Head-to-Head: 2022 Nissan Versa vs 2022 Toyota Corolla

The 2022 Nissan Versa is one of the best subcompact cars on the market but can it take on the best-selling compact car, the 2022 Toyota Corolla? Find out!

Compact Sedan Showdown

Nissan introduced this third generation of the Versa back in 2020, and ever since it’s been one that we really liked. It has modern styling that looks a lot like the Maxima, more safety tech than ever before, and outstanding fuel economy. On the other side of our matchup is a true gladiator in the Toyota Corolla. It’s been the best-selling compact car in America for a long time and accounted for more than 10% of the market share in 2021. It’s never been meant to compete against the Versa directly but when we dig deeper, these cars have some interesting similarities. Let’s find out which is the best value for your money.

Specs

The 2022 Nissan Versa starts at just $16,205 and no matter how you option it won’t crest far above $20,000. The 2022 Toyota Corolla starts at $20,075 and can jump up to well beyond $25,000 depending on trim and options. We’ll dig into why those prices are so different a little later but let’s focus first on the similarities.

Both vehicles use a four-cylinder engine and offer both a manual transmission or a CVT to send power to the front wheels only. The Corolla is only a few inches longer than the Versa but the Nissan makes up for it by being slightly taller. Interior space gets traded between the both of them depending on the specific area we’re talking about. The Corolla has more room in its second row while the Versa is more spacious up front and in the trunk.

Toyota Corolla 1.8L I4 - carsforsale.com

Both vehicles get a lot of standard safety equipment like lane-departure warning and forward collision mitigation. In addition, both offer the same Limited and Powertrain warranty coverage. Finally, they get within just a couple of MPG of one another. Now, let’s dig into what separates them.

Driving Dynamics

Quite quickly it becomes clear that the 2022 Toyota Corolla is the car you want if driving characteristics matter to you. Not only does it have a more powerful base engine than the Versa, but it also has an optional engine with 169-horsepower. It’s quicker off the line, but what really makes it stand out is how well it handles corners and harder braking events. The 2022 Corolla might just be a fuel-sipping compact car, but it has multi-link rear suspension and disc brakes in the back which are things we can’t say about the Versa. This is one area where Nissan clearly saved money. Every aspect of the driving experience feels sharper in the Toyota but we should make it clear too that neither of these is a proper performance car. For those who simply want a comfortable way to get from A to B, the Versa does a lovely job.

Comfort and Interior

We think the 2022 Nissan Versa is the car to take on most quick jaunts around town. It’s got more space and slightly better visibility at the same time. It’s also got considerably more storage space in the trunk which makes it great for hauling gear around from one place to the next. Still, some things like the fixed-back passenger seat in the Versa S are unforgivably cheap. Both vehicles feature similar material quality but when it comes down to the details, Toyota does a better job.

2022 Toyota Corolla - pressroom.toyota.com

It’s worth noting that the Corolla weighs hundreds of pounds more than the Versa and that material seems to keep the inside of the Corolla much quieter than the Versa. And that’s one of the factors that makes us think it’s the better road trip car. We’ll dig into specific features more in the next segment but the Corolla gets stuff like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and adaptive cruise control in every model. Again, those are things we can’t say about the Versa and to us, they’re big bonuses on long trips.

Features and Trims Available

Nissan offers the Versa in three distinct trim levels. All share the same 1.6-liter engine that makes 122-horsepower. They start with the S which is equipped with 15-inch wheels, power windows and door locks, as well as a 7-inch infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity. Bump up to the SV and you’ll get 16-inch wheels, heated mirrors, upgraded cloth upholstery, and Android as well as Apple connectivity.

The top trim is the SR and it has 17-inch wheels, six speakers, fog lights, LED headlights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Buyers who want adaptive cruise or automatic climate control will have to add them with an optional Convenience package.

Toyota has five trim levels and a couple of sub trims that are a combination of others. They start out with the Corolla L which uses a 139-horsepower engine and gets LED headlights, 15-inch wheels, a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a driver information display, and cloth upholstery. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, and lane departure warning are all standard.

The next trim is the LE which adds automatic climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system, premium fabric upholstery, 16-inch wheels, and keyless entry. Above that is the XLE which gets 16-inch alloy wheels, upgraded LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, and simulated leather upholstery. The SE is next up and it’s basically an LE but adds a 2.0-liter engine that makes 169-horsepower. It also features 18-inch wheels, front sport seats, and a sport driving mode. The XSE trim level is a combination of the SE and the XLE. Go for the top trim Apex and you’ll get most of the features from the XSE but with upgraded suspension components, a lower ride height, and special trim.

The Verdict

The winner here is undoubtedly the Toyota Corolla. It’s a better vehicle in all of the most important ways and while it’s a little more expensive, it offers quite a bit more in the way of modern driving dynamics, modern interior technology, and more safety equipment. It also provides buyers with three years of complimentary maintenance which Nissan doesn’t come close to matching. The only way we’d get the Versa is if we couldn’t afford the Corolla which will be the case for some buyers.