Nissan's large lineup of small cars includes the five-door Versa hatchback. The Versa hatchback is a small compact car with seating for five. Even though it rides on a shorter platform than the Sentra, the Versa 5-door actually has more legroom. A standard 1.8l four-cylinder engine is mated to a six-speed manual, four-speed automatic or CVT transmission depending on the model. The most fuel efficient model the Versa SL with CVT is rated at 28/34 (city/highway). The Versa employs some cost -saving measures like drum brakes and steel wheels to achieve its low starting price of $15,000. While this is common in the segment, there are vehicles in the same price range with disc brakes. The 2012 model year is the last for this body style. A new model is due for the 2013 model year.

Even though the sedan is new, the Versa is a carryover for 2012.