Compact yet roomy
Redesigned sedan comes with an impressive list of standard safety equipment
While the crossover craze is showing no sign of letting up, driving an all-new compact sedan is a different experience in an era seeing many manufacturers forsake the breed. In this case, it’s the all-new 2021 Nissan Versa, part of a product offensive that will put 10 new or redesigned Nissans on the road in the next 20 months. Six of them arrive this year.
This is an important launch, as Versa becomes the new entry point to the brand, given the demise of the Micra and Versa Note hatchbacks.
The latest model is an accommodating compact — longer, wider and 58 millimetres lower, so it has better proportions than the previous jelly bean-like model. The front end has the now familiar V-motion grille and sleek headlights, there are character lines through the side profile, and the tail is finished off with a big trunk — at 425 litres, it is large for the segment and can accommodate a family’s worth of luggage easily.
The cabin has been reworked to great effect. The new look adopts a leaner, horizontal style, along with a D-shaped steering wheel that reinforces the no-nonsense look. Some of the plastics are hard to the touch, but it’s to be expected considering the price. The Versa is, however, well equipped. The Zero Gravity front seats deliver superb support and have to rank as some of the best at this end of the market. The top-line SR then uses some snazzy orange accents on the seats and French stitching on the dash and door panels to add some visual pizzazz.
The instrumentation is a blend; the speedometer is analog, and to the left is a digital display that shows the tachometer and gives access to a number of functions, including the safety systems. Next to that is a seven-inch touch-screen infotainment system that supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto. However, these two apps are not included in the base Versa S, and this lack needs a rethink.
The Versa’s back seat is equally roomy. With the front seat set for a six-foot driver, there’s enough space behind to accommodate another six-footer. It’s also wide enough to accommodate three adults.
The latest Versa also has a wealth of standard safety equipment. All models get automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic brake assist, which can stop the car if the driver doesn’t brake for an obstacle when backing up. The SV and SR then add blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
Under the hood, the 1.6-L four-cylinder engine makes 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. On paper, the numbers don’t look particularly impressive, but throttle response is crisp and the off-the-line pull is surprisingly sharp. The engine drives the front wheels and works with a five-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission on the base S, but the SV and SR models are CVT only.
The transmission shifts like a regular automatic by using pre-selected shift points. This does away with nearly all of the usual droning and rubber-band effect. It does hold each “gear” longer the further the gas pedal is pushed down, but it remains civilized for the most part. Only wide-open throttle sees it hug the redline.
Hidden on the back of the CVT’S shifter is a sport-mode button. It changes the CVT’S characteristics, bumping the revs up by about 1,000 r.p.m. This further sharpens the already lively throttle response, but I wish the system would remember the choice. As it stands, the Versa defaults to normal every time the engine is started.
Fuel economy numbers are impressive. While the five-speed manual has a soso rating of 8.6 L/100 kilometres in the city and 6.7 on the highway, the CVT is rated at 7.4 and 5.9, respectively.
Compact sedans like the Versa aren’t typically known for the fun of the drive, but the SR puts a smile on the driver’s face. While the suspension is basic, with front struts and a rear torsion beam, it does have anti-roll bars at both ends.
The 2021 Nissan Versa starts at $16,498 for the base S, while the CVT adds $1,500. The mid-range SV comes in at $19,498, and the top-line Versa SR, which is the model of choice, given its richer content and sharper road manners, is priced at $20,998.
Compact sedans like the Versa aren’t typically known for the fun of the drive, but the SR puts a smile on the driver’s face.
— Graeme Fletcher