The $20,000 Car Is Officially Dead in America

As of today, there isn’t a single new car in America that starts at under $20,000. Nissan has discontinued the Versa, with production of the small sedan officially ending earlier this month. Nissan has confirmed the Versa's death in a statement to Motor1, saying:

'In line with Nissan's product strategy, the Nissan Versa ended production in December 2025 for the US market. Nissan remains committed to offering affordable and stylish vehicles in the sedan segment with models like Sentra and Altima, while also offering strong value in the compact SUV segment with the Kicks.'

This move shouldn’t come as a surprise. The writing has been on the wall for the Versa for several years. Back in 2023, reports indicated that production of both the Altima and Versa sedans would end in 2025. While the Altima somehow made it to 2026, Nissan has officially pulled the plug on its cheapest model.

2025 Nissan Versa

Photo by: Nissan

With the Versa gone, the Kicks Play becomes Nissan’s least expensive vehicle, starting at $22,910 including destination. Even that model may not be long for this world, though, as it’s essentially a carryover of the previous-generation Kicks that was sold alongside the newer version.

Buyers still looking for an affordable Nissan sedan can turn to the Sentra, which now starts at $23,845 with destination. The latest Nissan Kicks SUV isn’t far behind, with a starting price of $23,925. Taking the Versa’s place as the cheapest new vehicle in America is the 2026 Hyundai Venue, priced at $22,150. The least expensive new sedan is now the Kia K4, which starts at $23,385.

With the Versa gone—and the Mitsubishi Mirage disappearing long before it—the sub-$20,000 new car segment has effectively vanished in America. May it rest in peace.

RIP Versa

Cheap Cars Are Dead

The Last Five-Speed Manual Is Dead

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team