Nissan Versa

After its comprehensive redesign in 2020, Nissan's Versa established itself as one of the more pleasant subcompact cars on the market. Its comfortable ride and spacious interior feel like they come from a more expensive car, and the available advanced driver aids make the Versa seem like even more of a bargain. As a bonus, if you really want a manual transmission, the Versa is one of the few cars that still offer the option.

Overall we think the 2022 Nissan Versa is a smart pick for a budget-friendly sedan. It's not exciting, but it'll get you where you need to go and comes standard with many of the latest advanced driver aids. Check out our test team's Expert Rating on the Versa to learn more about how it stacks up against other small sedans such as the Hyundai Accent and Mitsubishi Mirage.

Nissan hasn't released official information on the 2022 Versa as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Versa, the midtier SV trim is the way to go. It shouldn't cost much more than the entry-level S, and the list of upgrades is extensive. The same is true for the SR as well.

[Editor's note: The following information is based on last year's 2021 Versa. We expect the 2022 Versa will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Nissan Versa is a subcompact sedan available in three trims: S, SV and SR. Every Versa is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine (122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque) that sends power to the front wheels. A five-speed manual is standard on the S, though a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is optional. The CVT is standard on SV and SR models.

S The base S model isn't as basic as you might expect given its affordable price tag. Standard features include:

15-inch steel wheels
Power windows and door locks
Push-button ignition
Height-adjustable driver's seat
Fixed-back passenger seat (manual transmission only)
60/40-split folding rear seat (CVT only)
7-inch touchscreen
Bluetooth connectivity
Four-speaker audio system
Three USB ports

Standard safety features and driver aids include:

Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Automatic high beams

SV The SV builds on top of Versa S content with:

16-inch alloy wheels
Heated mirrors
Body-colored mirror caps and door handles
Upgraded cloth upholstery
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Satellite radio
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

SR The top-level SR adds even more features onto the Versa SV content. Those include:

17-inch wheels
LED headlights
Foglights
Dark chrome grille and black-painted mirror caps
Rear spoiler
Keyless entry
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Unique upholstery
Six-speaker audio system
Remote engine start

The Versa SR is available with a single option:

Convenience package

Heated front seats
Automatic climate control
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Versa and the car in front)