New-vehicle affordability has taken another hit as Nissan confirms that the Versa, America’s cheapest new car, will be discontinued.
The details: The subcompact (which was previously sold as a hatchback, but more recently only as a sedan) is one of more than two dozen models discontinued for 2026, reports The Drive.
When Nissan stopped importing the manual-transmission Versa in mid-2025, the U.S. lost its last new car with a base price below $20,000.
The “cheapest car” for 2026 is now the Kia K4 at $23,385.
Why it matters: For many buyers, a lightly used vehicle with better features, stronger brand perception, and similar monthly payments made more sense than a brand-new base Versa. That raises the stakes on how well stores can merchandise affordable alternatives, structure deals, and position certified or value-priced used vehicles as the new “entry point” into the brand.
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Between the lines: Nissan discontinuing the Versa in the U.S. comes at a critical juncture for the Japanese automaker as it works to turn around its operations, especially given that affordability has always been one of the brand’s key selling points.
Nissan still sells two of the 10 most affordable new vehicles in the U.S., including the ninth-generation Sentra, which starts at $23,845, and the Kicks SUV, priced at $23,925.
While nearly $10,000 more than the Kicks and the Sentra, the 2026 model of the Nissan Leaf remains the most affordable electric vehicle on the market at $31,485.
What they’re saying: “In line with Nissan’s product strategy, the Nissan Versa ended production in December 2025 for the U.S. market,” said Nissan Senior Product Communications Manager Josh Clifton in a statement. “Nissan remains committed to offering affordable and stylish vehicles in the sedan segment with models like Sentra and Altima, while also offering strong value in the compact SUV segment with the Kicks.”
Looking ahead: The company is keeping Versa alive in Mexico and other markets where the compact sedan segment is still large and pricing/regulation make the car more viable.
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