SV model. So is wireless phone charging, a feature often reserved for luxury cars. Remote start and adaptive cruise control are included with the top-level SR trim. Those are features not found in the Kia Rio or Mitsubishi Mirage. The Versa makes a solid case for itself on features alone, but among cars in this segment it's also the most enjoyable to drive, offering comfort and predictable handling.

　　

Competitors to consider

As SUVs continue to proliferate, there are fewer and fewer inexpensive subcompacts like the Versa. In fact, we can now count them all on one hand: Nissan Versa, Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage. The Mini Cooper fits into the subcompact size category but costs considerably more than the other models. So if you're shopping this category on price, the Versa has only two true competitors. Read our Expert Rating for all of the Versa's strengths and weaknesses.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Please note that this rating is based on a prior year and may change slightly once complete information about the 2024 Versa becomes available.

　　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.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　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 zzdcar 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.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below