Compare the2023 Toyota Corolla HybridVS 2023 Nissan Versa

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Corolla Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Versa doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Corolla Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Versa doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Corolla Hybrid offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Versa doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Corolla Hybrid has standard Safety Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Versa doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Corolla Hybrid and the Versa have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Versa:

	Corolla Hybrid	Versa
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	187	364
Neck Injury Risk	27%	36%
Neck Stress	243 lbs.	326 lbs.
Neck Compression	50 lbs.	298 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	330/310 lbs.	354/296 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	27%	57%
Neck Stress	165 lbs.	271 lbs.
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	137 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Corolla Hybrid is safer than the Nissan Versa:

	Corolla Hybrid	Versa
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	145
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	129 lbs.	216 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	250
Hip Force	367 lbs.	461 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Corolla Hybrid is 1.3% less likely to roll over than the Versa.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corolla Hybrid the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Versa has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Corolla Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Versa.

There are over 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

The Versa’s redline is at 6500 RPM, which causes more engine wear, and a greater chance of a catastrophic engine failure. The Corolla Hybrid has a 4000 RPM redline.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla Hybrid’s reliability 43 points higher than the Versa.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Corolla Hybrid second among compact cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Versa isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (134 vs. 122) and 42 lbs.-ft. more torque (156 vs. 114) than the Versa’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Hybrid gets better mileage than the Versa:

			MPG
Corolla Hybrid
FWD	Auto	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	50 city/43 hwy
AWD	Auto	1.8 4-cyl. Hybrid	47 city/41 hwy
Versa
FWD	Manual	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/35 hwy
	Auto	1.6 DOHC 4-cyl.	32 city/40 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Corolla Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Versa doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Corolla Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Versa doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Versa.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corolla Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Versa:

	Corolla Hybrid	Versa
Front Rotors	10.8 inches	10 inches
Rear Rotors	10.2 inches	8” drums

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the Versa. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corolla Hybrid has larger standard tires than the Versa (205/55R16 vs. 195/65R15). The Corolla Hybrid SE’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Versa (225/40R18 vs. 205/55R16).

The Corolla Hybrid’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Versa S’ standard 65 series tires. The Corolla Hybrid SE’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Versa SR’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corolla Hybrid has standard 16-inch wheels. Smaller 15-inch wheels are standard on the Versa S. The Corolla Hybrid SE’s 18-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Versa SR.

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Versa only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota Corolla Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Versa has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Corolla Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Corolla Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Versa’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corolla Hybrid’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Versa (106.3 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

Chassis

The design of the Toyota Corolla Hybrid amounts to more than styling. The Corolla Hybrid has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the Versa (.288 to .319) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Corolla Hybrid get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Corolla Hybrid has 3 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear hip room than the Versa.

Cargo Capacity

The Corolla Hybrid’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Versa S Manual doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Ergonomics

The Corolla Hybrid’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Versa has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the Corolla Hybrid and the Versa have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Corolla Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Versa prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Corolla Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Versa’s power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Versa can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Corolla Hybrid’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Versa’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Corolla Hybrid’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the Versa’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Corolla Hybrid has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Versa doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Hybrid has standard rear heat vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Versa doesn’t offer rear vents.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Corolla Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Versa isn't recommended.

The Toyota Corolla outsold the Nissan Versa by almost 21 to one during 2022.

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