This week I have for you the 2023 Nissan Versa, a compact sedan that competes with the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla primarily. It is also one of the lowest-priced sedans on the market.
2023 Nissan Versa SR
The exterior looks are terrific with the signature V-Motion grill, distinctive body lines, attractive 17” wheels, and a rear spoiler.
Powertrain
Under the hood, you’ll find a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder non-turbo engine that is putting out 122-horses, and a breakneck 114-pound feet of torque. It is mated to a continuously variable transmission. This CVT is not annoying like many, since Nissan simulates shifts and it feels like a regular transmission.
Interior
This is the SR trim, which is the top of the line.
The interior is really nice with colorful cloth seats and contrast stitching throughout the cabin. Front seats are NASA-designed zero gravity, which are very comfortable, and the front seats are heated.
The gauge cluster is easy to read and can be configured from the steering wheel.
High on the center of the dash is an 8” touchscreen infotainment system that runs everything, including the sound system, Bluetooth, settings, and Apple CarPlay. You can customize the home menu to see the items you use the most.
Below the screen are the automatic temperature climate controls, and below that are USB and USB-C ports, a cell phone charger, the pushbutton start near the gear shifter, and a couple of cup holders.
The back seat had more head and leg room than I expected, people a little over six-feet tall will be fine in the back seat. The back seats fold down for additional space in the trunk.
The trunk has a very wide opening and has 14-cubic feet of space, with additional storage underneath where the compact spare tire is.
Standard Equipment
The Versa SR comes with keyless entry and remote start, voice recognition, a rear camera, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, emergency braking, and rear cross traffic alert.
Ride and Drive
The Versa actually drives and rides well, and there is good feedback from the steering. Handling in curves was really good with very little lean.
Acceleration for a heavy-footed guy like me is pretty dismal, but that is the price you pay for getting 32 miles per gallon city and an impressive 40 on the highway. Without trying, I was able to get slightly better fuel economy. The Versa has a little more road noise than I generally like, but it is tolerable.
What You'll Pay
This is a pre-production model, so I don’t have an exact MSRP, but building it on the Nissan website, it appears to come in at under $22,000 not including any factory rebates, which is an exceptional value for what you get.
- What I liked most: The fuel economy and fantastic price.
- What I would change: Give me the option of a turbocharger.
- MSRP: Estimated just under $22,000 including destination.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 32 City/40 highway/35 Combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 5,700 miles.
- Weight: 2,729 pounds.
- Spare Tire: Compact temporary spare tire.
- Length-Width-Height: 177” long/68.5” wide/57.3” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 10.8 gallons with the filler on the driver's side.
- Official Color: Scarlet Ember Tintcoat.
- Towing Capacity: N/A.
-
2023 Versa in a few words: An exceptional commuter car or a great, fuel efficient and safe car for your young driver.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper; 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty with roadside assistance,
- Final Assembly Location: Aguascalientes, Mexico.
- Manufacturer's website: Nissan
