Nissan Versa vs Honda Civic Hatchback

It’s getting hard to find a basic subcompact sedan, but Nissan is keeping the faith.

The Nissan Versa returned to the Canadian line-up in the 2021 model year after a six-year hiatus, slotting below the Sentra in the lineup. The most recent redesign was just a year earlier, for the 2020 model year. For 2023, the Versa gets a handful of updates, including freshened styling and more available tech features. In addition to the Versa S, the lineup includes SV and SR models; we tested the latter for this review.

Since the Versa has been on sale, the ranks of subcompact cars have thinned considerably. The Chevrolet Sonic, the Ford Fiesta, the Honda Fit, the Hyundai Accent, and the Toyota Yaris are no longer sold in North America. That leaves the Kia Rio and the Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback as the Versa’s main competitors, and the Rio is on its way out of Canada for 2024 as well. But, as is always the case in this market segment, shoppers must also consider whether to buy a new car like the Versa or a potentially better-equipped used car for similar money.

Few cars can put a smile on your face when driving and making the monthly payment like a 2024 Civic can. That’s especially true when it comes to the hatchback version, which adds significant utility and an available manual transmission to the mix. Last redesigned for 2022, the Civic hasn’t seen any major changes since then. But next year, the 2025 Civic Hybrid arrives in both hatch and sedan flavours.

We’re big fans of the 2024 Honda Civic. Unless you want all-wheel drive, you can’t go wrong with this excellent compact car. It’s practical and safe, affordable yet first-rate, and thanks to its turbocharged engine is a blast to drive. Instead of getting a small SUV like everyone else, strongly consider a Civic Hatchback instead.