By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National August 7, 2008Vehicle Overview
Nissan introduced the Versa to the U.S. for 2007. The Versa is available as both a hatchback and a sedan, and it has base 1.8 S and higher 1.8 SL trim levels. This subcompact goes head to head with the Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Aveo and Hyundai Accent.
New for 2009
There are no significant changes for the 2009 Nissan Versa.
Exterior
The Versa features a monotone exterior that's free of side moldings, mesh grilles or chin spoilers. A large windshield and side windows — particularly on the hatchback — increase visibility.
The Versa sedan is 176 inches long and 66.7 inches wide. It's longer than the Aveo, Yaris and Accent. The hatchback is 7 inches shorter than the sedan.
- 15-inch steel wheels (standard on 1.8 S)
- 15-inch alloy wheels (standard on 1.8 SL)
- Standard power outside mirrors
- Standard body-colored front/rear bumpers, door handles and mirrors
- Available fog lamps, unique front and rear pieces, bodyside sill extensions and rear roof spoiler (Sport Package for 1.8 SL hatchback)
Interior
A two-tone dashboard slopes away from the driver with a high-mounted center control panel and a three-spoke steering wheel. Nissan says the cabin stretches 6 feet from front to back. The Versa's rear seat is especially large for this class; its legroom and headroom trump the Aveo, Yaris and Accent. The Versa's total passenger volume exceeds that of its competitors.
The Versa sedan's cargo volume is 13.8 cubic feet. With the rear seat up, the hatchback has 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space, but that grows to 50.4 cubic feet when the seats are folded. Overall, both Versa models offer more cargo and passenger capacity than their competitors.
- Available cloth or suede/tricot seats
- Standard air conditioning with in-cabin air filter
- Standard 12-volt power outlet
- Standard speed-sensitive volume (1.8 SL)
- Optional power doors/windows and cruise control (standard on 1.8 SL)
- Optional leather-wrapped steering wheel with mounted controls (1.8 SL)
- Optional keyless entry/start (standard on 1.8 SL)
- Optional Bluetooth wireless phone communication
Under the Hood
All Versas come with a 1.8-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. The standard transmission is a six-speed manual, but optional offerings include a four-speed automatic or a continuously variable automatic transmission, which eliminates shifts via chain-driven pulleys that infinitely vary gear ratios. With the CVT, Nissan estimates that the Versa gets a combined 38 mpg city/highway.
- 122-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 127 pounds-feet of torque
- Six-speed manual transmission (standard on 1.8 S)
- Four-speed automatic transmission (standard on 1.8 SL sedan, optional on 1.8 S)
- Continuously variable automatic transmission (standard on 1.8 SL hatchback)
Safety
Safety features include:
- Standard front, side-impact and side curtain airbags
- Standard tire pressure monitoring system
- Standard smart key that immobilizes the engine in an attempted theft
- Optional four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist
- Optional security system (standard on 1.8 SL)
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Mike Hanley | Cars.com National | April 8, 2009 |
| David Thomas | Cars.com National | December 5, 2008 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | August 7, 2008 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Sherrice Gilsbach | Mother Proof | August 24, 2009 |
| Steven Cole Smith | Orlando Sentinel | March 7, 2009 |
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | February 15, 2009 |
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