2017 Nissan Versa Note Preview

Competes with: Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Kia Rio

Looks like: The outgoing Versa Note with Sentra-like front styling

Drivetrain: 109-horsepower, 1.6-liter four-cylinder; continuously variable automatic transmission, front-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Late November

CARS.COM — The 2017 Nissan Versa Note is slightly updated for 2017 with new front styling and updated automatic transmission tuning. It debuts at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 16. Pricing is unchanged, but the least-expensive S trim has been dropped and the Versa Note now starts at $16,345 for the S Plus instead of 2016’s $15,095 for the S, though with the additional feature content of the S Plus (prices include destination).

More 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Exterior

The Versa Note’s appearance is livened up this year with swept-back styling featuring redesigned headlights and a more-aggressive grille; the look is shared by recently updated Nissans like the Sentra, Altima and Maxima. Like before, Versa Note SR trims have sportier styling with a rear spoiler and machine-finished 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

Interior

The Versa Note interior’s strong points are a roomy backseat and 360-degree Around View Monitor commonly found on pricier vehicles, and both carry over for 2017. What’s new are larger cupholders and relocated USB port to the front of the center console; there’s also an additional 12-volt outlet on SV, SR and SL trims. The Versa Note has seating for five and the backseat folds for a maximum 38.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is on the short side compared with a more space-efficient hatchback like the Honda Fit’s 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space, though to be fair, everything in this class trails the Fit’s cargo usability.

Under the Hood

Nissan drops the base model S and its manual transmission for 2017, leaving the CVT as the only one available. The transmission itself is now programmed to simulate shifting instead of holding the engine at constant high speeds, which Nissan says gives the Versa Note a more natural acceleration feeling.

Safety

The Versa Note has safety features common to the class, such as side-impact and side-curtain airbags and required standard electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring system. The optional 360-degree backup camera is a highlight only on the top SL trim where it’s standard, and a traditional backup camera is standard on SL and SR trims but not available on the standard S Plus model.