Versa, Sentra, and Frontier Named Cars.com 2025 Best Value New Cars

Unless the purpose is pure indulgence, we all seek good value in our purchases. The need for value becomes even more crucial for a five-figure purchase like a new automobile. Nissan has always aimed to provide excellent value in its products, which is why Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia is pleased to report that Cars.com has recognized the Versa SV, Sentra S, and Frontier S 4×2 King Cab in its list of nine 2025 Best Value New Cars. 

Cars.com’s criteria for selecting its Best Value winners started by looking at non-luxury models. Since value is all about getting plenty for your money, the criteria also included a list of features that the vehicles must have.  

These features include: 

• Automatic transmission 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto 
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection 
• Brake assist 
• Lane departure warning 
• 280-plus miles of range (EVs) 

Cars.com configured models in the least expensive manner (while meeting the above criteria). The editors then looked at the models they configured and screened out models that had prices above the segment average. They subsequently looked at fuel mileage and rejected models that required anything but regular fuel. Not factored in were the levels of warranty coverage, or in the case of trucks, seating capacity. 

Nissan excelled in areas where shoppers highly prioritize value, such as in the sub-compact and compact car segments, which include non-SUV models. While acknowledging the versatility of its SUVs and crossovers, Nissan continues to emphasize the importance of affordable sedans for many households, especially when there is already an SUV or crossover present in the home. Likewise, the mid-size truck class attracts shoppers who recognize that mid-size trucks are a better value for how they use trucks than the full-size models. 

“Nissan made a strong showing in this year’s Best Value New Car rankings, earning top honors in three key categories – subcompact car with the Versa, compact car with the Sentra, and midsize pickup truck with the Frontier,” said Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief at Cars.com. “These wins highlight Nissan’s commitment to delivering high-value vehicles across multiple segments, giving budget-conscious shoppers smart choices without sacrificing safety, tech or everyday usability.” 

Versa SV 

The editors at Cars.com looked at the top-level Versa to get what they wanted. However, once they selected the Versa SV, no additional options were needed, keeping the price at $21,891 from a model line starting price of just $17,190. A highlight of the Versa is its high fuel mileage without the cost of a hybrid, which comes to an EPA estimated city/highway/combined mpg of 32/40/35, respectively. 

Sentra S 

The base Sentra model included all its feature criteria without requiring additional options. Consequently, the Sentra S was priced at $22,730 and achieved a fuel economy rating just under that of the Versa (30/40/34 mpg). While not a judgment criterion, it doesn’t hurt that the Sentra and Versa both have very attractive styling. From a distance, it is difficult to distinguish them from Nissan’s Altima flagship sedan. 

Frontier S 4×2 King Cab 

The Frontier took the value honors in the resurgent mid-size pickup class. Like the Sentra, the base model with the King Cab and six-foot bed was all that was required to meet the feature criteria. The Frontier impresses under the hood even in such base form with a standard 3.8-liter V6 engine. With the 4×2 drivetrain, the Frontier was priced at $33,560 and is built at Nissan’s New Canton plant in Mississippi.  

“We love that Cars.com sees what we see – Sentra, Frontier and Versa stand out with their attractive designs, convenient technologies and long-term reliability – qualities that really matter to buyers,” said Vinay Shahani, senior vice president of U.S. marketing and sales, Nissan Americas. “Being recognized by Cars.com for three years running reinforces the strength of Nissan’s lineup and the value we’re delivering to our customers.” 

During an inflationary and unstable economic climate, value is more important than ever. Visit Dick Smith Nissan of Columbia to check out all the high-value models in the Nissan product line.