I have not researched this for a long time and our results would vary since I'd probably install my own parts. My understanding is that most "American" shocks (Monroe, Gabriel, NAPA, Carquest etc etc) are made in only a couple actual factories. I looked "2008+Versa+S" at advanceautoparts.com and they had:
Monroe Strut and Rear Shock, KYB Strut and Rear Shock. Oddly the Shock is a few moe dollars than the Strut, but each Strut was $60-something and each Shock $70-something. "Warranty" was shown as "Limited Lifetime" for Monroe and not specified for KYB. If the "limited warranty" is pro-rated on miles or worse, is Part-Only-Not-Labor, it isn't worth all that much to somebody paying the labor.
There are four parts to a Strut Assembly. Strut, Spring, Boot/Jounce Bumper and Bearing Plate. The price for that Assembly at Advance was $250-something, so it doesn't make much sense to spend that on a utility vehicle unless all that is somehow damaged.
Mike, I'd say this: If you know and trust your shop, go with what the shop recommends.
