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Introduction
Small cars are back in favor, which is not surprising considering the price of
gasoline. Nonetheless, many people still desire to own a car with a decent
amount of interior space and adequate performance, all for a reasonable price,
of course. There's nothing new about this for Europeans, as they have been used
to high fuel prices for many years.
The all-new 2007 Nissan Versa arrives as an addition to Nissan's lineup and is
now the smallest model you'll find in its showroom. The fact that it's partly
based on the Renault Megane, a successful European small car, is a good start.
If you haven't driven a small car in some time you'll likely be pleasantly
surprised at how big the Versa feels. There is decent head room, and even tall
passengers will find rear seat leg room as good as that in many much larger
cars or SUVs. Handling is crisp and parking is a breeze.
Initially, the Versa is only available as a five-door hatchback, but a sedan
version will appear in Nissan showrooms later in the model year. Modern
hatchbacks have improved considerably from the econoboxes of years gone by and
the Versa is no exception with a well finished interior that includes good
materials and plenty of modern conveniences and safety features.
The Versa competes with the lower priced Toyota Yaris and the more expensive
Honda Fit, but it is slightly bigger than either. All three of these brand-new
competitors are designed with relatively tall rooflines for increased interior
comfort and visibility.
The Versa is smaller and less expensive than the 2007 Nissan Sentra, but it
actually offers greater interior space and more versatility. Bottom line, the
Versa is a large small car with good performance, plenty of safety features and
versatility.
Model Lineup
In keeping with its positioning as Nissan's entry-level car, the Versa lineup
is pretty straightforward. It is available in two trim levels with manual or
automatic transmission. All models are powered by the same 122-horsepower
1.8-liter four-cylinder engine driving the front wheels. Initially the Versa is
only available as a five-door hatchback. A sedan version will be added to the
lineup in early 2007.
Both the S ($12,450) and SL ($14,450) come standard with a six-speed manual
transmission, which is far from the norm in this class of car. The S is also
offered with a regular four-speed automatic transmission ($13,250), while the
SL automatic ($15,450) gets the more advanced and much more economical Xtronic
CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).
Standard features include electric power steering, power-assisted front disc
brakes, tilt steering column, 60/40 split folding rear seats with cargo cover,
air conditioning with micro filter and an AM/FM/CD stereo system.
Safety features are comprehensive, including advanced front airbags,
side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain airbags, front seat active head
restraints, tire pressure monitoring system and an engine immobilizer.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake force
Distribution (EBD) are an option on all models.
Options are limited on the S but include ABS ($250), a rear roof spoiler
($350), splash guards ($110), floormats ($150) and an aluminum kick plate
($90). A Power Package ($700) includes power windows, power door locks, remote
keyless entry, door armrest pad and a glove compartment light.
The SL models feature a more powerful stereo system with an in-dash six CD
changer with an auxiliary input jack, cruise control, alloy wheels, woven cloth
seat fabric, rear seat center armrest, rear door pockets, remote keyless entry
and power widows, door locks and mirrors.
Options for the SL include ABS and some of the other options listed above that
don't come standard. XM or Sirius Satellite Radio ($300) is available for the
SL, along with five option packages: The Convenience Package ($700) features an
Intelligent Key system, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, steering wheel audio
switches and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. An Audio Package ($300) adds a
Rockford-Fosgate stereo with premium speakers and subwoofer. The Sunroof
Package ($600) features a power sunroof and illuminated visor vanity mirrors. A
Sport Package ($700) includes fog lights, rear roof, side sill and front and
rear chin spoilers.
Walkaround
There's no doubt that a car with short overhangs looks much sportier than those
where the wheels are far from the nose or tail. The Nissan Versa has an
exceptionally short rear overhang that makes the car look much larger than it
actually is.
From the front the Versa has some family styling cues from the Quest minivan
including a highly raked windshield and a prominent grille. The triangular
shaped headlights look classy. Overall though, it doesn't look that much
different from other small cars on the road.
It's very different at the rear as the Versa almost looks a bit like a
hatchback BMW. The edges of the tailgate are angled inwards surprisingly far
toward the lower lip. It's probably designed this way to allow the
trapezoid-shaped taillights to stay on the body rather than being mounted on
the tailgate itself. It gives the rear end a unique character, though the
tailgate opening is smaller than it could be.
The sedan version has a more conventional rear end that does not stand out
nearly as much. For some that may be fine but in reality it is less versatile
and makes the car look less appealing.
Interior Features
If you want to be impressed by the Nissan Versa, sit in the back first. As you
get in you'll be pleasantly surprised by the size of the rear door and how the
front edge of the rear wheel well does not intrude as you step in. There are
many larger four-door sedans and even many large SUVs that have smaller
openings.
