Nissan Versa is small in size, but big on savings
Compact cars have always been good to me. That’s a little weird to say since I am 6 feet 3 inches tall, but I have never found the interiors of these delightful vehicles restricting. In fact, I tend to bounce from large automobile to small conveyance regularly. My first car was a Hyundai Elantra, my second was a Hyundai Santa Fe, then a Chevy Cobalt, then a Dodge Challenger and now a Dodge Avenger. It’s systematic. So, I felt right at home in the Nissan Versa.
Now, to be fair, my life situation has changed quite a bit since owning a Cobalt, so I can’t say I’d set out to purchase a new car today and land on a Versa, but the me of 10 years ago would have been quite pleased.
Nissan has made a compact sedan through-andthrough, but while driving it, I felt there was more room than in previous vehicles I’d driven of similar size. My legs were able to stretch comfortably to the pedals without reducing a good deal of space in the back seat. And I even found the conveyance to have ample room after putting in a car seat.
It was good feeling. Additionally, trunk space in the Versa was shockingly large for car its size. With 15 cubic feet total and the ability to fold down the back seats, groceries, electronics and even small tables will comfortably travel in the back.
Technology wise, I was surprised at the features that came standard with the economy-class vehicle. Road assist was a really nice feature to see in a sub-$20,000 product. The warning sounds regarding lane drift or potential front-end collisions were appropriate. They managed to inform while not terrifying. The backup camera was pretty standard fare, but it’s still nice to know it’s there. The image resolution left a little to be desired, but expecting a 4K, crisp image in an auto of this class is unrealistic. It does the job, and I felt safe while driving.
Touchscreen controls were also a nice, unexpected feature. Navigation doesn’t come in the Versa, but that didn’t stop Nissan from creating a structure that is comparable to any vehicle when navigating media types. I do wish they’d put a little more effort into the climate control system. It is very dated, harkening back to vehicles of mid-teens. The system is effective though. A comfortable cabin temperature was easy to achieve despite the technology’s dated appearance.
The ride was the least impressive attribute of the Versa. Now, analyzing the comfort of movement has to be kept in proportion to cars of this class. No compact sedan is going to ride as smoothly as an SUV. Still, the Versa’s acceleration and general handling were mediocre. Neither feature diminished my experience, but ultimately other cars handle acceleration and road resistance better.
Still, it does not detract heavily from the overall value of the Nissan. Bumps are a bit more noticeable in the Versa compared to other cars in its class, but it is by no means an uncomfortable ride. And this is all mitigated by fuel economy. It’s going to cost around $28 a tank in our region to fill the Nissan. As someone who doesn’t drive long distances often, a tank of gas would last me a couple of weeks. But even for a driver who puts rubber to the road in longer stretches, the Versa’s fuel economy adds some worth.
Value wise, the Nissan Versa is a home run. Starting at around $16,000, Nissan has given owners a whole lot to be happy with at a respectable price. It’s a great first vehicle for teenagers and even better for someone who works in a city and wants a dependable, comfortable conveyance that won’t break the bank. It’s not a car I’d considering buying today, but 10 years ago, I’d be very interested.