NissanVersa

2023 Nissan Versa Review

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　, rating written byDan FrioContributor

　　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.

　　The 2023 Nissan Versa is a solid pick for a subcompact car, offering more features, comfort and tech than you'd expect in this class. It's also new enough to have Nissan's latest styling cues baked in, with plenty of bold creases and textures to make it one of the more visually interesting small sedans. The Versa's roomy interior and large trunk rival those of some entry-level European cars, and it remains one of the few cars available with a manual transmission.

　　That five-speed transmission is only available on the base model, which is too bad since it can help you extract a bit more thrust from the anemic four-cylinder engine. The trade-off for the Versa's meager power, though, is impressive fuel economy — up to 35 mpg combined. The Versa is a smart pick, but it's also worth considering the rival Hyundai Accent or Kia Rio, two small fuel-efficient cars that are also fun to drive. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more about the Versa's hits and misses.

　　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.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

　　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

　　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