Nissan has angered motorists by reportedly planning to phase out America’s cheapest car within a year to focus on its electric vehicles.
The automaker’s popular Versa sedan has been used by budget-conscious drivers for decades, but sources said Automotive News which will be removed from their lineups by April 2025.
At just $16,680 for a new model, the Nissan Versa holds the title of the lowest-cost new car you can buy in the United States.
Nissan is also reportedly planning to retire its Altima sedans sometime in 2026, though this may be a minor loss on the roads after the model became a social media meme synonymous with bad driving.
The Nissan Versa, the cheapest new car in the United States at just under $17,000, will be discontinued by its manufacturer in April 2025
Nissan is moving toward electric cars, although the manufacturer said in a statement that sedans “remain an important part of the company’s product strategy.” Pictured: Nissan CEO Makato Uchida
The decision to eliminate both models is part of a broader effort by Nissan to eliminate two-thirds of its sedan lineup as it shifts its focus to electric vehicles.
This could see a version of the Altima survive, as unlike the Versa, Nissan is said to be considering releasing a hybrid option when its current production ends in 2026.
Cost-conscious drivers may have no choice but to pay more for their engines, as this comes at a time when car costs in the United States are close to record levels.
Nissan has been reaping the rewards of its budget-friendly vehicles of late, with Versa sales up 62 percent between January and June 2024.
Nissan’s moves into the electric vehicle space will mean its popular Sentra model (pictured) will be among its last sedan offerings.
With the Altima and Versa on the verge of being retired, Nissan’s last cut-price offering will be its Sentra, the Versa’s “little brother.”
The Sentra also reportedly saw a 55 percent increase in deliveries from January to June of this year, and the company insists its recent moves won’t mean the end of its sedans on the road.
“(Sedans) remain an important part of the company’s product strategy, offering advantages across several attributes, including cost of ownership,” Nissan spokesman Brain Brockman told Automotive News.
‘Nissan is committed to offering a complete line of vehicles that meet the needs of our customers in a variety of segments.’
Experts say keeping the Sentra in its lineup makes the most sense since it’s the Japanese automaker’s second-best-selling model.
AutoNews described it as an “ideal sedan,” as it’s roomier than the Versa but not as big or unwieldy as the Altima.
Nissan’s Altima has been plagued by the ‘Big Altima Energy’ meme on social media as it became the butt of ‘worst driven car in America’ jokes.
Altima sales reportedly struggled in recent years as it became a meme on social media
The Altima has become famous online as a meme synonymous with bad driving, as it is the focus of many car jokes such as “big Altima power.”
Unsurprisingly, this hasn’t translated into sales, with the model reportedly lagging behind other Nissan sedans in recent deliveries.
Nissan has already halted production of its Maxima sedans in 2023, and its latest moves are seen by the industry as an aggressive push toward electric vehicles.
The automaker previously announced plans for a battery-powered sedan by the end of the next decade, reports The Miami Herald.