2020 Nissan Versa Pricing - No Longer Cheapest, Still Cheap

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

Nissan has announced pricing for the 2020 Versa, and the increase should mean that it’s no longer the cheapest car one can buy in America.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the price jump moves the car out of the “cheap” category.

Cheap in the low-cost sense, not the quality sense. More on that later — I just drove the car, but I cannot comment on it publicly until next week, due to embargo.

The cheapest car for sale 2020 title cannot be bestowed on any given econobox just yet, as it appears not all of the Versa’s competitors have released pricing for 2020 as of this moment.

If you head over to Nissan’s consumer Web site, you will see that the base price on a 2019 Versa starts at under $13,000, before fees. That price has jumped to $14,730 for a stick-shift ( Versa S. Want a continuously-variable automatic transmission? That’s gonna be $16,400. Pop for the SV mid-level trim, and it’s $17,640, while the top-line SR checks in at $18,240.

None of those prices include the $895 destination fee. You can only get a stick if you stick with the base S trim.

The redesigned Versa offers things such as a suite of driver-aid/safety tech, fog lamps, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, heated front seats, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, LED headlamps, 17-inch wheels, remote keyless entry, and push-button start.

A Convenience Package available for the SR includes heated front seats and smart cruise control.

There’s just one engine available — a 1.6-liter four-banger pushing out 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque.

Contributor and Ace of Base guru Matthew Guy did some digging and found that Mitsubishi is pricing the base 2020 Mirage at $13,995. That may be a $200 increase from this year, but it is now cheaper than a Versa. So even if the Mirage doesn’t end up being the cheapest car on the market in 2020, the Versa will have relinquished that dubious title, at least.

We’ll have full review of the updated Versa next week.

[Images © 2019 Tim Healey/TTAC]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Jeff S Jeff S on Aug 04, 2019

    No thank you for any Nissan with the CVT transmission at any price. Any savings you get buying a Nissan is more than spent on a replacement transmission.

  • Johnster Johnster on Aug 04, 2019

    I see a lot of these on these on the roads where I live. They are much more common than Sentras and they seem about as common as Chevy Spectrums, Kia Rios and Hyundai Accents. OTOH, I see fewer Toyota Yarises, Ford Fiestas and Mitsubishi Lancers on the roads. Decidely "meh," but probably O.K. for basic transportation.

  • Teddyc73 As I asked earlier under another article, when did "segment" or "class" become "space"? Does using that term make one feel more sophisticated? If GM's products in other segments...I mean "space" is more profitable then sedans then why shouldn't they discontinue it.
  • Robert Absolutely!!! I hate SUV's , I like the better gas milage and better ride and better handling!! Can't take a SUV 55mph into a highway exit ramp! I can in my Malibu and there's more than enough room for 5 and trunk is plenty big enough for me!
  • Teddyc73 Since when did automakers or car companies become "OEM". Probably about the same time "segment" or "class" became "space". I wish there were more sedans. I would like an American sedan. However, as others have stated, if they don't sell in large enough quantities to be profitable the automakers...I mean, "OEMs" aren't going to build them. It's simple business.
  • Varezhka I have still yet to see a Malibu on the road that didn't have a rental sticker. So yeah, GM probably lost money on every one they sold but kept it to boost their CAFE numbers.I'm personally happy that I no longer have to dread being "upgraded" to a Maxima or a Malibu anymore. And thankfully Altima is also on its way out.
  • Tassos Under incompetent, affirmative action hire Mary Barra, GM has been shooting itself in the foot on a daily basis.Whether the Malibu cancellation has been one of these shootings is NOT obvious at all.GM should be run as a PROFITABLE BUSINESS and NOT as an outfit that satisfies everybody and his mother in law's pet preferences.IF the Malibu was UNPROFITABLE, it SHOULD be canceled.More generally, if its SEGMENT is Unprofitable, and HALF the makers cancel their midsize sedans, not only will it lead to the SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ones, but the survivors will obviously be more profitable if the LOSERS were kept being produced and the SMALL PIE of midsize sedans would yield slim pickings for every participant.SO NO, I APPROVE of the demise of the unprofitable Malibu, and hope Nissan does the same to the Altima, Hyundai with the SOnata, Mazda with the Mazda 6, and as many others as it takes to make the REMAINING players, like the Excellent, sporty Accord and the Bulletproof Reliable, cheap to maintain CAMRY, more profitable and affordable.
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