2019-2024 Nissan Versa Sedan 1.6L Engine (HR16DE): Longevity, Problems, and Specs

The redesigned Nissan Versa Sedan was introduced in 2022 and appeared in the dealerships all across the US in 2023. The new Versa is actually not really new, it's the same vehicle that was sold since 2020 but with some design changes in the interior and new options in different trims. But still, the Versa Sedan is one of the cheapest cars in America starting under $16,000 and this makes it quite interesting.

Today, we'll tell you about the 1.6L engine that powers the new Versa Sedan and is the only engine option for this vehicle. We'll cover its main advantages and possible problems, find out its gas mileage, and will also cover some technologies that make this engine a good or bad choice among all budget-friendly cars in the US now.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2005-now
• Average lifespan of HR16DE:190,000-220,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:port injection
• Power range:105-120 hp
• Fuel efficiency:good
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:high
• The most common problems:bad oil consumption, stretching timing chain, weak phaser, no lifters.

What should you know about the 1.6L engine in the Versa Sedan?

So, the Versa now comes with only one engine option - the 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that seems pretty simple. We couldn't find any proper information on the code of the engine used in the Versa Sedan now, but we believe this is a slightly modified HR16DE engine that is as old as some of the authors at Cararac.com.

The engine was first introduced in 2005, almost 20 years ago, and with only some minor modifications has been manufactured and installed in dozens of Nissan and Renault models all over the planet. This is one of the most massively manufactured Nissan engines as of now. Also, it seems to be quite a bulletproof unit for a budget-friendly car like the Versa.

So, here are some facts about this engine:

• this is just a simple 4-cylinder engine with 1.6 liters of displacement and 4 valves per cylinder, without a turbocharger, of course;
• the engine offers 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque which is quite enough for calm driving in a small sedan;
• the engine has a simple port injection system, the aluminum block has cast-iron sleeves for better durability;
• the timing system is driven by a chain, intake valves have the VVT system, the throttle is electronic which boosts the performance of the engine;
• the engine ensures that the Versa Sedan is quite economical with 27 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on highways;
• the S trim even offers the 5-speed manual transmission (a real dinosaur nowadays) while the optimal transmission is the CVT made by Jatco.

We have just nothing special to tell you about this engine. It's quite good in terms of efficiency but we believe this is the last generation of the HR16DE engine under the hood of Nissan cars. The thing is that it's quite hard to fit it into the new ecology regulations and we just don't see any other technologies that will help Nissan improve it.

Although the engine is simple and most likely very durable, it has certain disadvantages. We believe you will encounter a lot of minor issues before the engine reaches even 100,000 miles. Just the overall quality of important units is not at the top level. But overall, this engine is just perfect for a cheap car, such as the Nissan Versa Sedan.

How many miles will the 1.6L engine last in the Versa?

If you bought the new Versa and maintain it properly, you may expect your 1.6L engine to last at least 200,000 miles. It may have a much shorter life though if not maintained regularly. The engine will not ask for a lot of expensive repairs but some repairs will be there on its way to 200K miles.

We expect the manual transmission to last as long as the engine. It even has the potential to last longer than that. If you just change the oil in the transmission with a certain interval recommended by Nissan, this transmission will not cause any problems. It may still fail if the vehicle tows something or is overloaded.

The more common CVT transmission is going to bring some bad news. It will live about 90,000 miles and then may fail because of the totally worn elements. In most cases, you will need to replace the transmission at 100K miles or so. Repairing it may not pay off eventually. Also, replacing it with a used one is not the best decision due to the unknown durability of the used unit.

So, your Nissan Versa Sedan engine is going to last quite long - over 200K miles. The manual transmission is also durable. But within the lifespan of the car, you will have to replace or repair the CVT transmission at 100K miles and this won't be cheap at all!

What are the common problems with the 1.6L Nissan Versa engine?

The 1.6L HR16DE engine in the Nissan Versa is certainly not the worst choice by Nissan engineers. It's old and wonderfully checked by time. Also, it's a great machine that had quite a lot of modifications to make it even more durable and problem-free. Although it hasn't become completely problem-free, the engine is great and all the common problems on our list are just minor issues if compared to other similar engines in other car models.

Here's what you may need to consider:

1. Timing chain doesn't seem to live long

Nissan says that the timing chain will live as long as the engine but it's not true. The chain will stretch at 140,000 miles or so and will need immediate replacement. If you overlook this problem, the chain will break and eventually destroy the engine. The valves will bump over pistons and the valve cores will be bent.

To repair the engine after this, you will need a lot of money and time. The best solution is to replace the timing chain at 120,000 miles or even sooner than that. This costs a lot but is still much cheaper than engine repair after the chain is broken.

2. Oil consumption

Valve seals and also piston rings are not the most durable ones in this engine. This leads to early oil consumption. We think 60,000 miles is the starting point when you should start looking carefully at the oil level in this engine. If the oil drops to the minimum level, make sure you top up some oil.

A low oil level may lead to insufficient oil pressure and this will destroy the engine pretty fast. Most likely, after 120,000 miles, you will need to repair the engine head to avoid massive oil consumption. Changing piston rings is too expensive, so drivers will not want to pay for this. Just keep an eye on the oil level!

3. No hydraulic lifters

This engine doesn't adjust the valves automatically which is a rare disadvantage nowadays. We recommend having the valves adjusted at least every 30,000 miles. Bad valve adjustment may lead to low performance, high fuel consumption, excessive oil consumption, and other problems.

4. Lots of minor problems you should deal with

Every time your vehicle is on regular maintenance, a good mechanic will diagnose the engine and will obviously find one or two minor problems with sensors, throttle body, thermostat, engine mounts, drive belt, alternator, etc. We believe these problems show up because the engine was made to be one of the cheapest Nissan engines today and they just didn't want to invest a lot of money in these small parts. As a result, they keep failing all the time and their replacement saves you for just some time.

What should you do to prolong the life of the Versa engine?

In most articles about engines, we form quite a long list of special recommendations that will help you take proper care of a certain engine. But today, we'll basically tell you two things: avoid aggressive driving and show up on time to every regular maintenance. The best solution is to maintain this engine in the dealership or in a specialized Nissan repair shop.

The Nissan dealer or one of those branded repair shops will be able to provide your Versa Sedan with OEM parts and best fluids. This is one of the key conditions that will allow you to drive the Versa much longer than average owners.

Overall, this engine won't need a lot of attention from you. Check the oil level, maintain the engine regularly, take care of the CVT transmission when it reaches 100K miles, and also replace the timing chain at 100-120 thousand miles. That's all!

Verdict

We believe the 1.6L HR16DE engine is the best powerplant for the new Versa Sedan. This is a practical and affordable car for those who don't want to spend a lot of money on purchase, fuel, and also repair. You won't get a lot of pleasure when driving, but this engine is made to get you from point A to point B with no problems. And we should say it perfectly does what it's made for!