Outrage over plans to axe 'America's cheapest car' which costs just $17K - with country's 'worst-driven' vehicle also set to be pulled

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Nissan has angered motorists by reportedly planning to axe America's cheapest car within a year to focus on its electric vehicles.

The manufacturer's popular Versa sedan has been used by budget-conscious drivers for decades, but sources told Automotive News that it is being pulled from its lineups by April 2025. 

At just $16,680 for a brand-new model, the Nissan Versa holds the title as the lowest-cost new car you can buy in the United States. 

Nissan is also reportedly planning to pull its Altima sedans sometime in 2026 - although this may be less of a loss on the roads after the model became a social media meme synonymous with bad driving. 

The move to ax the two models come as part of Nissan's larger efforts to remove two-thirds of its sedan offerings as it transitions into focusing on electric vehicles. 

This could see a version of the Altima survive, as - unlike the Versa - Nissan is said to be considering bringing out a hybrid option when its current 2026 production run ends. 

Cost-conscious drivers may be left with no option but to pay more for their motors as it comes at a time of near-record-high car costs in America. 

Nissan had been reaping the rewards of its budget vehicles in recent times, with sales of the Versa rising by 62 percent from January to June 2024. 

With the Altima and Versa both set to be pulled, Nissan's last cut-price offering will be its Sentra - the 'little brother' of the Versa. 

The Sentra also reportedly saw a 55 percent rise in deliveries from January to June this year, and the company insists that its recent moves will not spell the end of its sedans on the road. 

'(Sedans) remain an important part of the company's product strategy, providing advantages across several attributes, including cost of ownership,' Nissan spokesperson Brain Brockman told Automotive News.  

'Nissan is committed to offering a complete lineup of vehicles that meet the needs of our customers across a variety of segments.' 

Experts say keeping the Sentra in its lineup makes the most sense as it is the Japanese manufacturer's second-best seller.

AutoNews described it as a 'goldilocks sedan' as it is more spacious than the Versa but not as large or unwieldy as the Altima. 

The Altima has become famous online as a meme synonymous with bad driving, as it is the punchline of many motorist jokes as 'big Altima energy.' 

Unsurprisingly, this has not translated to sales, and the model was reportedly lacking behind Nissan's other sedans in recent deliveries. 

Nissan already halted production of its Maxima sedans in 2023, and its latest moves are seen by the industry as an aggressive push towards electric vehicles. 

The automaker previously announced plans for a battery-powered sedan by the end of the next decade, reports Miami Herald.