Nissan Versa Review

The Nissan Versa exemplifies the ways in which subcompacts have evolved beyond just being cheap and fuel-efficient. Like other vehicles in this growing segment, the Versa combines excellent fuel economy, solid build quality and space-efficient interior design while remaining very affordable. The four-door Versa also distinguishes itself with many upmarket features and the choice of an inexpensive 1.6-liter engine or a relatively peppy 1.8-liter. It's a great choice as an entry-level vehicle, but drivers looking for any degree of excitement or personality are advised to look toward the Versa's competition.

Current Nissan Versa
The Nissan Versa economy car comes in two body styles: a four-door hatchback and a four-door sedan. Both body styles share the Versa's distinctive high bulbous roof line, which allows for a huge amount of interior space. Headroom is extraordinary. There is ample legroom, even in the rear seats, though it comes at the expense of rear cargo space. This problem is mitigated in the Versa hatchback, where the split rear seats fold to provide more than 50 cubic feet of total storage space. There are also nifty storage areas built in and around the doors.

The Nissan Versa is available in four trim levels: 1.6 Base, 1.6, 1.8 S and 1.8 SL. The 1.6 Base is as basic a car as you'll find, lacking both air-conditioning and a stereo. The 1.6 adds air-conditioning and antilock brakes, but little else (antilock brakes are optional on the 1.6 Base). The 1.6 models are available only in sedan form.

Standard features on the 1.8 S include air-conditioning, power mirrors and a six-disc CD changer. The SL trim adds foglights, a 180-watt stereo with in-dash six-CD changer; cruise control; driver seat height adjustment and power door locks, windows and mirrors. Upscale luxury features -- such as keyless entry, a navigation system, Bluetooth and a Rockford Fosgate sound system -- are available via various option packages.

Power for the front-wheel-drive Nissan Versa comes either from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that squeezes out 107 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque, or a 1.8-liter good for 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed or six-speed manual transmission is standard on most trims, with a four-speed automatic being optional. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard on the 1.8 SL, the only trim on which it's offered.

In reviews, our editors found the 1.8 Nissan Versa to be surprisingly peppy and comfortable to drive. Although it wasn't designed to be a sport hatch, the Versa manages some zip off the line. The CVT does a commendable job of getting the Versa up to speed on the highway; however, the six-speed manual makes better use of the 1.8-liter engine's power reserves and we recommend it to buyers who don't mind doing their own shifting. The six-speed shifts nicely and the clutch is light, although the engine gets noisy at higher rpm.

Over smooth pavement, the ride quality is good, but the Versa's suspension compliance over rough road surfaces doesn't impress us, as its wheels tend to hop over obstructions rather than settling quietly back into place.

Used Nissan Versa Models
The Nissan Versa was new for 2007. The addition of the 1.6 variants for the 2009 model year was the only major revision to the lineup, however, shoppers should note whether a particular Versa is equipped with antilock brakes. They had never been standard on any 1.6 models until 2011 and were optional on all trims until 2010, when they became standard on the 1.8 models.