- Minor Updates Outside, Bigger Changes Inside
- Safety and Driver-Assist Features
- Familiar Powertrain Returns
- Pricing and Release Date
The refreshed 2023 Nissan Versa will make its auto show debut in Miami Saturday with a new face and more user-friendly interior. A larger available touchscreen, wireless charging and a new S Plus Package for the base trim better position the Versa to compete against its subcompact rivals, but one key question remains: How much will it cost?
Minor Updates Outside, Bigger Changes Inside
The 2023 Versa will come in three trims: S, SV and SR. Base S standard features include cloth seats, 15-inch wheels, a four-speaker audio system, three USB ports and keyless entry. The SV adds a push-button start, a 7-inch configurable gauge cluster, 16-inch alloy wheels, body-color door handles and mirrors, upgraded cloth seats and 60/40-split, folding rear seats. The SR gets sporty exterior and interior elements, plus black painted mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a six-speaker audio system and a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Following the lead of its larger Altima sibling, the 2023 Versa’s exterior tweaks include an updated front end with a redesigned grille, new logos and a new wheel design for the top SR model. The SV and SR also add Gray Sky Pearl exterior paint to their list of options.
More substantial improvements are seen in the Versa’s tech and convenience features. The base S trim misses out on the wireless charging pad and larger 8-inch touchscreen standard in higher trims, but an available S Plus Package adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 60/40-split, folding rear seat and 16-inch alloy wheels (all were previously reserved for higher trims). Additionally, a new center console with an armrest is standard on SV and SR trims.
Safety and Driver-Assist Features
2023 Nissan Versa | Manufacturer image
For 2023, the Versa will once again come standard with Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 system. The driver-assist suite bundles automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, blind spot warning, reverse automatic braking and automatic high-beam assist. A blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are unavailable on the S but return as standard features on the SV and SR. Adaptive cruise control, previously optional on the SR, is now a standard feature on the top trim.
Familiar Powertrain Returns
Shoppers will have a hard time distinguishing between the 2022 and 2023 Versa under the hood. The sedan’s familiar powertrain returns with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 122 horsepower and can be paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission or five-speed manual (offered in the S only). While the S is one of the few remaining vehicles offered with a standard manual, upgrading to the CVT provides a fuel-efficiency advantage of an EPA-rated 35 mpg combined; the manual gets only 30 mpg combined.
Pricing and Release Date
2023 Nissan Versa | Manufacturer image
The refreshed 2023 Versa will arrive before the end of 2022, with pricing announced closer to its arrival. The Versa currently is Nissan’s smallest sedan and lands among the most affordable cars available, with the 2022 Versa S starting at $16,675 with a manual transmission and $18,345 with the CVT (all prices include destination charge); the SV at $19,485; and the SR at $20,085.
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Keyword: 2023 Nissan Versa Adds Tech and Convenience, Keeps Manual Transmission