Honda Civic vs Nissan Versa

Unchanged since it last received a redesign for the 2022 model year, the 11th generation 2024 Civic Si takes everything that is good about the standard Civic Sedan and amplifies it for people who love the journey as much as the destination. It has a high-output turbocharged engine, comes only with a manual transmission and front-wheel drive, and boasts dynamic improvements that make it more rewarding to drive. In addition, because you must know how to use a clutch pedal to operate this car, owning one is like joining an exclusive club limiting membership to legitimate car enthusiasts.

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It’s getting hard to find a basic subcompact sedan, but Nissan is keeping the faith.

The Nissan Versa was introduced for the 2007 model year as the automaker’s entry-level model, slotting below the Sentra in the lineup. It was last redesigned for the 2020 model year, and for 2023 it gets a handful of updates, including freshened styling, more available tech features, and a new S Plus Package for the Versa’s base trim level. In addition to the Versa S, the lineup includes SV and SR models; we tested the latter for this review.

Since the Versa has been on sale, the ranks of subcompact cars have thinned considerably. The Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, and Toyota Yaris are no longer sold in the United States. That leaves the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage G4 as the Versa’s main competitors. But, as is always the case in this market segment, shoppers must also consider whether to buy a new car like the Versa or a potentially better equipped used car for similar money.