2022 Hyundai Accent vs. 2022 Nissan Versa

image of a red 2022 hyundai accent from the side

Overview

People who are searching for a stylish car on a budget will be glad to know that they have choices. The 2022 Hyundai Accent has sub-$20,000 pricing with a surprising selection of amenities, and it simply looks great. This spiffy compact sedan isn’t without a little competition, though, as it goes up against the similarly stylish and budget-friendly 2022 Nissan Versa. It’s a pretty close rivalry, but we found that the ’22 Accent has several advantages that make it a more compelling choice. We’ll run through the details of our comparison below.

Desirable Amenities

Both the Accent and Versa represent a good deal considering their overall quality and value. While their respective base trims are somewhat bare-bones, the mid-tier options – that would be the SEL for the Accent and the SV for the Versa – have a better assortment of goods. For instance, the Accent SEL (MSRP: $17,900) receives fog lights, heated side mirrors, dual USB charging ports, and an infotainment system (7-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker audio system, and SiriusXM satellite radio). The Versa SV ($18,190) costs more yet it lacks heated side mirrors and fog lights, and its sound system has just four speakers.

The Accent Limited (MSRP: $19,600) dials up the luxury factor to a significant degree with its LED headlights and taillights, hands-free trunk, side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, power moonroof, heated front seats, and automatic climate control. Meanwhile, the Versa SR (MSRP: $18,790) gets neither a moonroof nor heated front seats. The ’22 Accent might even be more comfortable for occupants with its additional passenger volume (90.2 cubic feet vs. the Versa’s 88.9 cu. ft.) and rear leg room (33.5 inches vs. 31 in.). When it comes to navigating tight urban environments, the ’22 Accent should also be easier to maneuver since it’s a little shorter than the Versa (172.6 in. vs. 177 in.).

Coverage and Maintenance

The 2022 Hyundai Accent comes with perks that Nissan doesn’t give the Versa, including industry-leading warranty coverage and a generous complimentary maintenance plan. Specifically, the ’22 Accent is generously covered by a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, meaning its owners will enjoy extended confidence in the vehicle. Nissan, though, caps the ’22 Versa’s new vehicle limited warranty at 3 years/36,000 miles, and its powertrain expires after 5 years/60,000 miles. As for maintenance, Hyundai’s complimentary plan is good for 3 years/36,000 miles; Nissan does not include a complimentary maintenance plan.

Fuel Economy

The ’22 Accent is more fuel-efficient than the ’22 Versa. All Accent trims return an EPA-estimated 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, whereas the Versa S gets 27 city/35 highway and the Versa SV and SR are EPA-rated for 32 city/40 highway. So, if you drive a good degree and don’t want to overspend on gas, the ’22 Accent is your more economical choice.