What they really mean to say is "other folks should be buying simple cars".
Article: comparing the two most inexpensive new cars in the USA - Mirage vs Versa.
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Be forewarned; I used that term in another thread and it got edited out by a moderator.
It's just an expression; it doesn't refer to any actual crimes.
And not only that, but many other cheap subcompact cars have gone the way of the Dodo because Americans did not buy them.
It’s similar to women yelling “where have all the good men gone?” After getting knocked up with the bad boys for years. Or men saying there are no traditional women when they themselves are not traditional at all.
Same with manuals. When I bought my 2016 Mazda it had been on the lot for months because nobody wanted it. Same with my 2007 stripped-down manual Corolla. They were practically throwing the keys at me to take it off the lot.
We had a Versa SV rental a few years ago and it seemed pretty okay.
Decent room for four adults, a decent sized trunk, powerful enough and quite economical in fuel use.
Good AC.
Overall, a perfectly adequate commuter/daily driver.
The lack of interest at this end of the market surprises me.
Were I younger and poorer and in need of a car, one of these would be on my short list, probably over the Mirage.
When so many people are crying poverty in an era of continually rising prices, maybe they should consider something cheap, cheap to run and unpretentious to make the (smaller) payments on?
If more people did, there'd be more choice at the low end of the market.
Decent room for four adults, a decent sized trunk, powerful enough and quite economical in fuel use.
Good AC.
Overall, a perfectly adequate commuter/daily driver.
The lack of interest at this end of the market surprises me.
Were I younger and poorer and in need of a car, one of these would be on my short list, probably over the Mirage.
When so many people are crying poverty in an era of continually rising prices, maybe they should consider something cheap, cheap to run and unpretentious to make the (smaller) payments on?
If more people did, there'd be more choice at the low end of the market.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
Very much agree. Rear seating is very roomy for the overall size of the vehicle. Easy for kids and car seats. DIY maintenance is easy on them. They make sense as a budget vehicle.
Some oddities are the rear drum brakes, with sealed rear wheel bearing pressed into the drum, lug studs pressed into the drum, plus the exciter ring for the ABS is part of the drum. I'm still on original rears with our 2015 Versa S sedan, but if/when they're due, pretty much all of it will need to be replaced.
I often wondered if part of it is people didn't know this vehicle existed. It was never a well stocked nor marketed vehicle. You average Nissan dealer pushed the (I assume more profitable) Sentra and Altima instead.
Versa is the number one new car sold in Mexico. Its like 20% market share if you can imagine. Its almost the same price as here. The Sentra was the number one selling car in Mexico for years and years.
Of course the market is only 1/10 the size of the USA, so there is that.
I believe it when they say no one wants to buy one here. My wife won't accept a small car
Of course the market is only 1/10 the size of the USA, so there is that.
I believe it when they say no one wants to buy one here. My wife won't accept a small car
Nissan added standard LED headlights to all trim levels for the '25 model year. Which is a nice bonus for the final year. Local dealer only has one in stock, a loaded SR which is the same price as a base Sentra. Going on Autotrader and spec'ing one out will show you who has them.
Local dealer here claims to have over 30. I may need to drive by.
https://hudsonnissannorthcharleston.com/sale/nissan-versa-north-charleston-sc
Drive a used car. Try a used Honda fit, 4 door hatchback. Neither the Nissan or the Mitsubishi have good reliability records.
Carvana says they cost more than a new Versa.
Versa reliability is pretty good actually.
Versa reliability is pretty good actually.
