Grasso's Garage: ’23 Versa SR is sporty transportation

As the small sedan market dwindles, and mass-market manufacturers focus their time on SUVs and what EV’s they can draw up to top the competition, Nissan sits quietly in the corner and thrives on rightly-priced, small sporty sedans. The Versa is a prime example of small sedan excellence and our 2023 Versa SR tester brings back what commuting is all about. Over 35 mpg’s on our test and under a $20K base price, the Nissan Versa SR is very appealing visually and easy on the pocket.

Powering the commuter, a 1.6 liter, DOHC, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower. Paired with a basic CVT transmission, powertrain noise was certainly present. Although in the commuter category, the CVT is commonly present, it fits the bill for this price range and increases fuel mileage drastically.

17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and SR emblems were nicely standard items on the Versa SR, while we noticed an array of standard safety features. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM and NissanConnect+ including a 8” Color Touch-Screen Display.

Comfortable cloth seats, tons of spacious interior legroom for the front row drivers and great sight lines are additional perks of the Versa SR. Although basic in design and frills, the Versa SR, brings a lot of attraction to the consumer market with pricing, dependability and nicely optioned standard features for the price and size category.

In my opinion, the 2023 Nissan Versa SR is a great means of transportation. It’s an excellent commuter, first car, or even vehicle for large cities since it will fit in small on-street parking spots or even compact parking spaces abound. Similar to other Versa models, the price, size and design confirms the Versa is a hit.

Lastly, the Versa SR is that sporty version that commuters tend to enjoy for the minimal spend. Although you know my love-hate relationship for the CVT transmission, for this price point, it fits the bill.

Grasso’s Garage is here for you! Are you in the market for a new car? I would be happy to provide my honest input. All you have to do is email me: [email protected].

MSRP: $19,820

MPG: 32 city / 40 highway / 36.6 as tested

As Tested: $22,460

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