Take a minute-long tour of the cheapest new car in the US today
We’ve reported that this year, 82% of Americans can’t afford a new car. Well, they might be looking in the wrong vehicle class. As Ford CEO Jim Farley said publicly around Independence Day, Americans should really consider falling back in love with smaller cars. Let’s talk about one of them: the 2024 Nissan Versa.
The Versa starts at $16,680 before the destination and other fees. The compact four-door sedan has power door locks, power windows, and decent tech for an “entry-level” car. It comes with a perfectly acceptable infotainment screen and Bluetooth. You’ll need to upgrade from the S trim to get Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and the wireless charger.
While the NHTSA requires backup cameras in all new cars as of 2018, having one in a “basic” economy car is certainly nice.
Watch a quick walkaround
A rep at Bill Korum’s Puyallup Nissan, a dealership in Washington state, is six-foot-three. He spent about a minute walking around a new Versa on the lot in an uncommon color:
As the rep demonstrated in his example, the Versa is one of the few new cars with a manual transmission still available. The backseat also fits his tall frame.
If the interior features aren’t impressive enough for the price, in terms of performance and fuel economy, we’re surprised again.
The 2024 Nissan Versa gets up to 35 mpg combined city/highway. All trims carry a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine making 122 hp. Keep in mind that the next cheapest new car, the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage, is $300 more starting. And listen to this: the Mirage has a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine that gives 78 hp. 78!?
If an economy stick shift isn’t your thing, you can upgrade all the way to the Versa SR. It’s still less than $21K and comes with a CVT transmission, 17-inch aluminum wheels, remote start, heated front seats, and a wireless charger.
Our own Erik Sherman tested the 2024 Nissan Versa SR and, after a week with the car, returned it as a genuine fan.
I can’t help but agree with Ford’s Jim Farley. If you don’t need a behemoth, don’t buy one. It doesn’t have to be a Versa, but this new car sure sounds like a good start for some of that 82% I mentioned above.
