2020 Nissan Versa Is No Longer A Frumpy Duckling, Gets New Tech And More Power Too

Some automakers are abandoning sedans, but Nissan has unveiled the all-new Versa at the Tortuga Music Festival in Florida.

Looking like a shrunken down Altima, the 2020 Versa has a slender V-motion grille which is flanked by angular headlights. Moving further back, there’s a sculpted hood and a more rakish windscreen.

The redesigned sedan sports sleeker bodywork and a prominent character line that continues all the way to the wraparound taillights. Designers also give the Versa a more dramatic roofline and a sportier greenhouse with a “kick-up” near the C-pillar. The model also has a faux floating roof which will likely prove controversial.

One thing everyone can appreciate is Versa’s all-new interior which no longer looks like it was made by Playskool. Nissan didn’t say much about the cabin, but the pictures show the SR variant will have a flat-bottomed steering wheel and a high-tech instrument cluster. The latter has a large display with a digital tachometer, but the speedometer is analogue.

Elsewhere, there’s an upholstered “Gliding Wing” dashboard and a modern infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. We can also see two-tone upholstery and tasteful chrome accents.

Nissan didn’t go into details, but confirmed the entry-level Versa will have remote keyless entry, a push button ignition and power windows. Customers will also be able to order an assortment of high-end options including heated front seats and an automatic climate control system.

Speaking of options, the 2020 Versa can be equipped with the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite of driver assistance systems. It includes Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Driver Alertness and Intelligent Cruise Control. This is on top on standard safety features such as Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Assist.

Power is provided by an upgraded 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 122 hp (91 kW / 124 PS) and 114 lb-ft (154 Nm) of torque. This is a modest improvement of 13 hp (10 kW / 13 PS) and 7 lb-ft (9 Nm) of torque.

Despite the updated engine, Nissan decided to retain the old five-speed manual transmission. Thankfully that isn’t the only option as customers can also chose an “enhanced” CVT.

The 2020 Versa will go on sale this summer and Nissan said the model will have a “price fitting buyers in the segment.” That’s pretty vague, but the outgoing model started at $12,460.