Best 2014 cars under $20,000: 2014 Nissan Versa Note, $13,990

The all-new 2014 Nissan Versa Note is a stylish, feature-packed, fuel efficient addition to the Nissan line, with a $13,990 starting price that’s hard to beat – especially because the new model is $680 LESS than the 2013 Nissan Versa Hatch it is replacing. What a concept – an auto manufacturer lowering instead of raising the price of a new model!

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Let’s repeat that so there’s no mistake –

The MSRP of just $13,990 for the 2014 Nissan Versa Note S is $680 USD less than the outgoing 2013 Versa Hatch S M/T it is replacing, and has more safety features, too. Even fully loaded, with a super-smooth CVT transmission and what I call “creature features”, it’s still well under $20,000.

Who should buy the Nissan Versa Note – It’s a great choice for a college student or new graduate, city dwellers, or as a second car for commuting and errands.

Also especially noteworthy (pardon the pun) is the Note’s Around View Monitor, a first for this segment at this price. The system uses four small superwide-angle cameras mounted on each corner of the vehicle to provide a virtual 360-degree view of whatever is near the vehicle, such as a toddler on a bike in the driveway, and to help the driver maneuver the car into tight spots, such as parking spaces.

It goes on sales this month at Nissan dealers nationwide, is more than just the fourth all-new Nissan model in recent months, – following the redesigns of Altima, Nissan’s sales leader, Pathfinder SUV and Sentra compact. The Sentra is another best buy new car under $20,000. The Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback have helped the Versa be one of the top-selling entry-level category for 20 consecutive months and 38 of the last 44 months.

Here are some other noteworthy features of the Note –

• Best-in-class*** 31 mpg city and 35 mpg combined fuel economy (CVT-equipped models)
• Available Active Grille Shutter for enhanced fuel economy
• Smart packaging and class-leading cargo space with available adjustable rear load floor height
• Available NissanConnect with Navigation System with Hands-Free Text Messaging Assistant, Google Services, Pandora compatibility and Bluetooth streaming audio