Nissan’s ode to the ’90s: 2026 Z Hermitage Edition
Nissan’s ode to the ’90s: 2026 Z Hermitage Edition
- Nissan has discontinued production of its most affordable vehicle, the Versa subcompact sedan.
- The demise of the Versa means the end of new American cars priced under $20,000.
- The decision comes as the average price of a new car exceeds $50,000 and consumer demand is shifting toward more expensive models.
Nissan has discontinued its most affordable vehicle, the Versa subcompact sedan, the company confirmed to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“In line with Nissan’s product strategy, production of the Nissan Versa will end in December 2025 for the U.S. market,” according to a company statement obtained by The Tennessean.
The Nissan Versa S (base tier of the model) was offered at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $17,390. According to Kelley Blue Book, the subcompact sedan will be discontinued from new U.S. cars with a list price of less than $20,000.
Now, with an MSRP of $20,550, the Hyundai Venue has taken over as the cheapest new car on the market.
According to the company’s annual sales report, Nissan sold 9,847 Versa models in the United States from October 25 to December 25, a 25.9% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Despite weak Versa sales in the last three months of 2025, year-on-year sales increased by 20%.
“We’re constantly reviewing our lineup to make sure we’re building the vehicles our customers want and keeping pace with the market,” said Lorin Love-Carter, a spokeswoman for Franklin, Tenn.-based Nissan North America.
The cancellation of the Versa comes as the average selling price of a new car hits a record high. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average new car sales price in the U.S. was $50,800 in September. This is the first time this number has exceeded $50,000.
Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive, said prices remain high and show “no signs of softening” as consumers actively choose higher-priced cars.
Nelson Andrews, who owns a chain of luxury goods stores in the Middle Tennessee area, said 2025 was his best year ever, but it wasn’t because of his mid-market products. “The middle part of the market is probably slowing down a little bit more than the higher end,” he said.
Mr Andrews said that despite serving a high-end market, the most expensive cars were often the first to sell as many of his customers were “committed” buyers.
“Cars are expensive because people want to buy them,” he says.
Although Nissan will move forward without the Sentra, the automaker still plans to offer relatively affordable options.
“While Nissan remains focused on providing affordable and stylish vehicles in the sedan segment with the Sentra and Altima, we also offer strong value in our SUV segment with the Kicks,” Nissan officials said in a statement.
Currently, Nissan’s lowest priced new cars include:
- Sentra: MSRP $22,600
- Altima: MSRP $27,000
- Kicks: MSRP $22,430
Stuart Dyos covers the automotive industry in Middle Tennessee and beyond. He can be reached at sdyos@gannett.com. to support his work, Subscribe to The Tennessean.
