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Posted May, 2007

Road Test: 2007 Nissan Versa

By Kevin S. Lowery

With the rising popularity of so many entry-level vehicles for the budget-minded buyer — notably a plethora of imports from South Korean companies — it leaves other manufacturers scrambling to hold onto their shares of this important market segment. It is crowded with the Chevrolet Aveo, the Honda Fit, the Hyundai Accent, the Kia Rio5, Scion xA, and the Toyota Yaris, to name a few. Not that there’s much profit in these cars. It's a question of market share and snaring first-time new car buyers before their brand preferences are locked in. The Versa sedan is Nissan’s answer to this segment but with its own unique style.

Drive BIG, Park Small, is the car’s slogan. That theme, evidently, didn’t hold true for the exterior design. It appears to have been difficult to paint an inspired scene with such a small canvas. Have a dynamic look? The large taillights sweep around to the side of the car into a triangle shape. The line down the car is straight but everything around it is hunker jawed. The pieces don’t seem to compliment the whole. Still, there is only so much you can do when you’re trying to create something on a small frame while giving expanded leg and headroom. This is not a Nissan disease alone.

The engine is a 1.8-liter DOHC inline 4-cylinder, providing 122 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. While I found it lacking in low-end torque and response (what do you expect from a car in this segment?) it delivered decent fuel economy that satisfied both performance and environmental requirements. Three transmissions will be available with the 2007 Versa, including Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It comes standard with other features like a six-speed manual transmission, tachometer and other things you would come to expect from an automobile of this caliber.

Spacious and open are just two adjectives you can use to describe the interior. The center console is low to the floor and gives the illusion of more open space. The switches and knobs are intuitive and grouped together in an intuitive, logical way. The cloth seats are rather ordinary but do the job of being very utilitarian while also being comfortable. There are four cup holders, two in front, two in rear. A/C, tilt steering, etc.

The Ride, suspension and handling was just like any of the other cars in this segment that I tested. Avoid the potholes and uneven spots in the road and it’s smooth. Otherwise, you feel everything.

As far as safety goes, the Versa has not only standard front-passenger airbags but curtain side-impact airbags, side impact airbags and front-seat active head restraints. Not to forget to mention a Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS), and LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system.

Our Versa 1.8S HB included featured available amenities like Intelligent Key, Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System, XM satellite radio and a Rockford Fosgate-powered subwoofer. The latter, which is a respected name for building decent audio systems, left me completely unimpressed. Don’t waste your money.

Our top-of-the-line test car had a base price of $12,450 with a final sticker price of $13,055 including destination charges. Though we didn’t care for the exterior, the Versa offers good fuel-economy with an EPA rating of 30 mpg city/36 mpg highway. (That may compensate for the poor exterior design.)

With the CVT transmission, the rating was 30mpg city/34 mpg highway with the six-speed manual transmission. It was 28mpg city/34mpg highway with the four-speed automatic transmission.

So, whether the college student in your family needs one or you just need it to knock around town on the weekends and weekday evenings, it makes for a perfect second car (especially if your primary car is a large truck or SUV). R&D