There are no more new cars in the US cheaper than $20,000
On December 23, 2025, Nissan ceased production of the Versa model for the American market. As a result, there are no more new cars in the US cheaper than $20,000.
What is known
Nissan confirmed that production of the Versa for the US ended in December as part of updating its product strategy. The brand still bets on "affordable" sedans Sentra and Altima, as well as compact crossovers — primarily Kicks. But formally, this is already a different price level.
Versa started at $17,390. After its departure and the earlier disappearance of the Mitsubishi Mirage, the segment of budget new models has virtually ceased to exist.
Now the cheapest Nissan is the Kicks Play for $22,910, and the "entry" into sedans starts with the Sentra at $23,845. The new Kicks is even more expensive — from $23,925. Overall, the market situation isn't better: the cheapest new car in the US today is the Hyundai Venue 2026 for $22,150, and the most affordable sedan is the Kia K4 for $23,385.
Importantly, Versa is not disappearing globally. The next-generation model is already presented for Latin American markets, where cheap sedans are still in demand.
The key reason is economics. Versa is produced in Mexico, and import duties would make its price too high for the budget segment.
Source: The Drive
