2016 Nissan Versa, Versa Note: What's Changed
Most significant changes: Versa Note hatchback SV model adds SV Convenience Package equipment as standard
Price change: Versa sedan prices unchanged except SL trim, which is $500 less; Versa Note prices unchanged
On sale: This month
Which should you buy, 2015 or 2016? 2015
Nissan divides its subcompact car into two lineups, the Versa sedan and the Versa Note hatchback, and the bigger changes for 2016 are on the Note SV model. The contents of the SV Convenience Package, a $690 option last year, are standard this year. That includes a backup camera, NissanConnect smartphone apps integration, a 5-inch color screen, Bluetooth streaming audio, satellite radio (subscription required) and the Divide-N-Hide height-adjustable cargo floor.
Aside from minor trim changes, the sedan is a carryover, and it remains one of the least expensive new cars you can buy.
Sedans and hatchbacks alike use a 109-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that returns good mileage but ho-hum performance, and the base S models are bare bones, though all models come with air conditioning and Bluetooth hands-free calling.
The Versa still warrants a look from budget-conscious shoppers, in large part because it offers lower prices and comparable or better value than many small cars, including the Hyundai Accent, which isn’t the price leader it used to be. Nissan also seems more eager to discount these days than some competitors, so it pays to keep the Versa on your shopping list if cost is a priority.
There are more than 9,000 new 2015 Versa Notes in Cars.com’s national inventory and more than 11,000 new Versa sedans. The 2016s are just trickling in, so 2015s should see discounts above the advertised incentives.
