Manual transmissions aren’t as popular as they used to be, and now, buyers will have one fewer option going forward. Nissan has allegedly ended production of the manual-equipped Versa, killing off the cheapest car you can buy in America today, and the last five-speed on the market.
An unnamed source “with knowledge of the matter” revealed to Automotive News that the Japanese automaker has halted making the Versa with the five-speed manual at its Aguascalientes, Mexico, factory. Motor1 reached out to Nissan for a comment about the alleged production stoppage, and a spokesperson confirmed "Versa S manual production will cease, while the rest of the Versa lineup continues as usual."
Nissan said in a statement to Motor1:
“We remain committed to offering a line-up that answers the evolving needs of customers and maintains Nissan’s competitive edge. We are focusing on the most popular Versa grades that deliver the strongest business performance and are in line with what customers are looking for from this type of sedan.”
Nissan only offered the manual transmission on the entry-level Versa S, which starts at $18,330 (all prices include the $1,140 destination charge) for 2025. However, with that spec apparently dead, the Versa S with a continuously-variable transmission is now the brand’s cheapest offering, at $20,130.
With new car prices remaining at an all-time high and the threat of tariffs potentially increasing the cost of many new vehicles Nissan’s more affordable models have seen an explosion in sales. The Versa was up 156 percent through the first three months of 2025. The Sentra, Altima, and Kicks, which all start at under $30,000, were also all up by wide margins.
Despite the Versa’s popularity, the manual only accounted for less than five percent of the model’s total sales according to Automotive News, and this could be the first sign things are coming to an end for the Versa model.
There’s speculation that Nissan will completely discontinue the Versa after the 2025 model year, replacing it with an electric sedan, but details are murky. That rumor started when Versa sales were struggling, but the market has changed, with the price of new cars only creeping upward. It seems that consumers do want cheap offerings, but don’t want to shift their own gears.
While the Versa was the last five-speed manual vehicle on sale in America, there are still plenty of six-speed options still available.
Source: Automotive News
