2019 Nissan Versa review, ratings, specs, prices and photos (2023)

André Ganz Chief editor

February 27, 2019

tastes

• low base price
• Versa Note space per dollar
• decent mpg
• Apple available, Android compatibility

Does not like

• looks cheap
• clumsy sedan
• limited acceleration
• It's not a highway cruiser

buying advice

The 2019 Nissan Versa Note SV Special Edition is a decent value overall and is often discounted.

features and specifications

The 2019 Nissan Versa sedan and hatchback offer a new-car smell and a three-year warranty at rock-bottom prices. The old adage, "You get what you pay for" applies in another way.

Overall, the 2019 Versa is good for a 3.8 out of 10 on our scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The $13,000 entry-level Versa S is just that: basic, almost comical. Dressing one up with options doesn't mask the fact that Versas are simple, small cars, light on safety technology and refinement. For not much more, the Versa Note hatchback has more passenger and cargo room than the sedan and looks better. It's what we'd buy, but we'd also peruse the used car lot next to the Nissan dealer's new car showroom.

Each Versa uses a 1.6-liter inline-four engine rated at 109 horsepower. A 5-speed manual is standard on sedans, but a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is a much more common option. The Versa rides smooth and reasonably well controlled. Acceleration is sluggish at best in the city, and getting past the freeway takes an open road. The Versa's tall body means it moves more in windy situations than most other new cars. Well-weighted steering and an unladen weight of around 2,450 pounds mean it can be a fun go-kart on a twisty road, but the considerably thin and narrow fuel-economy-oriented tires take most of the fun out of it.

The Versa guzzles gas around town, but its engine works hard enough to make it less fuel efficient than most full-size compacts on the highway. Sedans are rated at a paltry 34 mpg combined.

Inside, the Versa is cramped and sparsely decorated. Its front seats are adequate and the outside view is good. Rear-seat passengers don't get a lot of legroom in sedans, but Versa Note hatchbacks have enough room for taller passengers to sit comfortably.

Even with all options checked, the Versa lacks advanced safety tech like automatic emergency braking, a feature we consider essential in 2019.

Nissan Versa 2019

Style

Someone should tell the 2019 Nissan Versa that economy styling doesn't have to look at its price tag. Fast-fashion retailers like Zara and H&M get it, but Nissan doesn't.

We rate the 2019 Versa a 3 out of 10, earning points for interior and exterior styling. The Versa Note looks a bit better, but not enough to earn a point. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The narrow and tall Versa sedan has strange and curious proportions from almost every angle. Its large headlights sink well into the fenders and flank a chrome grille that gives it the appearance of width. It's not too bad up front, but from the side, the Versa's truncated tail looks unkempt.

A longer roofline and unique front and rear styling give the Versa Note a cleaner, more cohesive appearance. It looks more like a European van than a subcompact crossover.

Base Versas rides on steel wheels with hubcaps. We would consider upgrading to the optional alloy wheels not just for looks, but because they won't rust and don't have hubcaps out of the box.

Inside, both Versas look similar, with controls clustered at the top of the dash. With few frills, the Versa has a simple, no-frills feel, exacerbated by its sparse center console, comically tall gear shifter, and bumper-car steering wheel.

Nissan Versa 2019

Performance

With 109 horsepower tasked with motivating around 2,700 pounds of subcompact car, when you throw in a driver and a tank of gas, the 2019 Nissan Versa is predictably limited. A transmission prone to wobbling hardly helps.

As a result, we scored a 3 out of 10 for the 2019 Versa. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

The good news is that the Versa's ride is well organized and has plenty of wheel travel for rough urban pavement or bumpy dirt roads. Its steering has good weight and decent road feel for a subcompact, making it reasonably reliable on a twisty road.

The Versa's plush suspension means it leans quite a bit when you push it. Its narrow, low-resistance tires howl in protest and give up quickly, too.

Nissan sells Versas with a 5-speed manual transmission, but the transmission is relegated to the entry-level Versa S sedan. Instead, the vast majority of case dealer lots have a continuously variable transmission that doesn't perform especially well. The low power output of the 1.6-liter inline-4 means the Versa spends a lot of time on (high) throttle to do its job. Even at idle, the inline 4 vibrates in the cabin and vibrates in the seats.

On the open road, this drone is tiring, but not as tiring as the Versa's poor stability in a crosswind. At moderately windy highway speeds, the Versa can be a difficult task to keep between the painted lines.

Nissan Versa 2019

Comfort and Quality

Inside the 2019 Nissan Versa, its low price is evident. Hard plastic trim, thin padding, and limited features betray its low cost. We've dropped one point for blatantly low cost and another for lackluster front seats, putting us at 3 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Base 2019 Versa sedans and hatchbacks have 4-way front seats that are not height-adjustable and lack a center armrest. Six-way adjustment is relegated to higher trims, and even then only the driver gets a center armrest.

At least the Versa has decent rear-seat legroom. The sedan measures around 37 inches, while the Versa Note measures 38.3 inches. The Versa sedan's trunk is roomy for a subcompact at around 15 cubic feet, while the Versa Note increases that number to 18.8 cubes with the rear seat up and 38.3 with the seat folded. In terms of space per dollar, the Versa Note delivers.

The Versa has a particularly striking interior. Rigid plastic surfaces dominate the dashboard and doors. The carpet has a distinctly cheap feel, and even the cloth upholstery in all finishes doesn't impress.

Nissan Versa 2019

Security

The 2019 Nissan Versa design has been around for a while, so it's surprising that NHTSA hasn't done all of its testing. Until they do, we can't assign a rating, but even if we could, it wouldn't be a large number. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

Both versions of the 2019 Versa come standard with six airbags, stability control, and a rearview camera. Active safety technology such as blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking are not available. This is a shame, as some rivals now make this equipment standard.

The IIHS said the Versa earned a "Good" rating in its basic crash tests, but a "Poor" rating in the driver-side small overlap test that simulates impact with an oncoming car on a highway. two lanes. Versa sedan for side impact protection, where it earned four stars. Even the Versa was not tested in frontal crashes and the Versa Note hatchback was not tested.