2020 Nissan Versa

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Rating6.6

Ranked #2 in 

Subcompact Sedan
Write Review
$14,830 - $18,340
Starting Price 
Amratya Nigam's image
Amratya Nigam 

Automotive Journalist,

Updated on August 12, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Competitive base price

Poor acceleration

Nissan Connect for the upper trims

Better interior space than competitors

Noisy powertrain

No mechanical changes

Good ride quality

Interior's hard plastic trim

Roomy rear trunk space

Bland driving dynamics

Specs & Features

$16,500

price

122 hp @ 6000 rpm

horsepower

114 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

torque

Continuously Variable-Speed Automatic

transmission

1.6L 4cyl FWD CVT

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

A lot of us look for great power in a car, these cars run fast and sip more fuel. Some of us have different requirements and prioritize affordability and lesser running costs. 2020 Nissan Versa Note starts at a very reasonable price. Versa is a simple, slow and strictly a commuter car.

Nissan Versa is equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 109 horsepower. Due to lack of power, the Versa feels better suited to city driving. The Versa isn't a quick car but it really delivers where it counts the most - affordable transportation. To keep operating costs low, Nissan Versa uses a CVT for gear shifting and achieves a good fuel economy.

Buying Advice

 The base S trim is short on features, and the best it has to offer is the standard 4 speaker sound system with Bluetooth. So, if you want value for your money, upgrade to SV trim as it has a lot more to offer than the base trim.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The subcompact segment has some stiff competition, Nissan Versa competes with Kia Rio, Honda Fit, and Chevrolet Sonic. Nissan offers more utility than other subcompacts at a lower price. If you are looking for high utility, decent fuel economy and are in for a budget car, then Versa should be on your list.

Features
6.0/10

"It has a very good safety score and a nice interior, but it suffers from poor acceleration and dull handling." - Cars.USnews

The 2020 Nissan Versa Sedan is offered in three trim levels: S, SV, and SR. All the trims come standard with a four-cylinder engine paired with an FWD drivetrain. And just like its hatchback counterpart, the Versa Sedan comes standard with a CVT. The base trim is equipped with only the bare minimum features. It gets a 7-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. If you are looking to buy a new car with a warranty while spending really little. The base S trim fits the bill. The mid-spec SV trim brings in cloth upholstery, power windows, and cruise control for an additional expense of $1000.

The SV comes equipped with keyless entry, a height-adjustable driver's seat with an armrest, NissanConnect with mobile apps and a 7-in color display, Divide-N-Hide storage, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with auxiliary audio controls, and Siri Eyes Free. Although SR has a lot more to offer, SV offers great versatility for a minimal price.

Trims

S

SV

SR

MSRP (FWD)

$15,650

$16,550

$18,360

Features

1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine

Integrated Key with remote keyless entry

16" x 6.0" 5-split spoke aluminum-alloy wheels

 

Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System

Upgraded cloth seat trim

Sport side sills

 

7" touch-screen display

Upgraded Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges with trip computer and outside temperature display

Fog lights

 

Bluetooth streaming audio

Power windows with driver’s one-touch auto-down feature

Rear roof spoiler

 

Air conditioning

-

Nissan Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition

 

RearView Monitor

Cruise control

-
 

Air conditioning

Rear window defroster

-

­­We Recommend

 The base S trim is short on features, and the best it has to offer is the standard 4 speaker sound system with Bluetooth. So, if you want value for your money, upgrade to SV trim as it has a lot more to offer than the base trim.

Fuel Economy
7.0/10

"The 2020 Versa with the CVT gets an EPA-estimated 32 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway." - Cars.USNews

The Versa’s small engine lacks power and to compensate for this shortage it is pushed to the limits on a regular basis. 2020 Versa offers a combined fuel economy of 36 miles to the gallon. If we consider the competition, the Versa sedan's fuel economy could have been better than the Accent if the engine wasn’t overworked so often.

Models

2020 Nissan Versa

2020 Ford Fiesta

2020 Hyundai Accent

2020 Toyota Yaris

MPG (City)

32

27

33

32

MPG (Highway)

40

35

41

40

MPG (Combined)

35

30

36

35

Fuel Capacity

10.8 gallons

12.4 gallons

11.9 gallons

11.6 gallons

Range (City/highway/Combined)

345.6/432/378 miles

335/434/372 miles

345/464/392 miles

348/452/394 miles

Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15k mi/yr)

4.9

4.9

4.5

4.4

In comparison, the 2020 Ford Fiesta has the largest fuel tank, measuring 12.4 gallons. However, it doesn't have the best fuel efficiency, it returns a fuel economy of 27/35/30 for the city/highway/combined. The best-in-class fuel economy is delivered by the 2020 Hyundai Accent, measuring 33/41/36 for the city/highway/combined ratings.

