2022 Nissan Versa: A Subcompact Winner
The 2022 Nissan Versa Review. The Versa checks all the safety tech boxes and wins at the pump. We look at trim levels, cargo space, and more.
2022 Nissan Versa – nissanusa.com | Shop 2022 Nissan Versa on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2022 Nissan Versa?
The Nissan Versa was totally redesigned in 2020, so there aren’t any major changes for the 2022 model.
On the fence about buying a new Versa? Let us help you decide in our New vs Used: Nissan Versa review.
The Breakdown
Lots of standard safety tech
Great fuel economy
Large trunk
Base model lacking features
Slow to accelerate
Cramped rear seat
A great value when you factor in the safety features
2022 Versa Specs
- 122 horsepower from base engine
- 114 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 3 available trims
- 14.7 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- Back up camera
- Keyless Start
- Lane departure warning
- 3-year/36,000-mile powertrain warranty
2022 Nissan Versa Powertrain
All models of the 2020 Nissan Versa are powered by a 122-horsepower four-cylinder engine with front-wheel drive. The base model is paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission, but a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is available on the S trim and standard on the SV and SR trims. The Versa is slow to accelerate, and especially struggles to pass and merge onto the highway. It’s more suited for city streets with accurate steering, consistent brake feedback, and a suspension that smooths out minor bumps.
2020 Nissan Versa Fuel Economy & MPG
Opting for the CVT will save you a lot at the pump, getting an estimated 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. You’ll notice the difference with the manual transmission—those figures drop to 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
The Versa has a simple and sleek interior with soft-touch surfaces on the doors and dashboard. Cloth upholstery and manually adjustable seats are the only options on the Versa, but the top trim does get a little fancier with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and available heated seats. You’ll find the cabin to be accommodating for up to four average-size adults. Getting a third passenger in the rear seat is stretching it in our opinion, unless they’re young kids. The seats are firm but a little narrow in the shoulder area and the lack of lumbar support might make long drives more taxing.
The Versa is at the top of its class for cargo space with 14.7 cubic feet available for storage. That’s enough space to get six carry-on suitcases in the trunk, and 17 with the back seat folded down (CVT models). If you want even more storage space but need to stick to a budget, check out our list of the best subcompact SUVs for under $10,000.
Entertainment & Technology
The Versa features a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is easy to navigate. We like that there are some functions controlled through physical knobs, making it easier to adjust while driving. Only the SV and SR trim levels have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, but all models have three USB ports and voice recognition capability. You get what you pay for with the four-speaker audio system, and you’ll find that the volume must be cranked up to the max to drown out exterior noise.
Safety Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2022 Versa a five-star overall rating. The Versa has an impressive lineup of standard safety features including lane departure warning, front and rear automated emergency braking, a rearview camera, automatic high beams, forward collision warning, and pedestrian detection. Higher trim levels add blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, driver-alertness monitoring, and rear-seat reminder.
2022 Nissan Versa Trims & Pricing
S – $15,180
The base S trim comes standard with cloth upholstery, height-adjustable driver’s seat, push-button ignition, a 7-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, power windows and door locks, three USB ports, a four-speaker stereo, and Siri Eyes Free. CVT models have a 60/40-split folding rear seat. Also included are several active safety features including a rearview camera, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic headlights, and lane departure warning.
SV – $17,990
The SV trim gets upgraded cloth upholstery, body-colored door handles and mirrors, alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and satellite radio. It also comes with driver-alertness monitoring, a rear-seat reminder, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
SR – $18,590
The range-topping SR trim adds sport cloth upholstery with fabric inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, keyless entry, remote engine start, a six-speaker stereo, fog lights, and LED headlights. An optional Convenience package adds heated front seats, automatic climate control, and adaptive cruise control.
Picking a trim level leaving your head spinning? Check out our article, Choosing the Best Car Trim Level, to help in making the decision.
Another article, MSRP and Dealer Mark-Ups Explained, can help with any confusion you may have over what you’ll end up paying in today’s market.
Warranties
Nissan offers a comparable warranty package to its rivals with a limited warranty that covers three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty that covers five years or 60,000 miles. There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance.
What we think
2022 Nissan Versa – nissanusa.com | Shop 2022 Nissan Versa on Carsforsale.com
The 2022 Nissan Versa is a subcompact front-runner in our opinion. No one expects to haul a crowd in these small rides, and for the price, we are impressed with the abundance of driver-assist technologies. We’d go with the SV trim to gain Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and opt for the CVT transmission to make it even more budget friendly.
