Cheapest Car In America Will Disappear Soon
Nissan appears set to kill its sub-$20K Versa sedan, per “people familiar with the plans,” says Automotive News.
It’s part of a larger plan to kill off two-thirds of the brand’s sedan lineup, leaving the Sentra (and an upcoming EV). Plans for the production of the Versa end in April of 2025, with the Altima’s demise set for 2026.
While no successor for the Versa is planned, Nissan is reportedly weighing whether to follow the current Altima’s 2026 end-of-production with a next-generation hybrid or plug-in hybrid.
The Sentra, meanwhile, looks to be going nowhere. It’s logical — the Sentra is Nissan’s second-best seller and is popular with first-time buyers and price-conscious shoppers. It’s also roomier than the Versa, but not as large as the Altima. Effectively, it is Nissan’s Goldilocks sedan.
However, the loss of the Versa is a huge downer. The Versa is cheap, and having options for buyers at the bottom end of the new car market is important when so much of the country’s population depends on cars for everyday transportation. At $17,245 (incl. dest.), the Versa is the cheapest new car in America. For the Versa to disappear as the average transaction price of a new car in the US crosses the $45,000 mark could be an oversight for Nissan.
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Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
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