2023 Nissan Versa vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class retained its stunning design from the previous year, continuing to impress with its sleek and elegant appearance. Despite the growing popularity of SUVs, the S-Class stood as a testament to the enduring appeal of luxury sedans. Its lineage traced back to the 1954 "Ponton" models, and the current W223 generation carried forward the legacy with a refined and modern aesthetic. The long distance between the front axle and dashboard added to its elegance, while the proud Mercedes-Benz grille and star hood ornament highlighted its prestigious heritage. Inside, the S-Class offered a luxurious cabin with high-quality materials, featuring a 12.8-inch touchscreen and a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, providing a sophisticated and functional interior experience.

The 2023 Nissan Versa adopted the design language of its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it a more upscale appearance than typical economy cars. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance, along with the distinctive V-Motion grille, made it instantly recognizable as a modern Nissan. For 2023, the Versa received styling updates, including a more elaborate grille and new wheel designs, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Versa showcased creativity with its dashboard design and large round air vents, offering a characterful interior despite its budget model status. While most materials were plastic, the fit and finish were commendable, and the SR trim added sporty touches like red stitching and upholstery inserts, making the Versa feel less like a typical economy car.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was designed for both executive commuting and weekend pleasure driving. The S500 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with EQ Boost, delivering 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, with an additional 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque from the electric motor. The S580 model boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine, also with EQ Boost. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic AWD. Despite their weight, the S500 and S580 were quick, with 0-100 km/h times of 4.9 and 4.4 seconds, respectively. The S-Class offered a smooth and responsive driving experience, with fuel consumption ratings of 11.4 L/100 km city/8.0 highway/9.9 combined for the S500 and 14.3 L/100 km city/9.5 highway/12.2 combined for the S580.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, while not a performance powerhouse, offered satisfactory performance for its class. All models were equipped with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The Versa's handling was characterized by body roll in corners but provided remarkable grip and nimbleness. The suspension delivered a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps and potholes effectively. Despite its entry-level status, the Versa felt more substantial than expected, offering a pleasant driving experience for daily commuting.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class excelled as an executive sedan, offering a spacious and luxurious cabin. Second-row passengers enjoyed powered sun blinds and a Panorama Sunroof, while the 510-litre trunk provided ample storage space. The cabin featured six USB-C ports and a 115-volt power supply in the second row. Front seats offered rapid-heating active multicontour seats with memory and lumbar support, with options for ventilated seats and rear-seat heating. The Executive Rear Seating package in the S580 catered to chauffeured passengers with a 43-degree recline, power calf rest, and footrest. The S-Class's soft-close doors added a touch of convenience, and the vehicle was covered by a four-year/80,000-kilometre warranty.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, offered respectable trunk space of 416 litres in the base S trim and 425 litres in SV and SR trims. The Versa provided more front-seat headroom and legroom than the Kia Rio, although the Rio had more rear-seat headroom. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility, but storage space was limited. The centre console bin was small, and the shifter's raised platform wasn't the most efficient use of space. However, the optional wireless charging pad was conveniently tucked away.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with cutting-edge technology, featuring a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen for the MBUX infotainment system, offering superior image quality and energy efficiency. The 12.3-inch LED virtual instrument panel provided customizable visual themes, and the optional 3D instrument cluster added depth and visual interest. The augmented video for navigation and available augmented reality head-up display enhanced the driving experience. The Burmester 3D Surround sound system delivered high-fidelity audio, with an available 4D system for an immersive experience. The S-Class also featured EQ Boost and rear-axle steering for improved maneuverability.

The 2023 Nissan Versa offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Siri Eyes Free, and three USB ports as standard. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available on the SV and SR trims, along with a 7-inch driver-information display and wireless phone charging pad. The SR trim added an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a six-speaker audio system. While the touchscreens were small, the digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, providing vital information alongside an analog speedometer.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features, including Magic Vision Control, adaptive cruise control, active steering assist, and active brake assist. The Pre-Safe systems prepared the vehicle for imminent collisions, and car-to-x communication shared warning messages about road conditions. Rear-passenger airbags and rear-seat belt bags were available for added safety.

The 2023 Nissan Versa impressed with its standard driver-assist tech, including automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, lane-departure warning, and high beam assist. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention alert. The Versa received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks in side-impact crash testing.