Interior
5.0/10

“No Versa has an especially dressy interior. Hard plastic surfaces dominate its dashboard and doors. The carpet has a distinctly budget feel and even the cloth upholstery on all trims don’t impress.”-TheCarConnection

Seating and Comfort of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The Versa isn’t about luxury, Versa doesn’t try to hide its low price tag. The hard plastic trim is all around. The upholstery is thin and Versa’s cheapness is evident. The droning sound of the CVT can unpleasant while traveling long distances. Versa is equipped with a softly tuned suspension that soaks all the bumps and road undulations, pretty well. 

Models

2020 Nissan Versa

2020 Ford Fiesta

2020 Hyundai Accent

2020 Toyota Yaris

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

39.5/53.1/44.5

39.1/52.7/43.6

38.9/54.2/42.1

38.2/53.1/41.9

Rear Row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)

36.3/53.6/31.0

37.1/49.0/31.2

37.3/53.7/33.5

36.8/50.0/34.4

In spite of its smaller dimensions, the Versa has loads of interior space on offer. The front headroom (39.5-inches) is easily one of the best in the segment. Even the rear seats have decent space, at 36.3-inches rear headroom is smaller than most of the competitors in the segment.

Interior Features of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The Nissan Versa offers a modest list of interior features. Some of these features are mentioned below:

  • 7" touch-screen display
  • 4-way manual driver's seat
  • 60/40 Split fold-down rear seats
  • Cloth seat trim
  • Silver accents on dash and vent rings

Infotainment of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The 2020 Versa is offered with a 7-inch touchscreen display and a four-speaker audio system. The infotainment system is an example of a bare-bones setup with aux input and Bluetooth phone connectivity. The response time is better than most of the popular smartphones.

The interface is intuitive to use and comes loaded with the following tech :

  • Bluetooth phone and audio streaming
  • Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
  • Satellite radio
  • Four USB ports (two front, two rear)
  • A six-speaker audio system

Cargo Capacity of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The Nissan does well when you need to store items in the trunk. The hatchback offers 18.8 cu-ft. of trunk space. The 60/40 split-folding rear seats can be folded to increase the cargo volume even further. The Versa doesn’t have many cubby spaces for storing items inside the cabin.

Models

2020 Nissan Versa

2020 Ford Fiesta

2020 Hyundai Accent

2020 Toyota Yaris

Cargo Capacity

14.7 (ft3)

12.8 (ft3)

13.7 (ft3)

13.5 (ft3

The largest cargo space on offer is the 2020 Nissan Versa, measuring 14.7 cubic feet. The next best space on offer is offered by the 2020 Hyundai Accent. The 2020 Toyota Yaris gets a cargo room of 13.5 cubic feet and ranks third for the same. The least offering is by the 2020 Ford Fiesta, measuring 12.8 cubic feet.

Exterior
6.0/10

“We’ve already put forward the argument that hatchbacks can be more aesthetically pleasing than their sedan siblings. It could quite easily ring true in this case. Short overhangs, sculpted doors and a large rear spoiler above the rear window (on the SR model) convey a fun character. From a purely practical point of view, the tall doors mean easy entry and exit. The wide-opening rear doors, meanwhile, prove their worth when fitting a child seat, and when buckling in or extracting your bundle of Cheerios-covered joy.”-KelleyBlueBook

Dimensions and Weight of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The Versa shares its underpinnings with the Nissan Versa Note but it doesn’t share in the dated design of the hatchback. The Versa is one of the more attractive options in the subcompact segment. Compared to the Versa sedan, the Versa hatchback has a sleeker front fascia and updated headlights. At 177 inches, the Versa Sedan is one of the longest cars in the class. It also has a wheelbase of 103.1 inches which results in a generous passenger volume.

Models

2020 Nissan Versa

2020 Ford Fiesta

2020 Hyundai Accent

2020 Toyota Yaris

Curb Weight (lbs)

2650 lbs

 2578 lbs

2623 lbs

2447 lbs

Length

177.0"

173.5"

172.6"

171.2"

Width

68.5"

67.8"

68.1"

66.7"

Height

57.3"

58.1"

57.1"

58.5"

Ground Clearance

6.8"

4.7"

5.5"

5.5"

Wheelbase

103.1"

98.0"

101.6"

101.2"

In comparison with its competition, the 2020 Nissan Versa clearly stands out as the best this is solely to do with the large dimensions. It records the largest wheelbase, ground clearance, width, and more.

Exterior Features of the 2020 Nissan Versa

  • Active grille shutters
  • Intelligent auto headlights
  • Led headlights with signature
  • Led fog lights
  • External ground lighting
  • Heated outside mirrors with led turn signal indicators
  • Power sliding glass moonroof
  • Acoustic laminated glass

Safety
7.0/10

"The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2020 Versa sedan the highest rating of Good in the two crash tests it conducted." - Cars.USNews

The safety rating of the 2020 Nissan Versa

The 2020 Nissan Versa is offered with safety features like stability control, a rearview camera, and six airbags. It misses out on active driving aids like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitors as a standard feature. Some of these features have been mentioned below.

