THE FIRST-GEN NISSAN VERSA IS SMALL CAR WITH A MINUSCULE USED VALUE

While there is always room for an enthusiast car in the heart and garage of every driver on the planet, this doesn't necessarily mean you want to drive it all the time. After all, if it's worth some cash, you may want to keep the mileage as low as possible to help preserve its future value. In this case, buying a second car that functions as a daily driver is the usual route. One of the best candidates for this job is the Nissan Versa, an affordable sedan or hatchback that signifies no-thrills motoring.

The current 2025 version is the cheapest new car on sale in the US, with a base price of just $17,190. However, even this could be a little steep for those who want a vehicle to soak up the menial challenges of everyday life. Its predecessor, though, that's another matter.

The Versa Signified The Return Of The Nissan Subcompact Car To The US

As a Japanese manufacturer, Nissan is no stranger to building small cars that navigate tight city streets with ease, given the popularity of minuscule kei cars in the country. The automaker also offered models like the Micra in key markets, such as Europe, a small hatchback that competed with the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Opel Corsa. In the United States, the Sentra subcompact sedan filled this role until a larger version arrived for the fifth-generation model in 1999.

In 2007, the brand rectified this by introducing the Versa, a rebadged version of the Tilda, which had been sold in Japan since 2004. While it wasn't classed as a full subcompact, the vehicle occupied the place as Nissan's smallest sedan below the Sentra. As a result, it featured a range of small and efficient inline-four engines, as well as a bargain MSRP of just $12,550, which translates to just shy of $20,000 today.

The First-Gen Versa Was Replaced In 2011

The original Versa was available in both sedan and hatchback forms, with the latter being the more practical due to its wider cargo load opening. The model enjoyed a rather short stay on sale in the US, with the vehicle being replaced in 2011 by a new version now based on the foreign-market Almera sedan.

The Versa Was Designed To Be Cheap To Run And Mend

Given the Versa's focus on being economically efficient, it was offered with the choice of two naturally aspirated four-cylinder engines. The cheapest and least powerful was a 107-horsepower 1.6-liter unit, with the more powerful option being a 122-hp 1.8-liter powerplant. The 1.6 models were offered with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the 1.8 S came with a six-speed manual. The 1.8 SL was also sold with a four-speed automatic transmission, which was available as an option for the other engine choices. A CVT was available on the range-topping 1.8 SL.

All Versas had their grunt channeled to the front wheels, which were kept under control by an independent front suspension setup. To save costs, a simpler and less effective beam suspension configuration was employed at the back, while all-round disc brakes were available as an option for the majority of the variants, other than the 1.8 SL, where this came as standard. If you opted against the option on lower models, the car came with less effective drum brakes at the rear.

The Simple Versa Will Cost Peanuts To Maintain

When looking for a used first-generation Versa, you'd be best served by searching for later models made between 2010 and 2012, as the earlier cars sometimes suffered from various engine issues that can be frustrating and costly to repair. According to RepairPal, the most frequent issue found with later examples is a dodgy fuel pressure regulator, which can fail and prevent fuel from getting to the engine.

A total of 42 drivers were affected by this issue, although the trusty Versa has little in the way of other consistent reliability concerns. This is reflected in RepairPal's yearly maintenance cost estimate, which stands at just $423.

Later First-Gen Versas Can Be Had For A Bargain

Having already established that the Versa will work as a dependable runaround, you'll be pleased to learn that they're cheap to get a hold of, too. According to Kelley Blue Book, clean and higher-mileage 2010 cars can be purchased for around $4,000, which is supported by AutoTempest. Some very high-mileage, albeit clean-looking, cars are listed for around $3,000, though a vehicle with over 150,000 miles, which usually spends most of its life zipping around city streets and away from stoplights, could spell trouble quicker than you'd like.

Tidy examples with less than 100,000 miles on the clock can be easily found for under $5,000, such as a grey 2012 example fitted with a 1.8-liter engine, sold via Cars.com. This specimen only has a little over 76,000 miles on its odometer, and is presented with a crucial clean title, as well as a near-spotless body and cabin. It won't be the best-equipped vehicle you've ever piloted, given its standard luxury equipment list is highlighted by basic air conditioning and an AUX input jack.

Keep your eyes peeled for a 1.8 S that comes with the Power Plus package, which will at least grant you one-touch front electric windows and Cruise Control. The more expensive 1.8 SL comes with extras like a center armrest, wood-look trim, and a premium six-speaker audio system. Eagle-eyed buyers may be able to find one with extras included, which could include equipment such as satellite navigation, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and Bluetooth connectivity.

The 2025 Versa Boasts Impressive Value

Should you have a change of heart and fancy something new after all, the current 2025 Versa represents impressive value, even compared to its forerunner. Its base $17,190 MSRP is particularly impressive when you consider that this is around $3,000 less than the original Versa cost in 2007, taking into account inflation. Again, it's not exactly a luxury car, given you only get air conditioning, power windows, and not even a touchscreen infotainment system at this price, but CarBuzz was impressed with the level of quality provided when we drove one in 2023.

You'll need to work fast, though, as Nissan may soon axe the cheap five-speed manual models thanks to recent import tariffs established by the US government. If this comes to pass, you'd have to opt for the Versa with the more expensive CVT gearbox instead, which would increase its base price to just shy of $19,000. As a result, given the new Versa only produces around the same sort of power and has a similar suspension layout to the first-gen variant, opting for a 15-year-old one only looks like a better value still.

Sources:AutoTempest, Kelley Blue Book, Nissan, RepairPal.

2025-09-01T08:24:44Z