2023 Nissan Versa vs 2022 Nissan Sentra

The 2022 Nissan Sentra, redesigned in 2020, carried over its sleek, modern design into 2022. Its exterior resembled a downsized Altima, featuring a low-slung, coupe-like appearance that marked a significant improvement over earlier models. The Sentra's design language was well-executed, with bold color options like blue, burnt orange, and "Scarlet Ember," alongside a contrasting black roof available in four colors. Inside, the Sentra boasted a modern yet simple layout, with easy-to-use controls and a visually appealing touchscreen centerpiece. The interior's upscale look was enhanced by features like a trio of vents in the center dash.

The 2023 Nissan Versa borrowed design elements from its larger siblings, the Sentra and Altima, giving it an upscale appearance. The Versa's sleek profile and wide stance made it look more like a traditional sedan than an econobox. The 2023 model received styling updates, including a more elaborate V-Motion grille and new wheel designs for the SR trim. Inside, the Versa's creative design featured large round air vents and an elaborate dashboard. While most materials were plastic, the fit and finish were commendable. The SR trim added red stitching and upholstery inserts, along with convenience features like heated front seats and automatic climate control.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). While the engine wasn't outstanding, the CVT managed power well, providing solid low-end acceleration and satisfactory highway performance. The Sentra's steering was well-weighted, and its cornering was sharp for a non-performance car. The suspension handled most road bumps decently but struggled with harsher conditions. Overall, the Sentra was great for commuting, city driving, and occasional road trips.

The 2023 Nissan Versa came with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine generating 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, also paired with FWD. The base Versa S had a five-speed manual transmission, while the CVT was optional on the S and standard on the SV and SR trims. The CVT-equipped Versa SR felt adequate in traffic, with responsive handling and remarkable grip despite noticeable body roll in corners. The Versa's ride was impressively comfortable for an entry-level model, with a suspension that cushioned impacts well and lower-than-expected cabin noise levels. The Versa felt more substantial than typical subcompact cars, with handling and refinement that seemed a class above.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra offered 14.3 cubic feet of trunk space, better than many small sedans but slightly less than the Kia Forte's 15.3 cubic feet. The Sentra's trunk space could be expanded with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench, though the ledge created by the bench made sliding larger items through more difficult. The trunk could be remotely opened via the key fob or a dash button. Inside, the Sentra had spacious front seats with ample headroom and legroom, while the rear seats provided decent legroom and headroom. The front row featured large in-door cargo trays and bottle holders, along with plenty of cupholders and trays in the center console.

The 2023 Nissan Versa, available only as a four-door sedan, offered 14.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the base S trim and 15 cubic feet in the SV and SR trims, more than the Kia Rio and Mitsubishi Mirage G4 sedans. A 60/40 split-folding rear seat was available only with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The Versa's front seats provided more headroom and legroom than its competitors, though rear-seat space was less generous. The front row felt spacious, with good outward visibility aided by a low dashboard and side glass. However, the center console bin was small, and the shifter's raised platform wasn't the best use of space.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity. The SV and SR trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen. The system's menu navigation was user-friendly, with conventional hard buttons and volume/tuning dials. However, the graphics needed updating, and the lack of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a drawback compared to competitors like the Honda Civic.

The 2023 Nissan Versa's base S trim included a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Siri Eyes Free voice control, three USB ports, and keyless entry. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the S Plus Package or higher trims. The SV trim added a 7-inch driver information display and a wireless phone charging pad, while the SR trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, six-speaker audio system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and NissanConnect Services telematics. Despite the tech features, the touchscreens were small, and the graphics were outdated. The digital instrument cluster display added a touch of sophistication, showing vital information alongside an analog speedometer.

The 2022 Nissan Sentra came with a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, driver drowsiness monitoring, lane-departure warning, and blind spot monitoring. Additional features on our test model included a surround-view parking monitor and adaptive cruise control. The Sentra earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Nissan Versa also excelled in standard driver-assist tech, with automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning on the base S trim. The SV trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SR trim included adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA gave the 2023 Versa a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in the frontal and rollover categories. The IIHS hadn't published updated safety ratings for the 2023 Versa, but it received high ratings in older crash tests.