For the model year 2022, the Nissan Versa didn’t get any revisions or upgrades whatsoever from the previous year. If that somehow contributes to the $15,000 starting price of this roomy five-passenger sedan, then we don't mind Nissan leaving everything as-is for the 2022 model year. It includes the sport-stitched interior cloth upholstery with fabric inserts, heated front seats, and ample rear legroom and knee room.
The Versa ranks fifth on the top-ten least-expensive cars in 2022, right behind the Kia Forte FE and immediately after the Hyundai Accent SE. Unlike many on that list, the Versa is a fun-to-drive subcompact sedan, thanks to the punchy 1.6-liter engine producing an impressive 122 horsepower. In fact, no other sub-$20,000 new car currently offers that much power.
You buy this car because you want to make enjoyable journeys to point B from point A and look pretty cool while at it, all at a purse-friendly price tag. However, like every sub-$20,000 subcompact available this year, the Nissan Versa will get passed a lot on the highway but enjoy a beyond-decent highway fuel economy. It also comes with more safety and driver-assist features than other models on the top-ten cheapest cars of 2022.
The 2022 Nissan Versa Is A Purse-Friendly Five-Seater Sedan
The Chevrolet Spark is the cheapest car in America right now and comes with a pretty decent four-seat cabin. The Versa costs barely $500 more than the Spark, but offers comfortable front and rear seating for five adults. The Spark is a hatchback that can’t say the same about its rear accommodation.
What, we think, is really great about the Nissan Versa is that you don’t feel like a miser or that you're cheating yourself when you should’ve just added a bit more money to pay for a ‘proper’ sedan that isn’t a ‘low-budget’ Econo-sedan. The inside is of higher-quality materials that aren’t upscale, but they are high quality. The impressive array of safety and driver-assist technology is enough to justify the Versa’s slightly higher starting price than most under-$20,000 economy cars this year.
Honestly, we wonder why Nissan didn’t match the Mitsubishi Mirage's 10 years/100,000 miles warranty. Instead, the Versa met the Mirage halfway by offering three years/36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for five years/60,000 miles. In any case, the Versa has no pretensions to be what it isn’t.
It’s an economy car devoid of ostentatious features like non-functional vents, paddle shifter, or even Sport mode. Instead, the automaker focused on maximizing the basics – decent interior space, efficient flat-bottom steering, and fun-to-drive handling – so that both driver and passengers enjoy the albeit slow ride.
The 2022 Nissan Versa Is Sluggish But Offers Decent Fuel Economy
The 2022 Nissan Versa’s sluggish 1.6-liter engine certainly puts a damper on this otherwise smart pick of the the-most-affordable-car litter. The acceleration is sloth-like, but the impressively high fuel economy is another bonus. The Nissan Versa gets motivation from a 1.6-liter DOHC 16-value four-cylinder engine.
It may struggle to keep up on highways but pack a real punch in the city courtesy of 122 horsepower delivered to the front wheels via a standard five-speed manual transmission. This car got designed for city driving anyway, so the slow acceleration isn't all that bad.
The 16-valve inline-four also gets an available CVT transmission on the base S trim level, while the CVT is standard on the SV and SR higher trim levels. Thankfully, it's comparatively quiet with minimal road noise inside the car (unlike the Mitsubishi Mirage) and the CVT helps reduce coarse noises by mimicking actual gear changes.
The Versa is best for city commuting, but nothing stops you from taking it on highway trips. You can bask in the knowledge that most of the cars zooming past do not have your Versa’s rated 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway when equipped with the CVT. The manual version isn’t as reassuring, with an estimated 27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.
The Interior Of The 2022 Nissan Versa Has Grown Up
The Nissan Versa received a comprehensive redesign in 2020 to join the league of stylish subcompact cars of the modern era. You can see and feel the interior’s maturity, with high-quality materials covering the entire cabin, including soft-touch surfaces on the doors and dashboard.
Unfortunately, the heated front seats we mentioned earlier only come with the topmost trim, and there aren't power-adjustable seats at all. While it uses updated cloth instead of leather upholstery, the steering wheel and shift knob are leather-wrapped. Naturally, the goodies get better as you travel up the trim levels.
For example, the mid-level SV trim unlocks standard niceties like a driver's-seat-mounted armrest and a digital screen in the gauge cluster. Move up the ladder to the topmost SR trim level, and you unlock standard features like passive hands-free entry, automatic climate control, remote start, and more.
The only econo-sedans we can think of right now that rivals the Nissan Versa’s rear accommodation is the Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent. Even so, the Versa offers comfortable rear seating for two grown adults. Depending on the trim, the 2022 Nissan Versa offers 14.7 or 15-cubic-foot trunk volume, both of which are decent for a subcompact.
The available split-folding rear seats are adequate, considering the trunk floor is lower than the base of the folded seats. The car also comes with cubbies on the center console. Ultimately, the Versa’s blend of a smooth ride and spacious interior promotes a premium feel. Add the available driver-assist techs and manual transmission, and you might just think you ripped off Nissan.
Why We Love The 2022 Nissan Versa
You’ll be happy to know that the NHTSA gave the Versa a 5-star overall safety rating, which just happens to be the highest score possible. It's almost like the Administration couldn't find another star to award the car. We love that automatic emergency braking comes default on all Versa trim levels, while the higher trims unlock advanced driver aid features like blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert. Not many subcompacts of the Versa’s price category can boast as much.
Something else we love about the 2022 Nissan Versa is the ‘in-betweener’ trim level for shoppers who see the base "S" trim as too basic but don't have a budget for the higher SV trim. For such budget-conscious shoppers, the 'in-betweener’ S Plus package races to the rescue with extra niceties like 16-inch alloy wheels (in lieu of the standard 15-inch steel wheels), a 60/40 split-folding second-row seat (standard on the SV trim), and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (added to the standard 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen). Summarily, the Versa is Nissan's smallest, least-expensive car.
Sources: US News, Nissan, Car and Driver