The Automotive News publication reported, citing an anonymous source, that the Japanese manufacturer is halting production of the Versa with a five-speed manual transmission at its plant in the Mexican city of Aguascalientes. Nissan representatives, commenting on the situation for Motor1, officially confirmed the decision: "Production of the Versa S with a manual transmission will be stopped, while production of the other versions of the model will continue as usual."
Nissan offers a manual transmission exclusively in the base configuration of the Versa S. The price of the last version was $18,330 for the 2025 model (including a $1,140 delivery fee). With the removal of this version, the most affordable offering from the brand becomes the Versa S with a CVT starting at $20,130.
Amid record-high prices for new cars, budget models from Nissan are experiencing explosive sales growth in America. Sales of the Versa increased by 156% in the first quarter of 2025. The Sentra, Altima, and Kicks models, all priced under $30,000, also showed a noticeable increase in demand.
Despite the overall popularity of the Versa, versions with a manual transmission account for less than five percent of total sales of the model. There are even rumors that Nissan may completely discontinue the Versa after the end of the 2025 model year to replace it with an electric sedan. Such discussions arose during a drop in Versa sales, but the market situation has significantly changed since then. It is clear that consumers are interested in affordable models but do not want to shift gears themselves.
While the Versa was the last car with a five-speed manual transmission in American retail, numerous alternatives with a six-speed manual transmission are still available on the market.