Article: comparing the two most inexpensive new cars in the USA - Mirage vs Versa.

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I found it interesting even though I am not in the market. I actually want both of them now.

Both cars are under $20K new currently in the USA. The Mirage is a 2024 model year, but is still available.

The Author points out the Mirage is a tiny car and only available with a CVT. It gets great reviews for infotainment and other features. The author points out that it its fairly underpowered but sounds like it would be fine for commuting, etc.

The Versa is available with a CVT or manual, although the manual gets lower gas mileage. The author points out that it is a slightly larger car than the Mirage. Although the Mirage has more cargo space, the Versa is a bigger car with much more power.

The author also points out that even for their low price, they still have advanced safety features that were not available for econo boxes of old - Airbags, stability control, front collision avoidance.

Honestly for all the grumbling of no low cost cars available anymore, for $20K in todays world, they both look like cars that would be fun to own and drive, easy to park, easy on gas, plenty big enough for normal day to day operations.

I am surprised some here aren't tripping over themselves to get a manual trans Versa to zip around in!

Sounds like low cost economy cars are still available from a couple car companies.

Article is worth a read for anyone intersted.



https://www.autoblog.com/news/mitsu...pensive-vehicles-you-can-still-buy-in-the-usa
 
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I am surprised some here aren't tripping over themselves to get a manual trans Versa to zip around in!

And they won’t, especially the ones that lament the loudest about “there is no simple cars” at every opportunity.
You check out their sig, and there are no “simple” cars in their stable.
 
I was looking seriously at these back in 2014. I sorta liked the Versa more, as it was a more simple car--the Mirage had power windows and locks, and automatic HVAC, and while that's all nice, it makes one wonder, "just what did they cut in order to include that?" Ultimately I then (and now) have a long highway commute and everyone poohed on the idea of a sub-compact for spending 2 hours a day in.

But back then you could get these for under $14k. The Mirage, there was a dealer or two, if you went complete base model, you might get out the door for $10k. Back then that was quite the bargain. Today, at $20k, I have to wonder if it's just not worth an extra year of payments to get just that much more car...
 
I have heard elsewhere that Versa manual transmission vehicles are not so easy to find. Most of the models shipped to dealers are automatics.
Your probably right on that. You likely need to order one. There hecho en Mexico, so you would think its not that hard but I am sure they try to make it that way.
 
I have heard elsewhere that Versa manual transmission vehicles are not so easy to find. Most of the models shipped to dealers are automatics.

This is exactly right. They've been exceedingly difficult to get since the new model debut 5yrs ago. Given 2025 is the last model year for the Versa, they may already be out of production. Nissan dealers will tell you they can't order them. They get the allotment they get. They will do a dealer locate for you however. Having followed the Versa in the years I've owned my 2015 base model sedan, these particular 5MTs aren't necessarily more reliable than the CVT.
 
I found it interesting even though I am not in the market. I actually want both of them now.

Both cars are under $20K new currently in the USA. The Mirage is a 2024 model year, but is still available.

The Author points out the Mirage is a tiny car and only available with a CVT. It gets great reviews for infotainment and other features. The author points out that it its fairly underpowered but sounds like it would be fine for commuting, etc.

The Versa is available with a CVT or manual, although the manual gets lower gas mileage. The author points out that it is a slightly larger car than the Mirage. Although the Mirage has more cargo space, the Versa is a bigger car with much more power.

The author also points out that even for their low price, they still have advanced safety features that were not available for econo boxes of old - Airbags, stability control, front collision avoidance.

Honestly for all the grumbling of no low cost cars available anymore, for $20K in todays world, they both look like cars that would be fun to own and drive, easy to park, easy on gas, plenty big enough for normal day to day operations.

I am surprised some here aren't tripping over themselves to get a manual trans Versa to zip around in!

Sounds like low cost economy cars are still available from a couple car companies.

Article is worth a read for anyone intersted.



https://www.autoblog.com/news/mitsu...pensive-vehicles-you-can-still-buy-in-the-usa
I would be pretty happy with a Focus wagon, wagon replacement, 35 cuft is a good amount of space for skis and ski bags for 3 of us. Or 2 bikes inside. If I understand the EPA mileage rules, there should be more wagons as bigger footprints equal being allowed to have less fuel efficiency? The Corolla wagon would a great alternative to a Versa, but not in N.A....

Anyways, 2wd useless mini SUV's sell, and wagons don't(except in Quebec) so I'll keep the old wagon until the rust finally takes it...
It seems a mid 2010's CX-5 2wd manual is closest replacement with a simple motor and a reasonable amount of cargo space. Or maybe a take a chance on a VW sportwagen... The price on those has dropped significantly lately so I'm not sure what's going on with the drivetrains as they age?
 
I bought a manual Ford Fiesta in 2019 (https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/ford-fiesta-worth-the-gamble.315273/#post-5211644) and sold it in 2021 for a Covid windfall. Were I looking for a commuter car I would totally buy the same again, but since Ford exited the domestic sedan market I would substitute a manual Versa with no reservations. Without the manual option I’m not sure I would consider the Mirage. I think I would search the used market for a couple of Fits, Yari or Mazda2s.
 
In the lowest trim, maybe a decade. However many things are mandated on the safety side that weren't back then. So its hard to compare exactly.
They were pretty close... no backup camera but they did have ABS and curtain airbags. Want to say TC and VSC was there--but adding TC & VSC isn't hard once you have DBW & ABS, so if they didn't have it, it should be trivial to add. And since "everything" has a backup camera now, it should be also be dirt cheap, all the components are cheap now.

But in the end, everything got more expensive over the last few years.

Have to point something else out: my Corolla costs $500 more per year to insure than my Camry (the Camry is at $2k--the joys of having two teen drivers in the house). Smallish cost but over 5 plus years that could add up. I'm not sure what a sub-compact goes for, but if you have teen kids in the house... you might want to keep an eye on TCO.
 
The Mirage is a hatchback, so it's more useful. Even though it's CVT-only, they don't have any problems with them because the same transmission is used on bigger cars with more power, so the lesser power on the Mirage means less stress on the CVT :)

The end of cheap cars is quite sad :(

Car companies are jealous that they might steal sales from their more-expensive cars, when in fact that actually compete with used cars, giving them extra sales they wouldn't otherwise get.

How long ago were these close or under $10k USD?

About 5 years ago, when there were more competitors (Spark, Fit, Yaris, Rio, etc). Mirage prices basically doubled as the competition disappeared :sneaky:

Since you're from Canada, it's worth mentioning that you guys also got the Nissan Micra, which started at $9999... CAD. Others quickly matched that base price, seeing base prices of the Spark and Rio also start at 10k. The Micra also didn't have a CVT; it had a 4-speed auto for the entire run (also available with a 5-speed manual)

used anything is a better value and safer then these tin cans.

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People can't afford new cars, stuck buying used. That is a problem.

Also, new cars are safer than older cars, more safety equipment, possibly better mpg, and definitely less rust! With a new car, you can pick it out just how you want, and you don't have to worry about the history, how it was driven by the previous owners, and you also get lower interest rates when financing.

The used cars you'd actually want to buy over these new cars don't depreciate much, either. So you're stuck with still-high prices plus the higher interest rate of used rather than new, less of a warranty, etc.
 
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