The safety feature of the 2020 Nissan Versa

  • Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
  • LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
  • Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zones
  • Hood buckling creases and safety stops
  • Energy-absorbing steering column
  • Pipe-style steel side-door guard beams

 

Competition
9.0/10

2020 Nissan Versa vs the 2020 Ford Fiesta

2020 Nissan Versa vs the 2020 Toyota Yaris

2020 Nissan Versa vs the 2020 Hyundai Accent

Final Verdict

Nissan Versa is powered by a 1.6L inline-four engine. The Versa Sedan is available in three trim levels. The prices for the 2020 Nissan Versa hatchback start at $15,650. Versa is offered with a CVT transmission as standard and also gets a 5-speed manual. The space for front passengers is good but the rear seats also offer decent room for three passengers. The Versa is better suited for city driving but it struggles on the highway. For a budget car, the Versa checks most of the essential boxes. It has well laid out cabin, generous cargo space, and a very competitive price but if you are looking to keep your car for a long time and use it on a personal basis then your money would be better spent elsewhere.

Trims

    S
    $14,830 onwards
    • 7-Inch touchscreen
    • Automatic headlights
    • Lane departure warning
    • Power windows and door locks
    • Rearview camera
    SV
    $17,740 onwards
    • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
    • Blind-spot monitoring & rear cross-traffic alert
    • Satellite radio
    SR
    $18,340 onwards
    • Automatic climate control
    • Keyless door access
    • Leather-Wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
    • Led headlights
    • Remote engine start
    • Six-Speaker audio system

Compare to similar cars

Price

$14,830- $18,340

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

6.63

Horsepower

122 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

114 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$15,295- $19,400

Gasoline

6.5

120 hp @ 6300 rpm

113 lb.-ft. @ 4850 rpm

5

Read Review

$19,300- $24,150

Gasoline

6.54

147 hp @ 6200 rpm

132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

$15,850- $16,790

Gasoline

6.93

120 hp @ 6300 rpm

112 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm

5

Read Review

2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    9.8 sec17.5 sec116 mph
    9.4 sec--
    9.5 sec--
    2020 Kia Rio

    Ranked #4

    10.5 sec17.8 sec-

    2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      32 mpg35 mpg30 mpg10.8 gal.291.6/378 mi.
      2020 Kia Rio

      Ranked #1

      33 mpg41 mpg36 mpg11.9 gal.392.7/487.9 mi.
      31 mpg40 mpg34 mpg14 gal.434/574 mi.
      33 mpg39 mpg33 mpg11.9 gal.345.1/464.1 mi.

      2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        177 in.68.5 in.57.3 in.6.8 in.103.1 in.
        181.9 in.70.9 in.56.5 in.5.3 in.106.3 in.

        2020 Chevrolet Sonic

        Ranked #3

        173.9 in.68.3 in.59.7 in.-99.4 in.
        172.6 in.68.1 in.57.1 in.5.5 in.101.6 in.
        2020 Kia Rio

        Ranked #4

        172.6 in.67.9 in.57.1 in.5.5 in.101.6 in.

        2020 Mitsubishi Mirage G4

        Ranked #5

        169.5 in.65.7 in.59.2 in.6.3 in.100.4 in.

        2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          14.7 cu.ft.88.9 cu.ft.14.7 cu.ft.
          2020 Kia Rio

          Ranked #1

          13.7 cu.ft.89.9 cu.ft.87.6 cu.ft.
          13.7 cu.ft.90.2 cu.ft.75.1 cu.ft.
          14.4 cu.ft.95.8 cu.ft.12.9 cu.ft.

          2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            60.6 cu.ft.14.7 cu.ft.14.7 cu.ft.63 ft.
            2020 Kia Rio

            Ranked #2

            87.6 cu.ft.13.7 cu.ft.87.6 cu.ft.-
            75.1 cu.ft.13.7 cu.ft.75.1 cu.ft.-
            12.9 cu.ft.14.4 cu.ft.12.9 cu.ft.-

            2020 Nissan Versa vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              862 lbs.2599 lbs.
              937 lbs.2502 lbs.
              2020 Kia Rio

              Ranked #1

              -2767 lbs.
              1080 lbs.2844 lbs.

              2020 Nissan Versa Sedan Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and which year to avoid?

              2

              Recalls

              0

              Investigations

              51

              Complaints
              Overall Safety Rating
              Read More

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              2020 Nissan Versa User Reviews

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              POPULAR TAGS

              DW

              Demetris Wells

              2020 Nissan Versa

              S 4dr Sedan (1.6L 4cyl 5M)

              Not Rated

              User Overall Rating

              Posted On: July 5, 2024

              Great car and excellent experience.

              Pros - ["The fuel consumption.", "â¢The acceleration for a small car."]

              Cons - ["â¢The rear seating room.", "â¢In the summer, it takes a while for the A/C to cool."]

              This car was a great decision. I'm handicapped and this car is easy to get in and maintain. The breaks are really good and the service for keeping car well maintained is great. It has more room than expected.

              Not Rated
              Features
              Not Rated
              Interior
              Not Rated
              Design
              Not Rated
              Safety
              Not Rated
              Reliability
              Not Rated
              Deal Value
              Not Rated
              Dealer Review