Looking for a small, compact car and wondering what Nissan has to offer? With the third-best-selling compact car on the US market—the Nissan Sentra—plus options like the Leaf and Versa, you’re spoiled for choice.

Luckily we’re here to help you find the car that’s the right size—and the right price—for your needs. Whether you’re in the market for electric or gas, sedan or hatchback, Nissan probably has something to meet your needs.

In this article, we’ll go over all the compact Nissans on the market right now. Plus, we’ll throw in some tips to help you save on

Nissan insurance costs

with the trusted

car insurance

broker app

Jerry

2022 Nissan compact and subcompact car models

Currently, there are six Nissan compact and subcompact cars on the market. Here’s everything you need to know about them.

2022 Nissan Leaf ($28,040 MSRP)

Until the Tesla Model 3 took its crown in early 2020, the

Nissan Leaf

(or LEAF if you prefer caps lock) was the world’s top-selling plug-in electric car. It launched in 2010 and had a good run, but the Leaf remains a popular option.

When it comes to reviews, the Nissan Leaf generally scores in the good-but-not-great category. Edmunds gives it a 7.9/10 rating, but Car and Driver delivers a rating of just 6.5/10. That said, the vehicle has won awards, including:

2010 Green Car Vision Award

2011 European Car of the Year

2011 World Car of the Year

2011–2012 Car of the Year Japan

Its popularity comes from its reputation as an early trendsetter and being relatively affordable in the electric market—but it gets marked down for having limited range and its fast-charging port not being supported widely enough in public.

Highlights of the Leaf include:

Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detections, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, and available adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode on all models

5-star

NHTSA safety rating

Models from $27,400 to $37,400 MSRP

Weaknesses include:

Limited range

Lower performance compared to rivals

Limited storage

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2022 Nissan Sentra ($19,950 MSRP)

The

Nissan Sentra

was originally a subcompact car but has been classed as compact since the turn of the millennium. It’s had a few different versions since it was launched in 1982, but 40 years on, this small sedan is stylish and sleek.

That said, its performance reviews are lukewarm. Edmunds gives it a respectable but unspectacular rating of 7.3/10, commenting on its features, safety, and value. Car and Driver was less impressed, giving it 6.5/10 and summing it up as “not an above-average” compact car.

It’s a popular option in the compact car market though, coming in third place behind the Toyota Corolla and the Honda Civic in terms of sales.

Highlights of the Sentra include:

5-star

NHTSA safety rating

Affordable with models available from $19,950 to $22,700 MSRP

Weaknesses include:

Slow to accelerate

Dated infotainment system

Limited headroom with sunroof option

2022 Nissan Versa ($15,580 MSRP)

The Nissan Versa takes its name from ‘versatile space’ and has been used as the name for Nissan’s Tiida, Almera, and Note models over the years. Today, it’s one of the few subcompact cars left in the US market, which is dominated by crossover SUVs.

Car and Driver gives the Versa a strong rating of 8/10, celebrating its relaxed driving and fuel efficiency, as well as its advanced safety tech. It receives 7.1/10 from Edmunds for being well-built, spacious, and economical, though with slow acceleration and occasional bumpiness on poor-quality roads.

Highlights of the Versa include:

5-star

NHTSA safety rating

Stylish and roomy interior

32/40 EPA-estimated mpg (city/highway)

Weaknesses include:

Cramped rear seat compared to competitors

Slow acceleration

Other small Nissan models

While the six models outlined above are the only true compact cars sold by Nissan right now, they’re not the only small Nissans worth looking at. Here are a few other small models—both cars and SUVs—that you should have on your radar:

Nissan Altima

($25,290 MSRP): Technically mid-size, the Altima sits in-between the Sentra and the Maxima and has historically also been a compact car in its own right.

Nissan Z ($39,990 MSRP): Nissan’s sports car has been around since 1969 and is a competitor for the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7, and Mitsubishi 3000GT.

Rogue Sport ($24,960 MSRP): A smaller, lower-priced version of the Rogue, this model is known as the Qashqai in other international markets.

If you’re looking for a truck, van, or large SUV, check out the Murano, Pathfinder, Armada, Frontier, TITAN, or TITAN XD.

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What is Nissan’s smallest car?

The Nissan Versa is the smallest car currently on the market from the Japanese auto giant, though the Nissan Leaf is not much bigger and is actually slightly shorter.

Nissan Versa wheelbase: 103.1 inches

Nissan Versa overall length: 177.0 inches

Nissan Versa passenger volume: 88.9 cubic feet

What is Nissan’s cheapest car?

Unsurprisingly, it’s the Versa, which is smaller than the rest and cheaper than its electric stablemate the Leaf. This makes it very affordable and a great option for a smaller car.

How to save on Nissan insurance

The Versa’s size and price tag make it a relatively cheap car to insure, but you can always do better! The easiest way to lower your

Nissan Versa insurance costs

is by shopping with

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All you have to do is download the app and answer a few questions. Jerry will generate competitive quotes from top providers in less than a minute—and you won’t have to deal with any phone calls, paperwork, or hassles. When you find a quote you like, you can switch right in the app with help from Jerry’s experienced team of licensed agents.