The era of new cars under $20,000 officially ended in the US on 23/12, as Nissan ceased production of the 2025 Versa for the American market, eliminating the last truly affordable vehicle.
According to Nissan, this decision is part of a broader product strategy shift, not a surprise. The Japanese automaker remains committed to offering affordable vehicles in the sedan segment with the Sentra and Altima, alongside the subcompact SUV Kicks.
 |
The Nissan Versa's discontinuation marks the disappearance of new cars priced under ,000 in the US. *Photo: Nissan* |
Warning signs had been present for years. Reports from 2023 indicated that both the Versa and Altima were "living on borrowed time". While the Altima surprisingly continues production until 2026, the Versa did not share the same fortune.
With the Versa, which started at just 17,390 USD, discontinued, and the Mitsubishi Mirage having previously withdrawn, the new car segment under 20,000 USD is truly wiped out. Nissan's cheapest option is now the Kicks Play (22,910 USD), a previous-generation model that may also be discontinued soon.
Buyers seeking a sedan must now upgrade to the Sentra, priced at 23,845 USD, while the latest-generation Kicks starts at 23,925 USD. Across the industry, the situation is no better.
The cheapest new car currently sold in the US is the 2026 Hyundai Venue, priced at 22,150 USD. The cheapest new sedan is the Kia K4, at 23,385 USD. This means the floor price for new vehicles has increased by several thousand USD in just a few short years.
What makes this timing particularly noteworthy is that Nissan has not abandoned the Versa line globally. The next-generation Versa has appeared and seems targeted at Latin American markets, where affordable sedans remain viable.
According to Carscoops, one of the primary, or perhaps the only real, reasons US customers won't get the Versa is tariffs. Both the current version and the redesigned 2026 Versa are manufactured at Nissan's plants in Mexico, subjecting them to import duties that push their selling price beyond what the affordable car market can bear.
By My Anh
