It’s a bad time to be shopping for cars on a budget. According to the analysts at Cox Automotive, the average transaction price for a new vehicle in October stood at $49,766, and that’s not just due to a boom in high-end stuff. There’s only one car left under $20,000, and that sedan is reportedly about to ride off into the sunset. I’m talking, of course, about the Nissan Versa.
According to a report from Canada’s The Car Guide, “[the outlet] has learned from a company spokesperson that production of the small Japanese sedan came to an end in September.” Last I checked, September was months ago, which could mean that Nissan’s been coasting along on existing inventory for a while. The stick-shift model was already phased out back in May, and with prior reports from Automotive News claiming there’d be no 2026 Versa, it was only a matter of time. Needless to say, I’ve reached out to Nissan regarding this report and will update you as I learn more details.
If Nissan did indeed phase out production of its most affordable car three months ago, that’s a shame because America needs the Versa. True, it was a bit tinny and got blown around in crosswinds and took about 10 seconds to reach 60 mph from a dead stop, but what do you expect from America’s cheapest car? I’ll tell you what you didn’t expect: A flat-bottom steering wheel, cruise control, LED headlights, three standard USB ports, and rear automatic emergency braking. Okay, admittedly, the lack of standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a miss considering the dearly departed and even cheaper Chevrolet Spark came with both of these phone-mirroring technologies, but once the Versa became the cheapest thing on wheels, it gained a little more leeway in that department.
Plus, the Versa has been on a bit of a sales tear. Through the third quarter of 2025, Nissan sold 41,463 of these little sedans in America. That’s up 41.5 percent over the same period last year, no doubt driven by necessity. When people need reliable cars with warranties and easy financing, and everything’s expensive, lots of drivers will go cheap and cheerful. Indeed, you can walk into a Nissan showroom with zero down and still walk out with a payment under $350 a month on a long enough term with good enough credit. That’s a difficult task these days.
I know, I know, there’s the argument for just buying a used Corolla, but for those with limited credit history or bad credit history, it’s often easier to get financing approval on a new car than on a used one from a reputable dealer. Plus, a warranty is huge peace of mind. According to a recent Bankrate study, 34 percent of Gen Z Americans and 28 percent of Millennial Americans have no emergency savings. For those who need to get around but can’t afford extra repairs, having all the oily bits save for consumables covered helps with sleep at night.
The Nissan Versa might not be quick, or massively glamorous, or luxurious, but it can be a ticket to a better quality of life. In some ways, it represents freedom better than any supercar or new 4×4, which is why I’ll be sad to see it go. Regardless of the production situation, we’re nearly in December and there’s no 2026 Versa on Nissan’s website. If this is indeed the end, we should all miss Nissan’s cheapest car when it’s gone.
Top graphic image: Nissan
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