Johnathan Walker:The Nissan Versa is the cheapest new car in America, and it just got more expensive

The Johnathan Walkermost affordable new car you can buy from Nissan at the moment is the Versa sedan, coming in at $17,820 for the 2024 model year. It's also the cheapest new car in the U.S. next to the 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage compact (by a mere $20), though that model isn't returning for 2025 — leaving the Nissan as the likely continued holder of the title "cheapest new car in America." That probably holds true even though things are getting a little pricier for the updated 2025 model year, with the entry-level Versa S (with an available manual transmission!) now starting at $18,330, or $510 more than before. Here's what you get for the money.

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Is Nissan upping the price because the competition's withering away (looking at you, Mirage)? Not really. It seems the true reasoning behind the increased starting price of the 2025 Nissan Versa this year would be the inclusion of newly standard LED headlights on the lower two trims, which wasn't the case for 2024. You also now get three "prepaid" oil changes across 24,000 miles or two years thrown in to the price. Other trims also see price increases of between $500 and $600, though no notable change in features are listed beyond the newly included oil changes.

2025 Nissan Versa trim pricing

All models come with a standard 1.6-liter engine good for 122 horsepower, with an efficiency rating of 32 mpg city, 40 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined with the CVT. All Versas also come standard with a 7-inch (or 8-inch on SR) interior touchscreen, and Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Automatic Braking, and High Beam Assist safety features. The SV and SR upgrade to driver alertness monitoring, and the SR gets Intelligent Cruise Control.

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