Rent Nissan Versa 2020 in Dubai

We rent the Nissan Versa 2020 in Dubai with a no-deposit option and doorstep delivery in one to two hours, and for the money it's one of the roomier budget sedans you can book. This is the redesigned Versa, a generation newer in look and feel than the older economy sedans it sits alongside, with a wider cabin and a big boot. Our argument is simple: if you want a low daily rate but refuse to feel like you're in the cheapest car on the road, the Versa is the one to pick. It's still an economy car, so it's not quick and it's not plush, but it carries people and luggage better than its price tag suggests.

Space first, because that's the reason to pick it

The 2020 redesign made the Versa noticeably wider and longer than the small sedans it competes with, and you feel it inside. Two adults up front have room to spread out, and the back seat takes two grown passengers comfortably for normal city distances. For a family of four doing mall trips and day runs around town, nobody's complaining about being squeezed.

The boot is where it really pulls ahead. At 416 litres it's a large, square trunk that swallows two big suitcases and still leaves room for bags. That makes the Versa a genuinely good airport car. Land at DXB or DWC with a family's worth of luggage and it goes in without anyone sitting on a case. For a budget sedan, that combination of cabin width and boot space is the headline.

Spec at a glance

What it's like to drive, and where it runs short

The Versa runs a 1.6-litre engine making 122 hp through a CVT automatic to the front wheels. In the city it's perfectly happy. It pulls away cleanly, the gearbox keeps things smooth in stop-and-go traffic, and you'll never feel short-changed pottering between Jumeirah and Downtown.

Push it onto Sheikh Zayed Road and the limits show. There's enough to cruise at 120 without drama, but overtaking quickly needs a run-up, and the engine gets vocal when you ask for everything it has. That's the trade for the economy. Treat it as a comfortable town car that can do the highway when needed, and it won't disappoint. Expect real-world fuel use in the region of 6 to 7 litres per 100 km, so the 41-litre tank stretches across most of a week of mixed driving.

Parking and the low ride height

At under 4.5 metres the Versa is easy to park despite the extra width, and the light steering helps in tight multi-storey bays and on the Marina ramps. Visibility out is good, so judging the corners into a narrow space is straightforward.

One thing to watch: ground clearance is low at 127 mm, lower than most cars in this class. Dubai's speed bumps and the lips at mall entrances are fine if you take them at a sensible pace, but go over a sharp hump too fast and you'll hear the underside complain. Slow down for the bigger bumps and it's a non-issue.

Keeping cool when it's 45 outside

From May to September a car left in the sun gets brutally hot, and how fast the AC recovers matters. The Versa's cabin is compact enough that the front vents bring the temperature down quickly once you're moving. A couple of minutes with the windows up and it's comfortable up front. There are no dedicated rear vents, so on the hottest days back-seat passengers wait a little longer for the cold air to reach them, but in a cabin this size it gets there. Parking in shade speeds the whole thing up.

The running costs that are yours

Salik tolls are billed to you as you drive through the gantries, and any RTA fines during your rental pass to you. Belts are mandatory in all seats, and children under four legally need a child seat, which we'll fit on request. Standard Dubai rules, but worth knowing up front.

Who it suits, and who should look elsewhere

Rent the Versa 2020 if you want a budget sedan that doesn't feel cramped, with a back seat and a boot that handle a family and their luggage. For airport pickups, mall runs, and a week of city driving on a tight budget, it's one of the smarter-value choices we hand over.

Look elsewhere if your week is mostly fast highway driving, where a larger-engined sedan would feel more relaxed, or if the low ground clearance worries you on a route with rough speed bumps. And if outright cheapness is the only goal and you can live with a slightly older, smaller cabin, the Nissan Sunny rents for a touch less and does the same basic job.