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Nissan Versa vs Toyota Corolla

2025 Nissan Versa vs 2025 Toyota Corolla — two compact cars compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

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2025 Nissan Versa

Compact Cars
VS3 – 2Nissan Versa wins 3 of 5 categories
Toyota Corolla

2025 Toyota Corolla

Compact CarsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV

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The short version

The Toyota Corolla is more fuel-efficient: 50 vs 35 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $550 a year less in fuel for the Toyota Corolla (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Nissan Versa is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.

Both earned 5 stars overall in NHTSA crash tests.

Across all model years since 2005, the Nissan Versa has had fewer recall campaigns (28 vs 43).

The two cars

The 2025 Nissan Versa is a compact car offered with a 1.6L 4-cyl engine and front-wheel drive. It measures about 177 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 103-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 2,659 lb.

The 2025 Toyota Corolla is a compact car offered with 3 engines (1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl and 1.6L 3-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 183 inches long and 69 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,053 lb (4dr Sedan Hybrid).

Buying used? The 2022 Versa and the 2022 Corolla have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2015 Versa and the 2020 Corolla.

Basics

Compact Cars
Class
Compact Cars
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Hybrid, Regular Gasoline, Premium Gasoline
1.6L 4-cyl
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 3-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

35 MPG
Best combined MPG
50 MPG
32 city
City / highway MPG (best)
53 city
$1,900
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$1,350

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
169 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
176.8 in
Length
172.4 in
68.5 in
Width
69.3 in
57.5 in
Height
55.9 in
2,659 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
2,954 lb

Safety & reliability

★★★★★
NHTSA overall rating
★★★★★
–
Driver-assist features standard
9
0
Recalls (2025)
1
28
Recalls, all years since 2005
43
12
Owner complaints (latest year)
33

Interest

–
Wikipedia views, 30 days
52,279

Buying used

2022
Best used year
2022
2015
Year to avoid
2020

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Nissan Versa if…

  • You want more room (4 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (28 vs 43 recalls since 2005)

Choose the Toyota Corolla if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (50 vs 35 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)
  • You need AWD or 4WD
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Pros & cons of each

2025 Nissan Versa

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 35 MPG combined — 22% better than the average 2025 compact car (28.6 MPG).
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • No recalls so far

2025 Toyota Corolla

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 50 MPG combined — 75% better than the average 2025 compact car (28.6 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • Modest powerUp to 169 hp, versus about 228 hp for similar 2025 models.

Full 2025 Nissan Versa specs →Full 2025 Toyota Corolla specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →