2027 Nissan Versa Specs Revealed—Is the U.S. Missing Out?

Subcompact Sedans: Gone in the U.S.

It wasn’t that long ago when customers had several subcompact sedans to choose from. But with the discontinuation of the Nissan Versa at the end of 2025, that genre is gone in the U.S. That said, that vehicle class is still alive and well in other parts of the world, especially in emerging markets.

In the case of the Nissan Versa, it was given a heavy facelift, adopting a Murano-like front end, along with other exterior tweaks. The cars are now sitting in Mexican showrooms, and the full specs have also been revealed. The question now is whether it actually deserves a trip to America.

Familiar Specs

Before we get into what’s exactly new with it, let’s take a look at what’s familiar first. The engine is still the familiar 1.6-liter mill, and it’s good for 118 hp and 110 lb-ft. For those who noticed, that’s actually less than the output produced by the U.S. market Versa. However, there’s still a choice between a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.

Despite the new look, the dimensions are exactly the same as before. That means a length of 177.0 inches, a width of 68.5 inches, and a height of 57.3 inches.

What’s New?

It’s not just the exterior that gets a slew of changes. The 2027 Versa also gets a couple of interior updates to keep things nice and fresh. With that, the center stack was overhauled. Some buttons inside have been rearranged, and the screen is now a free-standing unit and no longer integrated into the dashboard.

The car’s value proposition has also been improved, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as tire pressure monitoring. In the previous U.S. spec Versa, one had to go higher up the trim to avail that. As before, advanced driver assists are standard, though the Mexican-market version has an entry-level trim without them. There’s also a 12-inch touchscreen in the top-spec trim, and even a Bose Premium audio system fitted standard.

Still a Bargain

The improvements made to the Versa do mean a price bump in Mexico. In base model form, it retails for 374,900 pesos, which is a hair under $21,000. Do note that cars tend to be more expensive in Mexico, so it’s possible that it could still be under $20,000 in the U.S had Nissan brought it in.

So, is it a missed opportunity for the U.S. market? Judging by the landscape, probably not. The Kicks easily outsold the Versa, and the default choice for budget cars has become subcompact crossovers. The market has, indeed, spoken, and America just doesn’t buy subcompact cars that aren’t crossovers anymore. There’s also the issue of tariffs, and retaining the sub-$20,000 price tag would severely limit its margins.