In a market where car prices continue to climb, finding a brand-new sedan that’s truly affordable can feel impossible. But one model stands out as the most budget-friendly new sedan in America, and it still delivers more value than you’d expect at its price point.
Despite its low cost, this compact sedan offers impressive fuel efficiency, modern safety features, and a comfortable ride for daily driving. It may not come with luxury badging or high-end materials, but it covers the essentials with confidence and even includes tech like smartphone integration and a user-friendly infotainment system.
For first-time buyers, commuters, or anyone looking to keep monthly payments low, this sedan proves that affordability doesn’t have to mean settling. It’s a rare example of a true value car in today’s new vehicle market, and a reminder that practical, dependable transportation is still within reach. Here’s why it’s worth considering.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed and the EPA.
If you’re looking for affordable transportation, you aren’t going to do much better than the Nissan Versa. If you’re looking to get a 2025 model, there is currently no car that will cost you less than a Versa. Plus, even though it is exceptionally affordable, Nissan has absolutely loaded it with features making it feel like a real bargain.
$17,190
$20,490
SR
$21,190
There are currently three trims to choose from if you’re looking to grab a new Versa, and all three of them are pretty cheap. The Mitsubishi Mirage used to be the only car to challenge the Versa in price, but it has since been discontinued, leaving the Versa as themost affordable new car you can buy. Unlike the Mirage, though, the Versa actually feels worth the money. After those two, Nissan also offers the next cheapest new car on the road in the form of the Sentra.
While the Versa’s mission is obviously to provide affordable transportation, we’d take the plunge and go for the most expensive model, the SR. We wouldn’t blame you for sticking with the cheapest S if all you’re looking for is something to get you from point A to point B, but we’d skip the SV. This is because the SR offers a lot more equipment for the small difference in price between the two models.
At just over $20,000, the Versa SR is still exceptionally affordable. Alongside the pretty generous list of standard equipment, this trim also gets plenty of features that justify its higher price tag. It comes with an automatic transmission, where the base model comes with a manual as standard, and it also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Equipment unique to the SR includes 17-inch wheels, passive entry, remote start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. You can also tack on heated front seats.
Warranties and Maintenance
While brands like Kia and Hyundai offer longer powertrain warranties, the package offered by Nissan is still average to above average. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is on the low side, though. The 2025 Versa is among the models that benefits from Nissan’s new after-sales care program, which means that you’re able to get up to three free oil changes in your first two years of ownership.
A Humble Yet Thrifty Four-Cylinder Sits Under the Hood of the Versa
When you’re spending around $20,000 on a new car, you shouldn’t expect it to blow you away when it comes to performance. The Nissan Versa is motivated by a fairly low output engine that will get you to your destination without too many complaints. Where its lack of power works in your favor, especially if you’re on a budget, is that the Versa is one of the most economical gas-only vehicles you can buy.
5-Speed Manual or CVT
122 HP
114 LB-FT
0-60 MPH
Top Speed
115 MPH
The Versa is not the quickest car on the road, and if speed is important to you then you should probably wait and get something a little more expensive. It comes with a fairly small four-cylinder engine by today’s standards and front-wheel drive. It is one of the last cars thatstill offers a five-speed manualas the default transmission, with the CVT costing extra on the base model and coming standard on higher trims.
When pulling away from stop lights or trying to get up to highway speeds, you’ll notice the Versa’s lack of grunt. However, its CVT actually works in your favor here, preventing any coarse engine noises by mimicking traditional gear changes. The ride quality in the Versa is exceptional for something that costs so little, and its accurate steering means it doesn’t feel all that bad to drive.
32 MPG
40 MPG
35 MPG
27 MPG
30 MPG
There are only a handful of gasoline cars that are more efficient than the automatic Nissan Versa, with its fuel efficiency figures coming close to the level of some hybrids. If you stick with the base manual model, then you lose five miles per gallon, which is quite a big sacrafice and yet another reason to make the jump to the more expensive trim levels.
For Its Price, the Versa Offers a Pretty Well-Equipped Cabin
There is no denying that the Versa sedan is a budget model, excluding some features that are available on most new cars. However, Nissan has made a ton of improvements to their most affordable model over the years and its cabin is actually a pretty comfortable place to be. This is especially true if you opt for the SV or SR whichdefinitely punch well above their weight.
Cargo Capacity
14.7 Cubic Feet
The biggest weak point of the Versa is the space for rear passengers, with legroom being abysmally low. Don’t expect your adult family or friends to want to ride in the back for any extended periods of time. Comparatively, those in the front are treated royally, with some of the highest legroom of any car on offer in this row. There are plenty of useful cubbies throughout the cabin and the cargo area is pretty reasonable for a vehicle of the Versa’s size.
Old Versas used to have horrendous interiors, with hard plastics scattered everywhere and an interior design that just made it look silly. It has grown up quite a lot, though, with Nissan even now using soft-touch materials on many surfaces. While things like power-adjustable seating may not be on the menu, the little sedan can be had with heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and automatic climate control, which is pretty impressive.
Infotainment and Technology
Standard on most models is a seven-inch infotainment screen which is embedded into the dashboard. However, top-of-the-line SR models get an eight-inch unit instead. Either way, Nissan has incorporated a good mixture of touch controls and physical buttons and dials. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on the SV and SR, with it being an optional upgrade on the S trim. Top trims also come with a digital screen in the middle of the gauge cluster.
Other great tech features are available in this affordable sedan, including a wireless smartphone charging pad. There are also a couple of USB-C and USB-A ports as well. A four-speaker sound system is standard, with some models coming with a six-speaker system instead, but neither will particularly blow your hair back. The Nissan Connect subscription service is also available, which allows you to remotely start your car and precondition the climate control from your phone among other things.