Even a six-footer shouldn't feel cramped as the rear seat legroom is best in
its class and at 38 inches is as much as you'll find in cars such as the Toyota
Camry and Ford Crown Victoria. It even comes close to that in the Chevy
Suburban. Indeed, the Versa's rear seat legroom is more generous than in any
other vehicle in Nissan's lineup, except for the humungous Armada SUV.
Nissan has made sure that most of the surfaces you touch, such as the armrests
and door handles, have a soft feel to them. No hard plastics here. It's obvious
Nissan listened to the criticism of the Quest minivan which was lambasted for
its hard plastic surfaces. The cloth-covered seats are also comfortable without
being too soft and offer plenty of side support.
The instrument pod contains three large, well-recessed gauges that are easy to
read. The speedometer takes pride of place in the center and almost seems as if
it is floating over the other two gauges.
Controls for the dash mounted radio and CD changer are well integrated into the
center stack and although they are not very large they are easy to see and
comprehend. There is a large volume knob in the center with a very visible
power button.
Three functional, conventional knobs operate the climate control system. All in
all there's nothing fancy about any of the controls although everything looks
well finished. Two large cupholders are conveniently located under the center
stack.
Keyless remote entry systems are now almost a standard on all but the least
costly cars. The Versa goes one step further with its optional Intelligent Key,
which allows for keyless starting of the engine, something that hithertofore
has only been available in luxury cars.
Versa's versatility really shines when it comes to carrying the goods. There's
a generous 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place. Fold
them down and you've got 50 cubic feet, which is almost as much space as you'll
find in a small SUV. Part of the reason for the spacious rear cargo space is
due to careful design of the rear suspension so that it does not have any
struts intruding into the interior.
Driving Impressions
Part of the reason the Nissan Versa delivers good fuel economy is due to the
use of the Xtronic continuously variable transmission, or CVT. Nissan first
used this system in the Murano where it was so well integrated that some
drivers never noticed it was anything other than a regular automatic.
That's not to say a CVT is not as good as a conventional transmission, but it
is different. It delivers a much smoother drive as there are no gears or
inefficient hydraulics involved. Instead, a series of belts are used to vary
the drive ratio between the engine and the drive train. It works more
efficiently than a traditional automatic, which is why the Versa equipped with
a CVT delivers the best highway mileage. Around town it even has the same
economy as one with a manual transmission.
Incidentally, although Nissan is offering a regular four-speed automatic
transmission it intends to drop that in favor of just the CVT in the near
future. Naturally, it will continue to offer a six-speed manual transmission
for those who enjoy shifting.
As Nissan intends the CVT Versa to be the most popular model in the range that
is the one we spent time driving. From the word go we were pleased with our
experience in the car. It had plenty of zip and there was no problem merging
into traffic on a fast free-flowing freeway. When you stomp on the gas pedal
the sound of the engine revving instantly before the car accelerates can be a
bit disconcerting to some. We found it not unpleasant, in fact it sounds kind
of fun. Of course in regular stop-and-go traffic under slow acceleration there
is no sensation other than the car moving forward smoothly with no sound or
feel of shifting gears. It's certainly a far cry from the notch gear shifting
that used to be all too common on small four-cylinder cars with automatics.
On winding roads in Tennessee, near where Nissan is building its new U.S.
headquarters, we found the car's handling to be perfectly adequate. It's not
sporty like a Mini Cooper, nor is it sloppy like budget cars of a few years
ago. Sporty drivers might wish for more feedback from the steering and more
power, but there's no reason for others to complain.
The Versa is one of the first cars in this price category to feature electric
power steering. In the past we have been disappointed in the poor feel of
electric steering but Nissan seems to have designed this system so it feels
just as good as any hydraulically powered steering. No complaints here.
Thanks to the long wheelbase with wheels pushed out toward the four corners,
the ride is better than one usually expects from a small car. Brakes are fine
but again don't expect to race this car through a slalom. It wouldn't take
much, though, for Nissan to upgrade components and produce a truly sporty
version as the fundamental basics for a decent performance car are all there.
Summary
Nissan has made good use of its Renault parent by basing the Versa (known as
the Tiida in the rest of the world) on the same underpinnings used for the
popular Renault Megane in Europe. The Nissan Versa delivers decent performance
and has a surprising amount of interior space. It feels much bigger than it
actually is, which is also a good thing. The real joy, though, comes when its
gas tank costs half as much to fill as it would for a large SUV, yet it'll go
just as far, if not further, on that tankful without having to sacrifice much
in the way of performance, space or luxury. It's no wonder the Versa is
regarded as a near-luxury car in Japan.
New Car Test Drive contributor John Rettie filed this report from Nashville,
Tennessee.
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