The 2016 Nissan Versa only lasts around 150,000 miles with serious transmission failures and heater problems. At $8,925 to $10,575, it’s cheap, but not worth the money when most of the repairs cost thousands of dollars to fix.
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa a Good Used Car?
- Overall Rating 5/10 – 2016 is a bad year for the Nissan Versa since they still have mechanical problems, giving it a low overall rating. Owner reviews complain about expensive repair bills, poor performance, and a noisy cabin.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 5/10 – Interior materials are cheap throughout the cabin, the seats are reasonably comfortable for a small car, cargo space is good in the trunk.
- Reliability 4/10 – The 2016 Versa still suffers from transmission failures, although they’re not as widespread as in earlier years. Avoid models from 2009–2016 while 2017–2021 are more reliable.
- Performance 4/10 – Performance is terrible from the very weak 4-cylinder engine, which is almost dangerous at highway speeds.
- Safety 6/10 – The 2016 Versa is reasonably safe, earning an overall rating of 4-stars in government crash tests. Safety technology is bad for its age, though, only offering an optional rear view camera.
- Gas Mileage 8/10 – Fuel economy is great at up to 35 MPG giving 378 miles of range from the 10.8 gallon tank. Gas costs are $61 cheaper than average at $156 per month.
- Value 6/10 – The 2016 Nissan Versa is a cheap compact car, however, the high repair costs make it a bad long-term value proposition.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the Nissan Versa?
- Consumer Reports says the Versa is at the bottom of the compact car category with low owner satisfaction scores.
- Edmunds rates the Versa at 3.6/5, praising the passenger room in the back seats, but doesn’t like the noisy engine.
- Kelley Blue Book users give the Versa a 3.9/5 enjoying the fuel-efficient engine, but owners don’t like the cheap inte
What Common Problems Does the 2016 Nissan Versa Have?
Common problems found on the 2016 Nissan Versa include transmission failures, steering drift, as well as heater system issues. Overall, these problems are more severe than on other compact cars, leading to high repair bills as they age.
Transmission failures are still a problem found on the 2016 Nissan Versa at around 100,000 miles, although they are not as widespread as in earlier years. Nissan CVT transmissions are a known weak spot which fails as they age. There’s no way to rebuild a Nissan CVT, so it has to be replaced, costing around $3,800.
Steering drift is another complaint from owners at around 20,000 miles. The source of steering drift varies, although common sources include alignment or steering rack issues. Getting the car aligned costs around $150, while fixing the steering rack can cost $300 to $1,000 depending on the source of the problem.
Heater system issues also show up on some Versa models in the first 50,000 miles. The heater core wears out as the car gets older, and has to be replaced. Changing out the heater core is a time-consuming process, which costs around $1,200, depending on local labor rates.
There are no recalls on the 2016 Nissan Versa, which means Nissan has not thought any of the problems were severe enough to issue a recall for them.
How Long Will the 2016 Nissan Versa Last?
A well-maintained 2016 Nissan Versa may last around 150,000 miles before they become too expensive to repair, which is only half as long as the top-rated Toyota Corolla. Regular annual maintenance costs are similar to other compact cars, according to data from Repair Pal, at $317 per year, although some serious problems can be expensive to fix.
Since many used 2016 Versa models will have over 100,000 miles buyers should be prepared to replace the cylinder head for $2,800, engine oil pan costing $425, along with the powertrain control module which costs $1,000.
No problems at all. Drives smoothly and has pick up and go. It is comfortable and has plenty of head and leg room.
So far, the car has been reliable. There have been no issues that I am aware of. It tells you if there's a problem.
Yes it is reliable. In the few years that I've owned this vehicle I've only needs regular maintenance. Oil change and new tires.
It is reliable for the first 70,000 miles, but once it hit 70k I had some problems with it. The wheel bearing broke down and I have had to get a lot of work done despite keeping good care of it. I do not know if it is just where I live but a lot of technical difficulties.
No it is a very reliable car, and it is also a gas saver, it also runs smooth in on the freeway as well.
No problems so far, I would say it is reliable and everyone who has driven it agrees its reliable so.
The Nissan versa is great and reliable from a mechanical standpoint! I do not think I have had any issues with the vehicle related to mechanic things. There is an issue with the lighting on the radio display not being bright enough early to late afternoon. That may just be because of my particular vehicle which was purchased from a rental car agency.
