Nissan’s third-generation subcompact sedan showcases a longer (1.6 inches) and wider (1.8 inches) stance. On the inside, the 2020 Versa provides more legroom for front seat passengers (44.5 inches), a nearly 3-inch increase from the previous model. But back seat riders take a loss as the car’s prior 37 inches of rear legroom drops to 31 inches. Versa is on the automaker’s intelligent safety bandwagon with numerous driver aids, such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and blind spot warning with rear cross traffic alert. All Versa models are fitted with 10 airbags.

Powering all three Versa trim levels (S, SV, SR) is a next-generation 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that produces 122 horsepower at 6300 rpm (13 hp increase from 2019) and 114 lbs-ft of torque at 4000 rpm (7 lbs-ft increase from 2019). The engine mates to a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Versa trunk space is slightly smaller with the redesign (14.3 versus 14.9 cubic feet). The tested Versa SR handled gusty winds with nary a hiccup, a tribute to the car’s increased tire size, larger chin spoiler, and various suspension improvements. The 103.1- inch wheelbase Versa SR with CVT collects estimated mpg of 32 city, 40 highway and carries a base MSRP of $18,240.