A practical guide to choosing between Nissan's affordable entry-level options for Orangeburg drivers. Learn how the 2025 Versa's superior fuel economy compares against the 2027 Kicks' significantly larger cargo space and taller body, and discover why the Versa is no longer available as a new purchase while the Kicks remains in active production.
Want the short version before you drive over? If you're shopping new, the Versa is off the table. Nissan ended U.S. production of the Versa in December 2025, so no 2026 Versa exists on American dealer lots. What you'll find are remaining 2025 Versas (the final model year) and the all-new 2027 Nissan Kicks, which is now Nissan's entry point for budget-minded buyers. That shift changes the comparison quite a bit, and we want you working with accurate information before you decide.
Both cars have served Orangeburg families, students at Claflin and SC State, and I-26 commuters well. The question now is which one fits your situation, given what's actually on the ground.
What Does Each Nissan Actually Get You, Fuel and Specs Included?
Each Nissan gets you a genuinely different kind of value, and the split shows up fast once the specs sit side by side, with the 2025 Versa taking the fuel-economy and lower-entry win and the 2027 Kicks answering with four times the cargo room, a bigger standard touchscreen, and a taller, roomier body. The rest is detail. Read the table below with your own week in mind.
| Feature | 2027 Nissan Kicks (FWD) | 2025 Nissan Versa (CVT, final U.S. MY) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L I-4, 141 hp / 140 lb-ft | 1.6L I-4, 122 hp / 114 lb-ft |
| EPA City MPG | 28 | 32 |
| EPA Highway MPG | 35 | 40 |
| EPA Combined MPG | 31 | 35 |
| Cargo Space | 30 cu ft (seats up) / 60 cu ft (folded) | 14.7-15 cu ft trunk |
| Standard Touchscreen | 12.3 inches (wireless CarPlay/Android) | 8 inches |
| Standard Safety Suite | Nissan Safety Shield 360 (6 features) | Nissan Safety Shield 360 |
| NHTSA Overall Rating | 4 out of 5 stars | 5 out of 5 stars |
| Body Style | Subcompact SUV | Subcompact sedan |
| Availability (new) | In production | Final-year inventory only |
A few things jump out. On fuel economy the Versa is genuinely better, and that matters for a 40-mile round trip to Columbia on I-26. The EPA rates the 2025 Versa CVT at 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined. The EPA rates the 2027 Kicks at 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined for FWD models. Log serious highway miles and that gap is real.
The Kicks answers back with a much larger cargo hold. Four times the usable space of the Versa's sedan trunk is no overstatement. Load a dorm mini-fridge, a week of groceries, or gear for a weekend at Lake Marion. The Versa's 15 cubic feet fills up fast.
Which One Makes More Sense for How You Actually Drive Here?
How you actually drive around here should settle this one, and the answer cuts both ways, because a mostly-highway week toward Columbia rewards the Versa's mileage while a week of hauling people, groceries, and gear rewards the Kicks and its extra room and taller stance. Orangeburg driving runs from surface streets through town to US-601 and US-301 for farm runs and errands, then out to I-26 for the commute toward Columbia or Charleston. Both corridors push you into sustained highway driving more than a purely urban route would.
If keeping fuel costs low on a long daily highway commute is your top concern, the 2025 Versa (if you can still find a new one) earns that edge, and we won't pretend otherwise. The 40 MPG highway rating is real. For someone driving 60-plus miles a day to Columbia and back, that difference adds up over time.
The Versa's usefulness has a practical ceiling, though. A sedan trunk limits what you can haul. Merge acceleration matters on I-26 on-ramps, and the Versa's 122 horsepower takes its time getting there. The Kicks' 141 horsepower isn't sporty, but you'll feel the difference when you need speed in a hurry.
For a Claflin or SC State student who parks in tight campus lots, swings through a drive-through, and makes the occasional Columbia run, the Kicks handles that daily cycle with a more versatile layout. The higher seating position helps with visibility. And when family visits from out of town with luggage, you're not trying to Tetris suitcases into a 15-cubic-foot trunk.
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Where Do You Find a Versa (or a Kicks) Right Now, and What Should You Ask?
Finding either one right now works differently, and it's worth knowing before you drive over, because any new 2025 Versa comes from a shrinking pool of leftover inventory while the 2027 Kicks is still in active production and open to a factory order in the trim and color you want. Since the Versa is out of production, any new 2025 Versa you find comes from remaining dealer stock, not a fresh order. The pool keeps narrowing. If a specific color, trim, or feature combination matters to you, flexibility may be thin, and what's on the lot is what there is.
Browse our current new inventory to see which Nissan models we've got available right now. If you're open to a lightly used Versa to get that fuel economy at a competitive total cost, our pre-owned inventory is worth a look too. A 2023 or 2024 Versa with low miles can cover the same I-26 commute for years with proper maintenance.
The 2027 Kicks is actively in production, so you can still special-order specific trims and colors rather than settle for whatever sits on the lot. For a buyer who wants one exact configuration, that flexibility is a real advantage. The Kicks SV FWD trim adds wireless charging and keyless entry over the base S without the cargo penalty that comes with AWD (the AWD version drops from 30 to 24 cubic feet behind the rear seats).
The Kicks has one real drawback worth naming. It's slow off the line. Nissan engineers it for efficiency, not speed, and the 2.0-liter CVT setup gets the job done, though you'll want to plan ahead when you merge onto I-26 from a standing stop. None of that's a problem, just a trait of the class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nissan Versa still being made for 2026?
No. Nissan confirmed that U.S. production of the Versa ended in December 2025, which makes 2025 the final model year for American buyers. A refreshed 2026 Versa exists for Latin American markets, but you can't buy it in the United States. If you see a "2026 Versa" listing on a U.S. dealer site, verify it carefully, since it's likely either a 2025 or inventory from outside the country. Remaining 2025 Versas are still available as new-car inventory at some dealerships while supplies last.
Does the 2027 Nissan Kicks get better gas mileage than the Versa?
No, actually. The 2025 Versa with CVT is EPA-rated at 32 city / 40 highway / 35 combined, which beats the 2027 Kicks FWD figures of 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined. The Kicks trades some fuel economy for more cargo space, higher ground clearance, and a more versatile body style. For a pure highway commuter focused on fuel costs, the Versa's advantage is real. If you need cargo flexibility, the Kicks closes that gap quickly through utility.
Which is better for a college student in Orangeburg, the Kicks or the Versa?
It depends on priorities. The Versa costs less to buy new while remaining inventory exists, and it uses less fuel on highway miles. The Kicks gives you more room, a more practical hatch layout, and a higher seating position. For a student moving dorm items, carpooling, or occasionally carrying equipment, the Kicks' cargo layout tends to be the more useful choice day to day. The Versa makes the most sense when the priority is keeping the monthly total of ownership costs as low as possible and the cargo need is minimal.