Not so far, I have put 6000 miles on it, and just had the oil changed today. So it has been good, if it stays as is it will be a good.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is average in the 2016 Nissan Versa with standard Bluetooth connectivity, while a 5.8-inch touchscreen is available as an optional upgrade. Safety technology is worse than other small cars with an optional rear view camera, which is standard on many competitors.
Is the 2016 Nissan Versa a Good Value?
No, the 2016 Nissan Versa is a bad value since there are a lot of expensive mechanical problems which can show up as they age. Blue book prices range from $8,925 to $10,575, making the Versa cheaper than a Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta. When new, the price range was $11,990 to $18,710. Depreciation is slightly worse than average, losing about 12% of its current value per year.
What are the Different Models of the Nissan Versa?
There are four models of the Nissan Versa offered for 2016 from the base S all the way up to the nicer SL.
S is the entry-level model with:
- 15-Inch Steel Wheels
- Manual Locks & Windows
- Cloth Seating
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 4-Speaker Stereo System
S Plus is a small step up, adding:
- Rear Spoiler
- Cruise Control
SV adds features such as:
- Remote Keyless Entry
- Power Windows & Locks
- Premium Cloth Seating
- USB Port
SL is the flagship model which has:
- 16-Inch Alloy Wheels
- Keyless Ignition & Entry
- Leather Steering Wheel
- 8-Inch Touchscreen Stereo System
- Rear view Camera
What Engines Come In the Nissan Versa?
The engine found in the 2016 Versa is a weak 1.6L 4-cylinder which makes 109 horsepower while getting up to 35 MPG. Performance is terrible, taking 10.4 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.
What Colors Does the Nissan Versa Come In?
How Comfortable Is the Nissan Versa?
The 2016 Nissan Versa is surprisingly comfortable for a compact sedan with seating for up to 5 people. Interior materials are not very nice, yet they are durable, holding up well over time.
Passenger room is good for a car its size, with enough legroom in the backseats for adults, although people over 6 feet tall may still feel cramped.
How Much Storage Space Does the Nissan Versa Have?
Cargo space is great for a small sedan, with enough room in the trunk for 3-5 full size suitcases, and about 3 more with the rear seats folded down.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The second generation of the Nissan Versa was launched in 2012 and was replaced by the third generation in 2020.
2014: No major changes.
2015: Exterior styling changes, upgraded interior, standard Bluetooth connectivity on all models.
2016: 4-speaker stereo system added as standard on all models.
2017: New SV package added with a more upscale interior.
2018: SL model discontinued, the base model only comes with a manual transmission.
2019: Upgraded sport suspension added to SV model.
2020: Fully redesigned for the third generation with a new interior, transmission, and engine.
How Does the Nissan Versa Compare to the Competition?
The Nissan Versa is one of the worst compact sedans offered in 2016 since it has so many expensive mechanical problems which show up as it ages.
The Nissan Sentra is another small sedan offered by Nissan which costs about $1,300 more. Performance is better in the Nissan Sentra since it has a larger engine, while the Nissan Versa is a bit more comfortable for passengers. We recommend avoiding both cars since they suffer from the same transmission problems.
The Honda Civic is a competitor which costs around $7,000 more. Reliability and performance are both better in the Honda Civic, while the seats are more comfortable in the Nissan Versa. We recommend the Honda Civic since they last much longer, and are significantly more fun to drive.
Do Owners Recommend the Nissan Versa?
Yes. I have the versante. The hatchback is so convenient. Easy to drive, has pep, very easy to park and I love the wonderful gas mileage.
Yes, so far it is been good. I like that it gets such great gas mileage and is fairly cheap to service.
Yes, it is reliable and meets all of my needs. Good gas mileage and a back up camera were two items that I was looking for. Additionally it offers a smooth ride.
Yes it is! I have had this car for 2+ years and it has been really good to me. The safety features and gas mileage are my favorite features.
Yes it is a very reliable car. It is also a really good gas saver and it also has a lot of room inside.
Yes I love it for the comfort and safety and gas mileage and it's easy to drive so I would recommend it.
The Nissan versa sv is a great vehicle! It gets excellent gas mileage and is very spacious. It is also great for electronic devices because it has one USB port, a place for a car charger adapter, and an aux port.
So far it has been great. I got this second hand it hand it had 50000 miles. On it after two years it been good.