If you’re looking for a subcompact sedan that provides a great ride, and you don’t need all the bells and whistles found on many cars these days, you should take a good look at the 2019 Nissan Versa. With an economical price tag, the Versa is the perfect car for students or anyone on a budget. The Nissan Versa provides lots of space for passengers and cargo and delivers excellent fuel economy. It’s a win-win situation — you’ll save money at a dealer like the Santa Barbara Nissan dealership and you’ll save more money on gas, too.
The 2019 Nissan Versa seats five passengers comfortably and comes in three trim levels, listed as S, S Plus and SV. Nissan also makes a hatchback called the Versa Note. While the two vehicles both share the Versa designation, the Versa Note is really a different vehicle, so we aren’t covering the Versa Note in this review.
Autotrader wrote: “As one of the lowest-priced cars you can buy, the 2019 Nissan Versa sedan isn't some cheaply assembled throwaway, it's nice small car with a comfortable ride, a huge back seat and trunk, as well as some pretty respectable fuel economy figures. … what makes the Versa so attractive is that it doesn't cost much, holds its value fairly well, delivers excellent fuel economy and has an abundance of space for both passengers and cargo.”
The 2019 Nissan Versa employs a 1.6-liter inline-four engine that put out 109 horsepower and 107 lb.-ft. of torque, teamed to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on all trims except the S, which gets a five-speed manual gearbox. All trims get front-wheel drive. The 2019 Versa with the five-speed manual gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.* With the CVT, this engine returns an impressive 31 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.
Standard features on the base S trim include 15-inch steel wheels, cloth seats, air conditioning, power mirrors, a rearview camera, Siri Eyes Free, a 7-inch touchscreen, a four-speaker stereo system, A USB port and Bluetooth. The S Plus comes with cruise control, some updated design features and a rear spoiler. The top-line SV gets remote keyless entry, a height-adjustable driver seat, 60/40 split-folding rear seats, nicer cloth seats, and power windows and door locks.
The SV trim can take advantage of the available SV Special Edition package, which includes 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push-button start, a vehicle immobilizer and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Versa delivers a quiet, comfortable ride, thanks to its excellent suspension system, which glides over bumps in the road. The steering is sharp and the Versa’s small turning radius allows it to get in and out of tight spots with ease. The back seat has plenty of legroom to keep passengers from feeling cramped. In fact, the 2019 Nissan Versa has more legroom than many rival vehicles. Tall passengers will appreciate the Versa’s generous amount of headroom.
* All vehicle mileage based on 2019 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.